A new calendar year is a fitting time to take inventory, sort, and rearrange our classrooms to create calming and productive spaces. And even though it may require extra effort and intentionality, we owe it to our students—and ourselves—to curate spaces of peace and joy that point to the God of order. 

If you are looking to refresh your classroom for the new year, even on a budget, consider the following tips:

Remove Clutter

Donate, recycle, or discard unwanted supplies, books, furniture, or decor. For the items you decide to keep, create a storage plan using shelving, bins, and tubs to ensure everything has a place. If possible, try to leave your classroom's entrance and exit areas uncluttered and welcoming. 

Label Everything 

Labels ensure that your students, substitute teachers, parent volunteers, and student teachers can all assist in quickly returning your classroom to order. To begin, write out a list of needed file, tub, or bookshelf labels. Then create them in one sitting so they are uniform in font, color, and size. If digital, save the file for easy updating.

Consider Color

While there’s a place for eye-catching colors and patterns, too much of a good thing can steal students’ concentration; thus, use bold elements sparingly. Think about painting your room (or requesting that it be painted) in a calming color such as gray, pale blue, soft yellow, or sage green. Be mindful of how the wall color will coordinate with the shelving units and storage compartments you plan to use.

Reduce Wall Décor

Some districts require specific wording or graphics to be displayed in classrooms. When possible, add a frame to these items or showcase them in a creative way that goes beyond a stereotypical classroom poster. Then, build in a few simple artwork choices, leaving generous amounts of blank wall space. In design theory, this void is called white space, and it is just as important to the eye and brain in classroom design as in graphic design. Less is more.

Add Life

Aim to accumulate real and/or fake plants for your classroom. Green is the color of nature and is, therefore, difficult to overdo. Plants can rest on top of filing cabinets or bookshelves. A decorative tree can complete a teacher’s desk corner or reading area. Also, think about ways to sparingly, yet powerfully feature life-giving, encouraging words. Sometimes scriptural truth is embedded in secular art. Take advantage of this. For example, “do everything with love” is scriptural but also fully acceptable to post in a public school.

Once your hard work is complete, give students a room tour, pointing out each supply area and your expectations for it. Show them where to access workbooks, tape, highlighters, bandages, tissues, chargers, the recycle bin, and more. Let your students feel the satisfaction inherent in a well-ordered classroom, just like the world our Creator has made for us.

Kristi Shanenko teaches ELA in North Dakota. She loves her teenagers at school and at home and feels grateful that God chooses to work through His children in small but eternal ways.