7 tips to transform your classroom

A new academic year provides the perfect opportunity to revamp your classroom.

You should start with asking yourself what you want to display on your walls and why? Remember, minor things like colour and lighting can make a big difference for your classroom and the way your class learn. Here are our tips for redecorating your classroom:

1. Colour

We all know that colour can have an impact on mood. For example, blue is linked with feelings of calmness. Lighter colours can brighten up your classroom if you don’t have much light coming into the room. This should positively influence the mood and energy levels of your class. If your room is already bright, you can use darker colours to make certain elements stand out.

2. Light 

Lighting will affect your students’ ability to learn. This is because our bodies associate lighting with different times of day. A darker room will make your students associate it with sleep and reduce productivity. To avoid this, you can use standing lamps. When there’s too much light however, it can become too warm and harder to see the whiteboard. In this case, consider curtains or blinds.

3. Sound

Noise can be distracting for your students. You can use an app to record the decibel level in your room at different points of the day, documenting your students’ level of attention. If there is a lot of noise, you can use egg crate foam or polystyrene foam on the walls to mute the noise.

4. Capture comfortable learning spaces

Rather than deciding how you want your room to look, try getting your students involved. After all, they’re the ones learning in it. You can ask them to take photos of places where they feel focused and at ease. While you will probably get a wide variety back, you may be able to pick out a common theme to replicate. Alternatively, you can look for inspiration on Pinterest and ask your class what designs they like best – they’ll also appreciate you caring about their opinion.

5. Visuals

While visual stimuli is a great aid in your students being able to process and retain information, too much can make them lose focus. Do you have posters on every wall? Scan your classroom and decide what visuals should be removed and which are useful.

6. Temperature

The ideal temperature for student productivity is 20°C. Use a thermometer to check the temperature of your classroom throughout the day. If direct sunlight is making the room warm, consider shading the windows or purchasing fans. If it’s too cold, try to get hold of some heaters.

7. Implementation

Having worked out all of the above, it’s time to plan the implementation. Sketch out designs using the information you’ve gathered. You can even create mood boards. Being intentional about your design will help to create a space based on your students’ needs and interests. And, last but not least, don’t forget that redesigning your classroom should be fun – get your class involved at the start of term!