If you are an elementary teacher looking for classroom wall display ideas, then you found the right place! This post shares tips and ideas to help you create wall displays that your students can access to support their learning. They’ll also help you create a beautiful learning environment that you look forward to spending time in. Read below to scoop up these 5 classroom wall display ideas for elementary teachers!
5 Classroom Wall Display Ideas
Below are 5 tips and ideas for creating wall displays in your elementary classroom.
1. Cover the walls using paper or fabric.
Before covering the walls in your classroom using paper or fabric, check what fire codes your school needs to adhere to. Some towns have strict regulations about the amount of paper or fabric that can be on the wall. Personally, I think it’s a bit silly that a building filled with graph paper, construction paper, primary-ruled paper, intermediate-ruled paper, and drawing paper limits the amount of wall space that can be covered, but I digress. Once you have the information you need about the fire codes at your school, you can begin covering your walls. It’s is a great way to bring the room together and to hide any unsightly chips, yucky colored paint, and institution-feeling cinder block walls. In addition, covering wall space allows you to create displays in different areas.
I had just about finished this wall, but I felt like something was missing. My classroom has amazingly high ceilings which is great because it makes the room brighter and feel bigger than it actually is. The downside is that it feels like a lot of wasted space and often looks “barren” at the top as opposed to the rest of the room. Since it is high, I don’t want to place resources that need to be accessed by the students in that space. Those should be at their eye level. Instead, I’ll use the space for something that will stay up all year long and make the students feel special.
My plan is to snap a candid shot of each student within the first few weeks. I’ll print it in black and white onto 8.5 x 11 inch paper with their names on it. This will provide a resource for students to spell their classmates names. Plus it will look gorgeous on the black backdrop. I had done something similar for Open House a few years ago. I loved the look of the candid black and whites. Another thought is that I may have them watercolor a self-portrait. I always include that in my back-to-school plans. I may hang those in that space. Time will tell!
2. Use black borders.
The second on the list of classroom wall display ideas is to use black borders. Using black borders helps create a more uniform look in your classroom and also helps define spaces. Consider using a simple, solid, black border or mixed it up a bit by using black borders with grey/white designs.
3. Stick to a simple color scheme.
Sticking to a simple color scheme creates a classroom that appears clutter-free and visually appealing. You’ll want to pick colors that fit three criteria. First, you want to pick colors that you love. Second, you’ll want to select colors that compliment each other. Third, you’ll want to choose colors that will provide a nice background for your room. Blues and greens look great together. Yellows, reds, and oranges are another good combination. I recommend following the 60-30-10 Rule. When decorating your classroom, divide the color elements into 60 percent of your dominant color and 30 percent of your secondary color. Fill the additional 10 percent with an accent color such as black, white or brown. On a side note, I suggest buying black or white baskets, bins, and other storage solutions. This makes it so you can reuse them even if you change colors or themes next year.
4. Cover open shelving.
The fourth on the list of classroom wall display ideas is to cover open shelving. It seems like every teacher I talk to all says the same thing… Kids are less and less attentive each year. For that reason alone, it is so important to eliminate as much distraction from learning as possible. One way to do this is by covering any open shelving you have in your classroom. Consider using poster boards or curtains to
5. Create lasting and purposeful wall displays.
Think of your classroom as a large tool kit for your students. In addition to creating a literacy rich environment in your classroom, you’ll want to create a numeracy-rich environment as well. When you design your wall displays, consider creating interactive bulletin boards that support student learning. Below are examples of displays that can stay up all year long and be added to throughout the school year.
In closing, we hope you found these classroom wall display ideas helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in the resources in my Clutter-Free Classroom Teachers Pay Teachers store and these posts!
