55 Best Classroom Setup Ideas for Back to School

It’s that time of year again, time to get your classroom set up for back to school. In this post I’ll give you the best classroom setup ideas to create an amazing classroom this year. Hope you can gleam some inspiration from the amazing classrooms featured in this post and try some of these ideas in your class this year!

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Classroom Setup Ideas and Inspiration

Here are the classroom setup ideas that you’ll discover in this post.

• The best ideas to arrange student desks and layout your class.
• Flexible seating options in your class.
• How to organize your classroom library.
• Inspiration for creating a reading nook.
• Classroom organization ideas including storage and organizing class supplies.
• Creative classroom management ideas to make your life easier.
• What you should display at the front of the class.
• Ideas for calendars, whiteboards, teacher carts and more!

Classroom Layout Setup

The first thing you’ll want to consider for your classroom setup is how to layout your space.  A new school year is a great time to experiment with a new classroom layout.

Here are things to consider when planning your classroom design.

• How much classroom space do you have?
• What is your teaching style?
• What is the best way to increase student engagement with your setup?
• What kind of tech will you include in your class this year?
• Be sure to add spaces for individual work and include areas for small group work.
• What designs work well based on your grade level?
• How can you include sections for teacher led stations?
• What different activities will your class be doing?
• What flexible seating options will work best for your students?
• Be sure to create a space just for you.
• What important resources do you want to feature in the front of the class?
• What can you add to create a welcoming classroom environment?
• Make sure you have a clear exit to the classroom.

1 | Classroom Layout Planning

Before you physically re-arrange your classroom plan out your new setup on paper or on the computer.  To find what works best for student desk arrangement color code areas for independent work, group workstations and teacher led stations.

2 | Use Canva for Classroom Design

A great way to do this is with Canva.  Canva is an online graphic design tool.  Here’s how to setup your classoom layout with Canva

• Go to Canva
• Search whiteboard (this will create an interactive whiteboard for you)
• Go to elements and add shapes to represent the desks.
• Change the size and color to get it just how you want it.
• Then click on the shape and the plus button and it will duplicate it.
• Add as many as you need and then move them around your whiteboard
• Use this technique to add doors, windows, your desk, tables, your class whiteboard or anything else.

If you’re not familiar with Canva you can check out this post where I explain more about it and tell you how you can get a free account.  Canva for Teachers: Your Easy Guide to Get Started

Check out some different classroom layout ideas below.

3 | Classroom Seating Arrangements with Desk Groups

These desks are grouped in clusters of 6 each with their own supply caddy.  Each student is provided a desk name tag,  a class information sheet and a card from the teacher.

4 | Group Desk Layout Idea with Storage

Consider adding desks in small groups and for each group include a storage area.  This storage section can include shared school supplies, books and assignments.

5 | Classroom Setup Ideas with Tables

When setting up your tables here’s a hack to keep the supplies neat.  Create a labeled tote for each table with lock top lid containers for supplies also labeled with the table number.

6 | Group Workspace

  You may consider adding a section of your room designated for group work. A half round table with stools works perfect for this.

7 | Desk Arrangement Teacher Hack

If your student desks are constantly shifting considering adding tape around them so that you and students know exactly where they should go.  You can even color code the tape for example in this classroom:

• green is for student’s workspace,
• red is the teacher area, so students don’t crowd &
• yellow shows students where to stand when working on the smart board.

8 | Combine Storage and Function

Take a cue from Brook, a teacher that specializes in literacy and STEM and combine storage and function in your classroom.  Her husband designed this “maker shop” which is a play and storage table.

It has a dry erase tabletop, header board, magnetic dry erase wall on one end and a LEGO wall/green screen on the other end.  There are storage bins on the top as well.

Flexible Seating Options

Since students learning need are all so different it’s a great idea to incorporate some flexible seating options in your class.  Some of the most common flexible seating options are:

• Floor Cushions
• Wobble stools
• Bean bags
• Floor Desks
• Throw pillows

Check out some classroom setup ideas that incorporate flexible seating below.

9 | Set up a Flexible Seating Choice Chart

A flexible seating choice chart was created by a teacher from Oklahoma, Mrs. Munch, as a way to give students the power to choose what learning space works best for them.

If you want to copy this idea in your class, here’s how it works:

• On a magnetic board add a picture of all of your class seating options, both traditional and flexible.
• Add student names to round magnets.
• Under each option have circles that represent how many students can sit there.
• At the beginning of the day students can place their magnet on the spot that they want to sit for the day in addition to their individual desks.
• Students have to change each day.

10 | Comfortable Group Work Seating Options

Comfy options like this are a great place for group work.

11 | Floor Cushions and Pillows

Throw pillows are a great option, that is both inexpensive and space saving to add flexible seating to your class library or a reading nook in your class.

