Classroom decor is one of the first things on every teacher’s mind. You want your room cute and inviting but you’re wondering how you can decorate a classroom without breaking the bank. Take a look at these 20 ideas for classroom decor on a budget.
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1. Less is more in classroom decor
If you’re trying to maintain a budget when decorating your classroom the first thing to remember is “less is more.” You can make a very attractive classroom by using a simple color scheme throughout your room. Choose 2-3 colors that look good together and that match some of the things you already have on hand.
For instance, if you have tables that are green and yellow in your room, use that as your starting point. Choose green and yellow bulletin board paper and maybe one more accent color. Stick to that color scheme in all your decorating and it will come together easily.
2. Simple bulletin boards
The easiest way to jazz up any classroom is with your bulletin boards and you don’t have to spend a fortune to make them cute. Most schools have bulletin board paper that you can use for free. If you’re trying to save money, choose 2-3 colors that blend well and use paper colorful paper like this crayon themed classroom.
If you want to get a little fancy but stay within your budget use discount fabric, bed sheets, plastic table covers, burlap, or denim to cover your boards.
3. It’s all about the border
If you stop in any teacher supply store you’ll see racks and racks of borders. The colors are magnificent and the patterns are so cute. But take one look at the price and you’ll see that you can easily blow your entire budget on borders alone!
One easy hack that is totally free is to use strips of bulletin board paper. Simply cut the paper into 3-4 inch wide strips. Scrunch the paper and staple along the border as you go. It creates a super cute 3D effect and costs you nothing. Another idea is to use old ribbon, strips of burlap or denim.
4. Curtains up
Nothing makes a classroom look cozier than curtains but have you checked the price? How can you get that warm, cozy look on a budget? One simple hack for classroom curtains is to tie long strips of ribbon to curtain rods to hang in your doorway or windows.
Another idea is to use brightly colored shower curtains to cover cupboards and closets. One of my favorite tricks was to buy plastic table skirting and hang it with clothespins on a wire across my windows. It looked just like a window valance, lasted for years, and looked super cute. In fact, after I did it in my room it became all the rage in classrooms all throughout my building!
5. Anchors away
There’s no need to purchase anchor charts and posters as decorations for the classroom. They’re expensive and honestly, not very useful. My motto was that anything hanging in my classroom should either be useful or was work done by the students. Make your own anchor charts with your students to get them involved and more invested in the material.
Use handmade anchor charts to decorate your classroom. Hang them in one spot and leave them in the same place all year. Students will automatically know where to look when they want to refer to an anchor chart to help them in their work.
6. Garage sales and thrift stores
I cannot say enough good things about garage sales and thrift stores. They are a teacher’s best friend and can help you create a beautiful classroom. Watch your local classifieds or Facebook marketplace for garage sales (usually on Thursday – Saturday) each week. Make a list of sales that look promising and be sure to head out early.
Remember the old saying “the early bird gets the worm.” In this case the early teacher gets all the goodies like toys, books, bean bag chairs, shelving, rugs and more. You can find items for .25-.50 cents that would literally cost you $$$ if you bought them brand new.
7. Flexible seating ideas
Are you interested in trying out some flexible seating options in your classroom but don’t have the budget? Garage sales are another great place to find items for this.
I once found an adorable purple table that I wanted to use. I cut down the legs to make them short. My students could sit on the floor at the table and loved it. Head over here to get lots more ideas on how to implement flexible seating on a budget.
8. Make your own letters
I have never liked pre-made bulletin board letters. Every time I bought a set of letters there were never enough vowels. I had to end up buying several sets just to get another “a” or “e”. If you’re wondering how to decorate a classroom on a budget one idea is to make your own letters.
You can cut letters from an Ellison or Cricut machine. You can also make your letters on the computer by enlarging the font, printing them on Astrobright paper, and cutting them out. Or, if you’re super talented simply cut them freehand.
