9 Common Questions About Printable Classroom Decor (With Answers!) 

You have seen the cutest classroom decor everywhere. Instagram. Pinterest. Teacher TikTok. And you love it. The beautiful colors. The perfectly coordinated labels. The tiny details that somehow make the whole room feel magical.

But then you see the word printable, and you are like…hmm 🤔

Because same.

When I first started making printable classroom decor bundles, I had so many questions. 

Is this worth the effort? Where would I even print this? Do I need to laminate? 

Fast forward seven years and thousands of classrooms later, and I still hear those exact same questions on repeat from teachers just like you.

So bestie, let’s clear it all up 💛

Here are the 9 most common questions teachers ask about printable classroom decor and my honest answers as someone who creates it.

1. What IS printable classroom decor?

Digital files (usually PDFs) you download and print at school, home, or a print shop. 

Instead of physical products shipping to you, you get instant access to files you can use right away! 

Oh, and what’s even better is you can customize (type on) the labels and posters to make them better suit your classroom needs. 😊 With physical classroom decor, you are stuck with whatever text the posters and labels already say.

You can purchase once, print unlimited copies, and use it forever. 

Using printable classroom decor bundles is SO nice because when that new student arrives halfway through October, you don’t have to run out to the store to try to find one more nametag that kind of matches everyone else’s. 

You simply pull up your nametags file and hit print. 

2. What Type of Paper Should I Use?

This is THE most common question I’m asked. 

Regular white printer paper works well. However, I prefer premium paper as it is a little thicker and makes the colors more vibrant. I find it on Amazon or at Office Depot. 

Cardstock (65-110lb) is another great option if you’re printing:

• Posters / pieces that will be touched by students a lot
• Nametags and labels 
• Bulletin board pieces 

I purchase both my cardstock and premium paper from Amazon, and those packages last me a long time! 

3. Should I Print at Home or Use a Print Shop? 

This is a great question!

I personally prefer to print at home, and I’ve found a great way to do that without spending an arm and a leg on ink. 🙌

HP Instant Ink has become my new best friend….and it’s wayyyyy cheaper than using a print shop! 

With HP Instant Ink, I can print 100 pages (yes, even COLORED) for $8 a month. 🤯

And whatever I don’t use from that 100-page balance rolls over to the next month. (It’s pretty amazing!) 

Now, if you don’t have your own printer at home, I recommend finding a smaller local print shop rather than a big chain like Staples or Office Depot because those smaller, local spots are generally more affordable. 

And don’t forget to ask about teacher discounts! 😉

4. Do I Need to Laminate Everything? 

Absolutely not! 

But there are some things that will benefit from the extra time and care. 

Here’s my short list of things I do laminate for the classroom: 

• Anything that is going to be touched frequently: desk nametags, labels on bins, classroom job cards, schedule cards, calendar pieces, etc. 
• Anything you might want to use a dry-erase marker on 

Here’s my short list of things I almost never laminate: 

• Posters hanging on the wall (laminating these sometimes adds a glare and actually makes it harder to read.)
  • Things like your alphabet posters, skip counting posters, number line, etc. 

While I don’t take the time to laminate these, I do print them on premium paper or cardstock to make them a little more durable and bring out the colors. 

5. Are Your Printable Classroom Decor Bundles Editable?

It depends on the resource! 

Most of my decor bundles include TONS of editable items—things like name tags, labels, classroom jobs, schedules, meet the teacher letters, anything you’d typically like to customize. 

These come as PowerPoint or Canva files so you can type in your own text, change the font, language, font size, font color, or add your own graphics! Making changes to the editable files is super simple.

Watch this short video for more details on how to make those changes to the editable files, whether they are in PowerPoint or Canva! 

For a written step-by-step guide for making edits in PowerPoint, check out this blog post.

If you want to know if something specific is editable, check out the product description. I always list which items are editable and which program you’ll need (PowerPoint, Canva, etc.).

6. Do I Need to Purchase the Fonts to Use the Ones You Have? 

Not for any of my printable classroom decor bundles. 

I always like to embed the same font that I used in the PDF version in my text-editable version, so you don’t have to purchase it 😊

I am not sure about classroom decor from other TPT / Etsy shops, though, so I would ask if they embed their fonts. 

If you don’t see the cutesy font when you go to edit your classroom decor files, check out this post to troubleshoot that missing font! 

7. Can I Use the Printable Classroom Decor Bundles Year After Year? 

YES! 🤩 This is one of the best parts about printables.

When you purchase a printable, you own those digital files forever. You can:

• Re-download them from your “My Purchases” year after year
• Print more copies if something gets damaged
• Easily print an extra item if you get a new student mid-year

You’re basically buying lifetime access to classroom decor! 

8. How Do I Hang My Printed Decor?

There are lots of options for how to display your decor, and it’s going to come down to the type of wall you’re working with. 

For regular walls, you can choose between: 

• Staples 
• Painters tape with hot glue on top
• Mounting putty
• Push Pins
• Command strips for heavier items 

If you have cinderblock or brick walls: 

• Hot glue 
• Mounting Putty (I like the Gorilla brand) 

On bulletin boards: 

• Staples
• Push Pins 

9. Help! My Printer is Adding White Borders Around the Posters. How Do I Fix This? 

There’s a SUPER easy fix to this! 

I have an entire blog post about how to print without white borders. 

Click here for the step-by-step guide. 

Printable classroom decor makes it easy to create a beautiful, coordinated classroom that reflects your personality and teaching style- all without breaking the bank or spending your entire summer decorating!

Hopefully, these FAQs answered your questions and got you excited to get started!

If you’re ready to dive into the fun part (choosing a decor bundle), head over to my TPT store to browse my selection of classroom decor bundles!