12 | Inexpensive Flexible Seating Idea

Tiny stools from the Dollar Tree and plastic tables from Target create another seating option for students in this elementary classroom.

13 | Storage Seating Idea

For those of you with small classrooms consider adding flexible seating options that also include more storage.

For more flexible seating ideas for your classroom check out this post…Flexible Classroom Seating (29 Creative Ideas)

Set Up a Classroom Library

When you are setting up your library for the new school year you can choose between using book bins or not. Let’s check out both ideas so you can see what works best for you.

14 | Book Organization without Bins

Here’s a great example of how you can organize your library without bins. You can color code the books by the first letter of the author’s last name. You can add colored washi tape or dot stickers to the book spines.

Be sure to display a color coded chart for students to see. Add new books or books that you recommend to the top shelf for easy access!

15 | Book Organization with Bins

If you prefer to organize books with bins here’s a great example for you. Putting your bins in rainbow order and adding labels is a great organization method and it looks great too!

For more ideas on creating a beautiful and organized classroom library check out this post…25 Best Classroom Library Ideas for Organization & Style

16 | Create a Classroom Reading Corner

You may want to set up a special place in the classroom that is the perfect spot to curl up with a good book. You could even add a teepee with string lights to make it extra cozy!

For more ideas on setting up a reading nook in your classroom check out this post…25 Cozy Reading Corner Classroom Ideas for Your Book Nook

Classroom Organization Ideas

It helps to start the year being as organized as you can. That way your students know where everything goes. I think when it looks nice, it gives you and the students extra motivation to keep it that way too.

Read on to discover ideas to organize all your stuff, find the perfect containers, labels, file folders and more.

17 | Pretty Organization Ideas

Here are some organization tools you may want to add to your classroom:

• Bins for each table group
• Teacher binders for lessons plans and student data.
• A container for sharpened and unsharpened pencils
• Drawers for papers to file, grade and copy.
• Find printable labels to match your class theme too! Those picture are part of a bright doodles theme that you can find here.

18 | Student Data File Box

Get a student file box set up. Take a cue from this teacher and assign each student a number so you don’t have to re-do all of your labels next year.

19 | Pretty Custom Labels

Small clear plastic containers with cute custom labels are the perfect solution to easily find everything you need in your class.  Containers with lids are great for stacking and those without lids work perfectly on your shelves.

20 | Weekly File Box Organization

Use a file box to organize your lesson plans by week for the entire school year.

21 | Student Mailbox

Another great idea for a file box is to use it for a student mail box. I love how this one even has a mail flag to let students know if they have mail!

For more ideas of setting up your students’ mailboxes check out this post…30 Easy DIY Classroom Mailbox Ideas for Students

22 | Dollar Store Organization

Hit up the Dollar Tree and find bins in the same color to match your classroom color scheme. Add pretty labels to get all of your classroom supplies organized and ready for the new school year!

23 | Color Coded Organization Bins for Each Student

Each student’s class notebook is color coded for their personal container, brilliant! Plus, the kids would love these cute caricatures labels that look like them.

24 | Turn in and Take Home Bins

Create a turn in bin and a take home mailbox for your students with file boxes and file folders. This keeps the papers contained and organized in one spot.

Organize Classroom Supplies

Now let’s check out some smart ideas to get all your classroom supplies organized and methods to help you keep the clutter under control all school year long!

25 | Play-Doh Containers for Marker Organization

This is a clever use of Play-Doh containers to organize markers.

26 | Create a Teacher Toolbox

This teacher toolbox with the pretty labels is the perfect place for all of those little things like paperclips, erasers, glue sticks, staples and other miscellaneous supplies.

If you have young students it’s a great idea to add pictures to your labels too!

If you want to create a teacher toolbox you can find more ideas here…Teacher Toolbox Create the Perfect One for Your Classroom

27 | Bulletin Board Border Organization

Here’s a great idea to organize those bulletin board borders. You could also use magnetic hooks on a magnetic board and binder clips to do the trick.

I have a ton more Classroom Organization ideas for you here…83 Best Classroom Organization Ideas

28 | Set up a Teacher Cart

A great way to organize all your papers is with a teacher cart. You can designate a drawer for each day, with a few to spare for miscellaneous papers like to copy, to file, to grade, for sub and anything else you need to stay on track.

These labels are part of the happy and brights theme decor bundle that you can find here.

If you want more ideas to create a teacher cart, I wrote an entire post on it.  You can find it here…The One Thing You Need In Your Classroom This Year

Maximize the Front of Your Classroom

The front of the room is an ideal space to put important information that your students need daily.  Whether you use a whiteboard, a large tv, projector screen or chalkboards you’ll want to plan how to maximize this space. 

Here are some things you may want to add to your information board at the front of the class.

