The classroom canvas: The value of room decor in learning environments

For many students, the classroom environment becomes more familiar to them than their own bedrooms. Some students are taught in classrooms that lack decoration, but many teachers do take the initiative to decorate their classrooms.

Which raises the question, good-looking room or not, what difference does it make?

OH Multilingual teacher Karen Ferguson answered that teachers decorate their classrooms because “it just feels good to be in a space that [is] positive [and] inviting.”

The value of classroom decor

Spanish teacher Tatiana Morales has embellished her classroom with flags, posters, and papel picado, which are festive banners in Mexican culture.

Morales takes this initiative because she wants “students to feel that they’re in an environment that has been taken care of… so that they feel welcome in the room.”

Rooms like Morales make a difference to students. “[A decorated classroom] makes me more engaged in learning and feel like I’m safe in my environment,” said OH sophomore Aubyn Holtz.

Holtz hits on a key element of the research behind the science of classroom design according to Edutopia, who reported in 2023 that classroom design “balanc[ed] visual stimulation with comfort and a sense of ownership” as well as safety.

Teachers recognize the difference this environment can make in students’ experiences. However, some teachers, like Ferguson, go beyond simple decorations.

In the past two years, Ferguson developed a theme for her classroom and named it “The Lemon Lounge,” complete with lemon posters, wall hangings, floor mats, and accents like bright yellows.

“It just feels good to be in a space that feels positive [and] inviting,” Ferguson said. “I know it feels good for me, and so if it feels good for me, I hope it feels good for students who come into the room.”

The cost behind couture

An appealing classroom comes at a cost: a cost that the school often does not pay. Teachers interviewed for this article purchased all class decor with money from their own pockets.

Morales said, “[she] would spend a good three hundred, four hundred dollars a year buying things, especially at the beginning [of her career].”

Some teachers find ways to work around the substantial cost.

Fergurson mentioned that she was “not going to buy anything unless [it was] on clearance or from Goodwill or [from] the Buy Nothing group on Facebook… So all [the] little things… were inexpensive.”

Plenty of students feel concerned about the price that their teachers pay for decorations.

OH sophomore Lia Bauman said, “If having a more decorative classroom helps people feel more motivated to do their work, I feel like schools should do some funding for that.”

What class decor looks like

There is a large variety of options for decorations, and each student and teacher has their own interpretation of a good-looking classroom. So, what exactly classifies as class decor?

Morales mentioned that in addition to her flags and banners in her Spanish classroom that “there’s a lot of posters with… grammar help and vocab help.” Revealing that classroom decorations aren’t always just pretty, sometimes they are also practical for academic support.

Ferguson added that she hangs up “displays of student work as [they] go throughout the semester.” This can increase the student appeal to the classroom space as they see representations of themselves and their work displayed in the room.

Beyond adding their own work to the walls, OH students had other thoughts about how to make learning spaces more inviting.

OH sophomore Aiden Lozano believes that when decorating a classroom, “a pop of color really helps.” This is true to engage students visually, keeping attention in what could otherwise be drab, concrete walls.

Another sophomore, Gabriella Wayer, added that she likes “when [teachers] put up posters of things they like, because it makes [her] get to know them more and have a better relationship [with them].”

Classroom decor is not just about what’s on the walls; it is clearly about making sure students feel welcome and safe.

Ferguson said, “I hope [the decor] affects my students in a positive way. I hope everyone feels… that they’re welcome here.”