Find the BIGGEST house you can and then add on a library and a school room. I am always struggling with room! Seriously though...if I were looking to buy a new home I would want a room that I could dedicate to either homeschooling things or big enough for a classroom. I would want this room to be closed off a bit..like on the top floor in the basement...to prevent distraction. While I don't care if a kid does his spelling on a swing or under a tree or on the porch...I want books, computers, supplies and instruction time neatly in one room. I also think it makes the kids feel more official and that will set a tone. Also...organization will be easy and that alone will make your day. Having said all that...I have none of what I mentioned. lol. Once I finally get my basement cleared out I will...but not now. In the meantime...we are doing just fine. So, get a house you LOVE even if it doesn't fit homeschooling exactly. Homeschooling comes from the heart...so if you are in a loving environment your children will thrive even if you have to have a bookcase in your kitchen. lol.
Oh wow!! Can I dream a little. I would want a whole other wing to have homeschooling in or at least a room or two extra. It would be great to have a library and a lab of some sort. But in reality, I would go for a house with lots of storage and open space. I would also want a lot of windows (even if I wasn't homeschooling). I think it is more joyful to work in a well lit area. It would also be nice to have a large kitchen with lots of counter space to do projects on.
I will add, if you have a classroom and don't 'do school' in the classroom, your kids (if they are young) might think they didn't do school that day LOL My 6 year old (who spent 2 years in PS for preK and K-so he def has an idea that 'traditional textbook approach' is school) tells people we didn't have school that day if we didn't do it in the classroom that day LOL So now my parents think I never teach them anything :roll:
There are lots of one story plans nowadays that because of vaulted ceilings, dormers, and bonus rooms don't look one story from the outside. Mine is one of them. It looks good; quite different stylistically from your classic 1970's ranch house. I would include a somewhat open floorplan. I like being able to put a few dishes away while being able to keep an eye on my kids.
What sold me on this house was the "planning room" which we have converted into our school room. We have a 2 story and I actually like it better than our single. Yes there is a bit more noise when the kids are upstairs, but It has helped keep things contained. Upstairs is our "fun" space and downstairs is our "formal" space. Not that I dont let them play downstairs, its just kept more guest ready than the upstairs.
I don't necessarily need or want an "extra" room but I LOVE my big dining room that give us room to place a huge dining room table. We do most of our "seat work" in the dining room, which is right off the kitchen. It just fits in with our family life. And the other blessing is that we can have extra people join us for meals because of the large table. Terri
My only recommendation is stay away from a split level!!! I have one now that I really really really hate. Did I say really? My entry way is the size of 2 refrigerators....no room for shoes or anything! then you either go up or down...up to the main floor...down to the family room, office, boys room and laundry room. It just seems that when I open the front door people can see both up and down stairs. I have gone back and forth between whether I would want a 1 or 2 story...it would be determined by whether I felt at home or not. Other than that, I would want an open floor plan so I could keep my eye on several kids at once, and a mud room! Oh Heaven!! I would also like an extra room that I could put all our bookshelves in and designate it as a school room, but we wouldn't do school in there since we prefer the table and the kitchen. Now I want to move....actually I want to design and build my own home....maybe someday....*sigh*
I have a ranch sytle house. Love it! But, all the hs things are in a bonus room that is over the garage. We are all on one level except that room it is up and away for everything we do on a daily basis. It is fantastic because if it doesn't get cleaned up everyday and someone stops by no one can see it! Love it!