• Date and Calendar
• Class Schedule
• Rules and Classroom Expectations
• Classroom Jobs
• Important announcements for the week.

Let’s check out how other teachers have optimized this space in the front of their class.

29 | Organized Classroom Resources

If you want to copy this amazing classroom setup then include these resources for students at the front of your class:

• Shape and alphabet posters
• Clocks
• Sheet for calendar grid observations
• Pocket chart calendar
• Whiteboard updated with current assignments

30 | Classroom Procedures

The front of the classroom is a great spot to remind students of classroom procedures.  It also is the perfect spot to add small bookshelves to display the next book you’ll be reading to the class.

For more ideas on creating your classroom rules and procedures check out this post…Classroom Rules & Class Expectations Examples

31 | Flip Calendar on Whiteboard

A flip calendar is an easy way to remind students of today’s date.  Then add a magnetic bin to hold supplies. Your students will love fun touches like cute pet head accessories on your display and pretty borders too.

If you want to try a flip calendar in your room, you can get a magnetic rod with rings here.  

32 | Printable Flip Calendar

After you get the rod, you can get a printable classroom flip calendar set, the one pictured can be found here.

33 | Pocket Chart Calendar Idea

An easy way to set up your classroom calendar is with a pocket chart. You can either hang it on a wall or pin it to a bulletin board. This makes it so easy to change out each month. You can find this pastel dreams printable calendar on Etsy here.

34 | Classroom Birthday Display

Designate a bulletin board in your class for a birthday display. Have a graphic for each month and then add students’ names to their birthday month with name tags or clothespins!

If you’re looking for more fun ideas to setup a birthday display in your classroom then check out this post… 41 Creative Birthday Chart Ideas for the Classroom

Easy Classroom Management Ideas

Next let’s check out some classroom setup ideas that you can incorporate into your classroom design that will make classroom management a little easier for you.

35 | Portable Whiteboard Easel

If you don’t have one consider adding a mobile whiteboard easel to your classroom this year.  You could use this for small groups, writing lessons and even as a place to hang your anchor charts.  Just wheel it to wherever you need it.

36 | Create a Portable Teaching Station

Kirstie, a fourth-grade teacher from Montana has created a portable teaching station with this adjustable height mobile table.  She rolls it to wherever she is teaching in the classroom, and it holds her iPad, supplies, teaching manual, beverage and anything else that she needs.

You can check out some more classroom managment ideas here…50 Brilliant Classroom Management Ideas & Strategies

Classroom Decoration Ideas

The next step is the fun part decorating your classroom! Let’s check out some fun ideas including choosing your classroom theme or color scheme, decorating your door, bulletin boards and so much more!

37 | Choose Your Classroom Color Scheme

When you are deciding on how to decorate your classroom for the new school year one of the first things to consider is your color scheme. You can go for bright colors if you want to add energy to your classroom.

If you want a calming effect, then choose neutral colors or a pastel color scheme. If you love the pastel color scheme, then check out some more ideas for that in this post…55 Best Classroom Decoration Ideas for Teachers

38 | Choose A Classroom Theme

The best way to create a cohesive feel for your classroom is to choose a theme! When you find that theme you love you can add it to your organization, classroom decor, and even your classroom slides.

Pictured are ideas for a retro classroom theme which is really popular this year. For more ideas for a retro classroom theme check out this post…Cute Retro Classroom Theme Decor Ideas

If you’re looking for some ideas for several different themes so that you can choose your favorite, then check out this post…The Best Classroom Themes for a Fun School Year

39 | Don’t Forget About Your Windows

Copy this window decoration idea if you want a happy and homey classroom feel. These sheer curtains are mostly decorative, but you can also draw them closed if you need to block the sun.

These would be fairly easy to install with a simple curtain rod like this. Here are some similar curtains that come in a variety of colors and sizes.

If you want some more window decoration ideas, then check out this post…35 Creative & Cute Classroom Window Decoration Ideas

40 | Find the Perfect Classroom Rug

Adding a classroom rug is a great way to add interest and brighten up your classroom. There are so many options you are sure to find one that matches your theme and your color scheme.

If you love the, This is our happy place rug with smiley faces you can find it here.

Check out some of my favorite classroom rugs in this post…Best Classroom Rugs Educational & Stylish Choices

41 | Make a Beautiful Space Just for You

The next step in setting up your classroom for back to school is to create the perfect teacher space. It’s very important to carve out a space for you that is organized and beautiful.

A clean, organized, clutter free space can really rejuvenate your soul. You deserve that, so make this one a priority!

Here’s some tips to create the perfect teacher space:

• Find organization tools like drawer organizers, teacher binders and magazine holders to keep your space tidy.
• Decorate the front of your desk with your name and a tassel garland!
• Add accessories that you love to make the space your own!

