What is the easiest way to decorate a classroom?

Teaching is a lot of work. Decorating a classroom doesn’t have to be! Wondering, “What’s the easiest way to decorate a classroom?” It is totally possible to have a nice looking classroom that is comfy and cozy, bright and cheerful, or aesthetic and Instagram worthy without hours of extra work. Teachers know that providing an attractive classroom environment matters. You’ve come to the right place for the easiest classroom decorating tips and hacks so you can make the most of your precious time and the most of your budget! Keep reading for simple classroom decor ideas! This blog post will answer these questions:

• How can I decorate my classroom?
• How do I make my classroom look nice?
• What should I buy to decorate my classroom?
• How do I make my classroom look cozy?

Easy Classroom Decoration Ideas

There are a lot of things to consider when decorating your classroom. What classroom decor is age appropriate? Do I need a classroom theme?  How much is this going to cost? What do I already have that I can use? Studies have found that too many classroom decorations can become distracting for students. So rest easy! You don’t have to go overboard with cutesy classroom decor!

Cover boring wall with a tapestry, shower curtain, blanket or quilt

Need a fast classroom wall decoration? This cheap idea is perfect for teachers in a hurry! These also make great backgrounds for bulletin boards. 

Less is more! Declutter your learning space

Get rid of outdated items, unused furniture, and other unused items. This is one of the most simple ways to make a big change in your classroom! If you haven’t used it in two years, pitch it! This will instantly revive and refresh your classroom giving you tons more space! 

The easiest way to do this is to make a habit of organizing things as you run across them throughout the school year. I promise that you will regret shoving things in a closet to go through later. This classroom organization tip will keep your classroom looking nice all year long.

Display Student Work

Make a space to showcase student work. Students love seeing their work proudly displayed on the classroom wall or a bulletin board. Writing pieces with an illustration always make a great colorful display. Motivation to do well will be through the roof and students will remember what they learned. The fastest and easiest way to accomplish this display is to hang a piece of string with command hooks and add clothespins or binder clips. This lets you be able to switch out student work in a flash! Expert tip: Make sure that no student grades or scores are shown, like data walls. This can lead to feelings of shame for poor performing students. 

Useful Visual Aids for Student Reference

Boost student learning with posters that reinforce your lessons like anchor charts, maps and diagrams. I love this cheap and easy way to decorate your classroom with meaningful content! Change your classroom posters when you change units. 

For this easy classroom decorating idea, use a bulletin board or wall and only decorate the background with paper or fabric. Then add a fun border. Teachers use ribbon, bunched up burlap, or layered traditional borders. You can add a banner if you have time. A simple, “What are we learning?” will do fine!

How can I make my classroom beautiful?

Stick to a consistent color scheme

This is my favorite classroom decoration tip. Having consistent colors is the easiest and best way to make your classroom attractive and cohesive. Classroom themes are popular for this reason. Classrooms should not be distracting and should help students focus on learning. Modern classroom decor usually will have a focus on just a few colors with one of them being a neutral color.

Cover Cluttered Bookshelves with Fabric

Pick up some coordinating fabric from a craft store. There are many ways to attach the fabric: tension curtain rods, velcro stickers, and good old fashioned hot glue right to the shelves!

Ways to carry your colors through your classroom decorations

• Matching baskets for organizing school supplies or book bins
• Paint your bookshelves
• Spray paint filing cabinets and trash cans
• Use scrapbook paper, adhesive contact paper or fabric to cover things you can’t paint or don’t want to paint

How do I make my classroom cozy?

Inviting and homey classroom with spaces for student collaboration

Flexible seating can be as simple as arranging your desks into different groupings. You can have a pod of four and 2 rows of six facing each other. A variety of seating options encourages student engagement and teamwork. Buying new classroom furniture may not be necessary or even an option for many teachers. Mix up your seating options with coffee tables and kitchen tables. These are often cheap or free at yard sales and thrift stores. Benches, stools, bean bags, cushions and crates are some other fun flexible seating ideas! 

Add some rugs and throw pillows to soften up the space for a classroom that feels even more like home!  A few pillows grouped together near a bookshelf will create a reading nook and encourage students to curl up with a good book.

Use Calm Colors and Home Accents

Welcome students with a classroom theme or color palette that has calm neutral colors. Mimicking the colors we often find in our homes will instantly transform your classroom into a warm and inviting learning environment! Beige, gray and a couple of fun colors with some homey classroom decorations can add sophistication and style to your classroom.

Dim the lights

Add a few desk or floor lamps throughout the classroom and turn off some of the overhead lights. Big fluorescent lights are hard on our eyes. The softer light will provide a calming and relaxing atmosphere. This classroom decorating idea will definitely make your classroom feel warm and cozy! Even a string of outdoor lights can add some simple charm to your classroom!

Plants & Greenery

Studies have shown that adding plants to classrooms will improve student performance and overall well-being. Plants are amazing at purifying the air. And I would bet that classroom air is on the top 10 list for most germy places on Earth. The best plants for classrooms require a medium amount of light like the snake plant, peace lily, and the Chinese evergreen. Adding a plant or two to your classroom is an easy way to decorate with added benefits.