Creative Classroom Decoration Ideas

Classroom Decoration Ideas to Cozy Up Your Teacher Desk Area

Hey educators! Ready or not, the kids are on their way and it’s time to start thinking about some classroom decoration ideas you want to try this year!

In a previous post, I reviewed some tips on how to start getting your classroom ready. I also addressed the importance of not spending a lot on this space.

The exception might be, if you are very strict about enforcing the “No Trespassing Rule” behind your desk area. If this is the case, you might want to spend a bit more on your personal items and not leave valuable or breakable items in this area.

Bring in items from home that make you happy to spruce up the space! Pictures are perfect for bringing pieces of home to the classroom. Motivational quotes and posters of places you like to visit or want to someday can bring positive vibes to your personal workspace.

Teacher Chair

Regardless of your budget, you should have a comfortable chair. Even if you don’t have much time to sit, you will appreciate this when you have a plan time and at the end of an exhausting day.

This can be purchased for less on online garage sales sites, and consignment stores. Don’t forget to check out budget friendly stores like IKEA, Wal-Mart, Ross, Dollar Tree, etc.

And if you find the “almost-perfect chair,” you can always improve it with a cheap slipcover. A staple gun and some clearance fabric, or extra fabric you already have at home, offer improvements as well.

Classroom Decoration Ideas for Furniture

Your home, garage sales and flea market offer tons of opportunity to create newly improved, solid, sturdy and functional classroom furnishings!

Retiring or resigning teachers, your children and family members might have items they no longer want. You won’t know if you don’t ask! Have you seen how much furniture people give away free or leave at the curb to give away on the day after their garage sale?

Have you found adorable items at the thrift store (like books, lamps, bulletin boards, containers/baskets, wreaths, bookshelves, chairs, etc.) that need only a coat of paint? It is truly unbelievable.

You may have to pay retail prices for some supplies. Don’t forget to sign up for teacher discounts at places like Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Barnes and Noble, Joanne, OfficeMax/Office Depot, Staples, etc.

Temporary Options for Improving School Furniture

When using the school’s furnitures, do we have any options for changing it? Yes indeed! My favorite ways to add a temporary change to a teacher desk, file cabinet or bookshelf involve contact paper or temporary wallpaper!

Contact paper is easily found at pretty much any big store that sells kitchen utensils and appliances. Temporary wallpaper is easily found at places such as Target, Wayfair, Amazon, Home Depot and Walmart.

There are also stores that cater to dorm dwellers that have these peel and stick temporary solutions this time of year. These wallpapers and contact paper also make for a quick new look for your classroom door or a fun way to dress up classroom clipboards. They can also be used to make letters out of to easily stick to walls ceiling tiles, white boards and even the floor.

Classroom Decoration Ideas for Storage

Why do teachers seem to never have enough containers? Or maybe that was just me. There are so many ways to utilize containers to keep your classroom organized.

My favorite places to buy colorful and cute containers are the dollar section at Target, thrift stores (especially wicker and wooden baskets), IKEA, garage sales, Michaels and Hobby Lobby. Other favorite thrift store and garage sale finds include metal planters that can be hung on the wall or sit atop a bookshelf.

Tin containers and wooden baskets work well also. Two and three-tier farmhouse trays are super-fun also! Remember, check clearance sections at your favorite stores!

---

More Classroom Decoration Ideas to Try

Durable Materials

As a side note, choose durable, and (preferably) vinyl or laminated fabric. I was able to find many laminated fabric options at Hobby Lobby.

Let’s just face it, students of all ages can get lice, not just the little ones. You don’t want your classroom items helping to spread that around!

Your furniture might get vandalized, chewed on, drawn on, spilled on, snotted on, or worse. You will regret getting fabric that can not be easily wiped off. Vinyl student flexible seating and lampshades are all “no fuss.”

Also, light colored rugs will be muddied, stained or ruined in less time than a middle schooler can devour a bag of Takis! Choose darker rugs if you are purchasing them.

I have even used “plastic” rugs from Urban Outfitters in the past. Your classroom rugs may never get vacuumed by anyone other than you. They can also make allergies worse for others and trap germs.

Kids love to put their hands on the walls. Why? Many bulletin boards are damaged by this perplexing practice. This is why I have always tried to use free materials for bulletin board backgrounds.

You might be lucky enough to have an extensive supply of paper provided for you in an array of colors. If this isn’t the case, use wrapping paper from a dollar store, extra fabric you have for a project you didn’t get to, or disposable table cloths. These make great tarps to protect the floors when you are painting walls or furniture too.

Book Nook Ideas for Your Classroom

Reading is so important to understanding all content areas. I think a reading area (or “group collaboration/research area”) would be great to have in all classrooms. My preference was to have one in my language arts classrooms, as well as my history classrooms.

This is a great place to try out flexible seating. Many options exist for this. I’ve used boat cushions, bean bags, benches, gaming chairs, love seats, rocking chairs, floor cushions, disk/saucer chairs and ottomans for seating.

Look for seating that is comfy, durable, creative and cheap. Have books readily available in this area and adequate lighting.

This can be a floor lamp, nearby windows or decorative outdoor patio lights. A stain-resistant rug and perhaps a small coffee table can finish out your reading nook.

Don’t forget to locate it in an area that is easily visible to you and does not provide for too many people in it.

 

What are some classroom decoration ideas you want to try or have tried in the past? I’d love to hear them from you!