Check out all of these ideas and more in this post…The Best Classroom Teacher Desk Ideas & Organization Tips

42 | Decorate Your Classroom Door

A fun way to get your class ready for school is by decorating your classroom door. If you want some more ideas on finding the right classroom door decorations for your class, then check out these posts…31 Back to School and Welcome Classroom Door Ideas

and 85 Creative Classroom Door Decor Ideas

43 | Creative Classroom Decoration Ideas

Here are some creative classroom decoration ideas to consider:

• Create a classroom fridge and use it to display student pictures or amazing work!
• Set up a selfie station at the beginning of the school year where students can take pictures to remember the moment!

For these ideas and more class decor ideas check out this post…55 Best Classroom Decoration Ideas for Teachers

44 | Get a Classroom Bundle

One of the easiest ways to get your classroom set up so that everything matches is by getting a printable classroom bundle from Etsy.

I created this pastel bundle for teachers that want to have that coordinated classroom feel in a soft pastel color scheme.  Here is what is included in this bundle:

• Classroom Calander, Birthday and Job Display
• Calm Corner and Affirmation Station Posters
• Tons of Classroom posters
• Editable Labels including Teacher Toolbox Labels, Rolling Cart and Supply Labels
• Teacher Resources and so much more!

If you like this pastel classroom bundle you can find it here in my Etsy shop.  Here are some of the other classroom bundles I’ve created.

Ideas for Classroom Displays

Now let’s check out some ideas to get your classroom displays set up at the beginning of the year including wall decor, and creative bulletin board ideas!

45 | Ideas for You Classroom Walls

Think outside the box when decorating your classroom walls. Here are some ideas:

• If you can paint your walls create a colorful classroom mural!
• Create a mini maze as a play space on your classroom wall.
• Have students create self-portraits with rainbow-colored backdrops. Then arrange the pictures in rainbow order for a beautiful display!

For all these ideas and more check, out this post…37 Creative Classroom Wall Ideas & Decorations for School

46 | Create a Word Wall

If you want to create a word wall in your classroom here are some ideas:

• Create a traditional word wall to help develop literacy skills in young readers.
• Consider creating a word wall based on subject areas like math, reading, science or writing.
• Make your word wall interactive by displaying words on hooks and rings that students can remove!

Check out all of these ideas and more in this post…43 Best Interactive Word Wall Ideas for the Classroom

47 | Bulletin Board Ideas

Create a welcoming bulletin board at the beginning of the school year to welcome your students to class like this fun idea that says, “Happy to see your face!”

For this and more bulletin board ideas check out this post…57 Best Bulletin Board Ideas for the Classroom

Set up a Spot to Display Student Work

So, you don’t have any student work yet, not a problem. Take a cue from these teachers and get the wall space ready to go for their amazing work.

48 | Our Brightest Work Display

To create “our brightest work” display you can use colored sheets of paper and then place their work on each sheet.

49 | Our Sharpest Work Display

  Here’s a fun idea if you have a composition theme in your classroom. Add the phrase our sharpest work on a pencil. Then have composition notebooks with colorful clips that each say amazing work coming soon!

Here are some more ideas for a composition notebook theme…Varsity Patch & Composition Notebook Classroom Theme Ideas

Creative Classroom Setup Ideas

Now let’s check out some creative ways to setup your room. Why not create a home like atmosphere for your kids to truly build that community feel in your classroom? One way to do this is to add home furniture and decor in your class.

What I love about this idea is you can get really creative with how you want to do this. You can start small with wallpaper, a statement rug or cute throw pillows or go all out with a couch or a dining table. Get inspired by these amazing classrooms below.

50 | Add a Classroom Couch

If you’re lucky enough to have a large classroom you can add a couch. This may be the perfect reading spot for your students. Finish off the look with pretty throw pillows.

51 | Add Plants

Sometimes all you need to do is add small touches to create a home like atmosphere like the plants! This will help liven up your classroom and give a natural feel.

52 | Paint Stripes on the Walls

A fun way to add a lot of character to your classroom space is to paint stripes on the walls.

53 | Use Picnic Tables in the Classroom

What a fun seating idea! You can put together two picnic tables to create a long table with benches. All of the small touches are amazing too, the paper lanterns above the table give a chandelier like feel.

54 | Add Wallpaper in Your Classroom

Here’s another angle of this amazing class by the superhero teacher that shows a wall of gorgeous wallpaper that balances with the pink in the room.

55 | A Pink Couch & More Fun Touches

Then there’s her seating area with a pink couch, of course! Plus, all the pillows on the floor make a perfect spot for the students to gather to read or work on group projects.

Ok, so you now have the best classroom setup ideas just in time for back to school. You have one of the hardest jobs on the planet I hope this post might help add a little fun and beauty to your hectic day!

Feel free to save your favorite ideas to you Pinterest boards, just click on the red P on the picture!