9. Use student work as classroom decor
One of the easiest ways to save money on classroom decor is by using student work. Kids love to see their artwork displayed and it gives a friendly atmosphere to your room. Hang student work on bulletin boards and windows, or create hanging classroom decorations with their artwork.
10. Local buy nothing groups
Search Facebook for your local “buy nothing” or “free” groups in the area. Make a post for the things you’re looking for and search for what is being given away. You can often find toys, books and other items that are great for a classroom.
11. Wish upon a star for your classroom decorations
Create an Amazon wish list and place it on your table for back-to-school night or share it on social media. Many people are willing to pitch in for needed items.
12. Books aren’t cheap
If you’ve taken a stroll through your local bookstore you know that children’s books can be costly. But there’s no need to purchase brand-new books for your elementary classroom. Head back out to those garage sales to find books cheap for .10-.25 cents! You can fill your classroom library from thrift stores, garage sales, Facebook marketplace, and more.
13. Ask for donations from parents
Every year I made what I called my Junk List. I put all sorts of items we could use for crafts, cooking, and STEM projects. Some of the items on my junk list were: toothpicks, string, popsicle sticks, wire, beads, cotton balls, buttons, paper cups, paper plates, cupcake liners, yarn, and more.
Anything you can think of can go on a junk list. I sent this free list home at the beginning of each year and asked parents to donate anything they could from the list. I got tons of stuff! Parents would clean out their cupboards, glad to get rid of stuff, and I had everything I needed for every craft project for the rest of the year. Click here to grab this free classroom donation form.
14. Donors Choose
Have you heard of the website Donor’s Choose? Founded in 2000, Donors Choose empowers public school teachers from across the country to request much-needed materials for their students. All you do is create a free account on the website, fill out the project request form and wait for donations to roll in.
Once your project has been fully funded the items are shipped to you free of charge. Your only obligation is to take photos of the items being used in your classroom and send thank you notes to the donors. A small price to pay to receive much-needed supplies. I once had my classroom rug (valued at over $700) funded through Donor’s Choose.
15. Use what you have at home
It may seem obvious, but using what you already have is one way to save money on classroom decor. Head to your basem*nt or attic and check out what’s lurking in the corners. You might have an old chair or side table that can be repurposed. Is there a small shelf laying around that’s not in use? What about your old childhood toys and books? You can create a beautiful classroom with items from home.
We’ve all seen some shabby furniture in elementary classrooms. One way to spruce things up is with cheap wrapping or contact paper from your local dollar store. Use wrapping paper on your bulletin boards. Cover old furniture, file cabinets, unsightly chalkboards, or boxes with contact paper. You’d be surprised at how well your classroom decorating can turn out with a bit of paper.
17. Refrigerator Boxes
Refrigerator boxes can become so many things in your classroom. Cut a door to make a special reading room or calm down spot. Cut the back off the box and make a hole for a grocery store, lemonade stand, or puppet theater! You can create cute classroom theme ideas like a dentist’s office, pizza shop, or flower stand with an old box.
18. Paint
Paint is your best friend for DIY classroom decorating. I have painted furniture, walls, doors, and rusty old radiators with paint. It makes everything feel fresh and new and you can choose whatever color you like best! This desk was pulled from the archives. It was once a hideous hospital green with rust on it. I painted it with satin Rustoleum spray paint and the result was this adorable red teacher desk!
19. Use plastic tablecloths for classroom decor
If you’re looking for a way to make your classroom cute on a budget, grab some plastic tablecloths in your favorite colors. Use them to hide unsightly shelves, window coverings, or use as curtains. One year my classroom design idea was a ladybug theme. In this photo, I hung 3 tablecloths from the ceiling (white, black, and red), cut them into strips, braided them, and tied a knot on each end. It created a darling ladybug valance that hung above my reading loft.
