As a teacher, you probably see the inside of your classroom more than the inside of your home. After all, you spend every weekday in your room! So, why not make it truly special by adding your own personal touches to it?
Of course, the best way to do that is to start adding classroom decor.
We know that thinking of decor off the top of your head can be tricky, though, which is why we've come up with a list of classroom decorating ideas to help you get started. So, if you want to add some oomph to your classroom, read on!
7 Amazing Classroom Decoration Ideas
Whether you want to make a good impression at the start of the school year or simply looking for some classroom inspiration, we've got some fantastic ideas. These creative ideas will help you to personalize your classroom and make it more exciting, inviting, and conducive to learning.
1. Make the outside of your classroom more inviting
You don't have to keep all of your decorations inside your classroom. Rather, you can give your room a little more pizazz by adding some decor to the outside as well.
Start with the outside of your classroom doors. Add some pictures or artwork that reflects who you are, the subject that you teach, or something that goes with your overall classroom theme.
If you're able to, you can also decorate around the door frame with banners, pictures, or your students' artwork. This is usually most effective when there is empty wall space in the hallway since it's a great way to fill this space and make it more inviting. You can even have a pinboard outside to pin artwork to and display your students' talent.
Does your classroom lead onto a concrete walkway? Then we've got a really fun idea for you! Using sidewalk chalk, add some art or colorful designs just outside your door. If you're a kindergarten or middle school teacher, make it more exciting by incorporating some games (you can find ideas for games in our sidewalk chalk ideas blog!).
2. Decorate your chalkboard or whiteboard
Adding decor to your chalkboard may sound mundane, but it can be really effective - especially for keeping your students' attention during a lesson! You can make it more exciting by using chalk markers in bright colors.
If you've never used or don't know how to use a chalk marker, don't worry! The best part about them is that they're easily erasable, which means you can change your decor at any time.
These markers are also a great investment because there are tons of chalk marker crafts that you can use for additional decor.
Remember, you can also use the same idea on a dry-erase board and use brightly-colored dry-erase markers to leave artwork, inspirational messages, or just fun borders on your whiteboard.
3. Have a class calendar
A classroom calendar can be really handy. You can use it to keep track of your lesson plans, project or assignment dates, birthday reminders, and so much more. And on the open days? Why not add little notes to inspire students or encourage them to work hard?
No matter what you choose to do, you'll want to make it your own.
It's important to remember that having a classroom calendar isn't only practical - it can add to your overall classroom decor, too! With a fun chalkboard calendar, you can use your chalk markers to add some color and visual appeal.
4. Create a theme
Having a theme makes your room more memorable for your students. And you can really let your imagination go wild when picking your theme!
Do you want something that relates to the subject you teach? Or perhaps you want classroom decorations that show off your personality? In some cases, you may even be known for something (for example, you're the teacher who wears colorful sweaters to school every day!) that you can tie into your theme.
If picking one theme is tricky, why not change it up to reflect the time of year? For example, having Halloween or fall decor in October or a red and pink color scheme around Valentine's Day can be really fun, and it gives you a chance to switch up your theme as often as you like.
5. Make a pen or pencil dispenser
As teachers, you're constantly asked for a spare pen or pencil, right? Well, why not create a pencil dispenser to display in your classroom? That way, each student will have access to what they need for their school work, and you won't have to deal with 10 students asking to borrow a pen every day! It's a total win-win.
To make this idea even more exciting, you can do something fun with the display or make the container colorful and eye-catching. You can also fill it with things like gel pens or pencils with fun themes or designs.
6. Have a class bulletin board
Just like calendars, bulletin boards can be both practical and decorative in your classroom. You can even add decorations to your bulletin board to make it look more aesthetically pleasing.
Besides important announcements and general student work, here are some bulletin board ideas to use to make them stand out:
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Add a border to your bulletin board to give them some color or a theme.
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Have it at the front of the room (preferably at the door) so students can see important announcements as they walk in.
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Provide sticky notes and pens so your students can also leave little notes or messages on the bulletin board - this makes them more interactive, too.
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Use a magnetic chalkboard so you can attach notes to the board and decorate it using your new chalkboard markers!
7. Encourage the kids to craft decorations
If you teach younger children, you can always encourage them to create decorations to add to your walls and door or attach them to your chalkboard or whiteboard. This can help make your classroom feel more inviting and make your students feel as though they've made a meaningful contribution to their learning environment.
Plus, it's always nice to display your students' work and talent in your classroom!
FAQs
Do I have to add decorations to my classroom?
While you don't have to add classroom decor, it's a nice way to give the room some personality and make it more interesting and inviting for your students.
If you don't know where to start, using what you already have - like your chalkboard - can help to get your creative juices flowing and hopefully spark some more creative ideas for you to use.
Before you decorate your chalkboard, though, be sure to check out our chalkboard FAQ and chalk marker FAQ pages. Hopefully, these common questions will also help you understand the best way to go about decorating your board.
How can I make my classroom more cozy?
A cozy classroom is a comfortable classroom. So, if you want to make your room more cozy, be sure to try these ideas out:
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Add classroom rugs (which are especially great for younger kids who may have to sit on the floor).
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Add some pillows or bean bag chairs to a corner of your room where your students can relax.
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Use warm colors in your class and add calming decor.
Final Thoughts
Making your classroom your own is really simple - especially when you have a list of great classroom decoration ideas. Once you start decorating your class, you're also sure to come up with ideas of your own to personalize for you and your students. No matter what, it's important to remember to have fun with your decorating! That's really what it's all about.