20. White stickers for dots
Now that you’ve painted your furniture, you might want to spruce it up a little more. A great way to make your classroom decor look childlike and whimsical is to add white sticker dots to furniture. One year I decorated my room in a ladybug theme and painted everything red with black and white dots. It was adorable!
21. Cricut to the rescue
There’s no need to save your Cricut just for T-shirts. Grab your Cricut and some cute scrapbook paper and cut out your own bulletin board letters. You can also use it to cut out vinyl letters for quotes or classroom wall decor.
22. Make your own tree
One surefire way to dress up your classroom decor is with a huge tree. Grab some brown butcher paper and scrunch it up. Cut out a trunk and hang it on your wall or bulletin board. Twist brown butcher paper to make branches and drape them from the bulletin board to your celing.
Top it off with red and green paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling and you have your very own apple tree for the fall. Change the apples to snowflakes in the winter and pink tissue paper blossoms in the spring. You’ll have a fantastic yearlong decoration for your classroom.
23. Paint an old birthday chair
Does your school have a room where old furniture goes to die? Take a look for an old chair that you can paint for a birthday chair in your classroom. Paint it a bright color, add some painted balloons and the words Happy Birthday. Let the special birthday boy or girl sit in it on their special day!
Everyone loves a cute bunting or banner, right? You can make your own with old book jackets. Simply cut off the back of the book jacket, laminate it, punch two holes in the top corners and string a ribbon through each jacket. It makes an adorable banner to hang in your classroom and it’s totally free!
25. Scrapbook paper hacks
Scrapbook paper is like a little treasure just waiting for you at your local craft store. There are hundreds of adorable patterns and you can use it for so many DIY classroom decorations. Here’s a list of just a few things you can make yourself with scrapbook paper:
- Nameplates
- Cubby labels
- Alphabet letters
- Bulletin board letters
- Book basket labels
- Library basket labels
- Learning center labels
26. Clothespins for the win
Another idea for classroom decor on a budget is clothespins. They have a multitude of uses in an elementary classroom. Use clothespins to hang anchor charts, your clip chart, sign-in boards, learn center sign-in charts, and more.
If you want your clothespins to be extra cute, grab your hot glue gun and glue felt stickers, silk flowers, or other items that match your theme. Attach a thumbtack on the back with hot glue and you have an adorable push pin for bulletin boards.
27. Dollar Tree hacks for classroom decor
Dollar Tree is every elementary teacher’s favorite store. I might even venture to say it will beat out Target in the polls. Take time to stop in once a month to check out their seasonal items. If you’re looking for cheap classroom decor this is the place to shop. You can find bins, baskets, bulletin board displays, and borders. You can find lots of items to use at your math and literacy centers and seasonal decorations. It really is your one-stop-shop if you want to decorate your classroom on a budget.
28. Twinkle twinkle little star
Another creative classroom decor idea is to use twinkle lights across your whiteboard or chalkboard. It adds some soft lighting and a magical effect to your classroom. you can even change them out seasonally with Halloween, Christmas, or Valentine twinkle lights!
29. Make a simple content standards wall
Many classrooms are required to post their “I can” statements on a bulletin board or wall in their classroom. You can create a simple wall like this to make changing the standards less time-consuming and easier for you.
Start with your 3 big goals for Reading, Writing and Math. These goals stay the same all year and are the goals you’re striving to reach by the end of the year. Then make one small laminated sheet for your weekly goals. You can use an expo marker to quickly write your goals for each subject each week. At the end of the week, wipe it clean and write your new goals.
This standards wall is kid-friendly and super easy to maintain.
30. Dollar Store Busy Bags
Finally, head back over to your Dollar Tree and grab some pencil pouches. They’re the perfect size to use for student busy bags. Fill each bag with fun little items like legos, playdough, puzzles, magnetic letters, or other items. Place them on your Fast Finisher shelf for students to use when they come into class in the morning or if they complete their work early
Grab this free classroom donations checklist to help you get started decorating your classroom on a budget today.
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