Decorating a Classroom? Avoid These 10 Common Mistakes 

There are two versions of decorating a classroom.

The version in your head. 💭

And the version where you’re sitting on the floor surrounded by bulletin board letters, Command Strips, and a half-empty iced coffee, wondering where it all went wrong. 😂

The good news?

Most classroom decorating disasters are completely avoidable. 🙌

Here are 10 decorating a classroom mistakes teachers make all the time, and what to do instead.

Mistake #1: 🖨️ Printing Everything at Office Depot or Staples 

Taking your USB directly to one of these larger print stores does seem like the obvious answer. 

They can handle large-scale printing and do it beautifully. 

I even did this and recommended it, myself, for a while. 

But it’s become super expensive to print off larger decor bundles. Even with a teacher discount. 😬

So, I’ve stopped using it as my #1 suggestion. 

Now, I suggest checking out smaller, local print shops (their prices are often WAY better than the larger print & office supply shops), seeing if your local library has a free printing program, and printing from home using HP Instant Ink. 

HP Instant Ink has actually become my top suggestion on how to print things from your home without sacrificing quality and breaking the bank. 

Peep the groovy bundle I printed from my HP printer below!

HP Instant Ink costs only $8 for 100 color pages a month (at the time that I am writing this blog post). 🤯Talk about a great deal! 

Read more about what this program is and why I love it. 

Mistake #2: Buying Decor from Teacher Stores

It’s hard to walk into a teacher store and not walk out with something new for your walls or students. 

Until you are handed a new student, or something breaks or gets torn, and you are on the hunt for a replacement. 🫠

Buying classroom decor from teacher stores makes it difficult to replace if items get torn, broken, or you need another one. 

Which ends up in a classroom that looks less cohesive and feels more like a modgepodge. 

This teacher used the Pastel Retro bundle to create these cohesive spaces in her classroom. 

One of the things that makes this little corner so special is the fact that everything on her walls has the same color scheme, fonts, and icons to create a special nook that flows perfectly into the rest of the classroom.  

Finally, you can’t edit or change anything you purchase that is already printed and ready to hang. 

There are no editable labels you can use for an endless number of things in your classroom. 

And you’re stuck with whatever classroom rules are listed on the poster, instead of what you would actually like them to be. 

This classroom is featuring my Modern Calm Colors classroom bundle. 

Printable classroom decor bundles provide EVERYTHING you might need for your classroom, and then more! 

Choosing a printable classroom bundle over a mix-and-match from the teacher store will save you headaches and allow you to create a space that truly feels put together. 🤩

Mistake #3: Laminating Before Gluing Small Pieces Down

👋 Say goodbye to frustratingly pulling up your computer to reprint something because it got jumbled in the laminator. 

Grab a little glue stick and actually glue those small schedule card pieces or bulletin board decor pieces down BEFORE sending them through the laminator. 

Then you will no longer wait anxiously to make sure every part is usable. 

Your lamination will come out perfect the FIRST time. 🙌

Mistake #4: Overdecorating with Too Many Colors and Patterns

Throwing together multiple color palettes in your space.

Or using retro-style patterns on one wall and a space theme in the corner. 

While these seem extreme, even just having a couple of different types of patterns or different palettes of colors can make your space feel overstimulating and cluttered. 😅

And if it’s hard to focus, it’s hard to learn. 

Ensuring there is some white space still on your walls around your posters and resources helps give your students’ brains thinking space. 

This space uses the Retro Rodeo bundle to ensure everything is cohesive, has the same color pattern throughout, and leaves plenty of white space on the walls to avoid overdecorating. 🥰

Mistake #5: Spending Too Much Money on Classroom Decor

Copying Pinterest-worthy classrooms can add up quickly. 

Finding the perfect rug, piece of furniture, bins, different types of seating, and more is not cheap. 

Unless you think outside the box a little bit 😉. 

Decorating a classroom (and doing it well) does not have to equal new furniture. 

Check out Facebook Marketplace for rugs, furniture, bins, bookshelves, seating options, and more. 

I found this pink storage bench below on fb marketplace that looked brand new!! 😍

Swing by garage sales in the summer for bargains that will go great in your classroom. 

And finally, reuse and repurpose anything you already have! 👍

Mistake #6: Hanging Bulletin Boards Without a Plan

Raise your hand if you wish hanging bulletin boards could go faster. 🤪

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. 

While this tip won’t magically speed up time, it will mean you only have to hang things once. 

And if I know anything about decorating a classroom, it’s that having to redo a bulletin board that is 90% put together because there isn’t enough space to get that last letter up is tantamount to the world ending. 

The good news is there’s a simple way to fix that! 🙌

Prep your bulletin boards BEFORE you hang them. 

Something I love to do is actually lay the pieces on the floor first. 

This allows me to see how much space I will actually need (and measure if needed) so I won’t get in a pickle when I’m ready to just be done. 

My other HUGE tip is to use washi tape to temporarily place pieces on the bulletin board before stapling anything permanently. 

I actually created a DIY bulletin board for this classroom! 

Then you can stand back, make small adjustments, and make sure everything is exactly where you want it before pulling out the stapler. 🙌

Mistake #7: Using Tape or Nails that Damage Walls

One of my biggest teacher tips is to get on your custodian’s good side & do whatever it takes to stay there. 

They are the ones with the real power in the school building 😉. 

A great way to get on their good side is to avoid using nails or tape (and even pushpins) that will damage the walls. 

You can always use Command Hooks or strips. 

The 16lb Command Strip works great for picture frames, mirrors, etc. 

But if you’re trying not to spend a fortune on hanging supplies, painter’s tape and hot glue work just as well. 🤯

Put the painter’s tape down where you want the poster to hang, add some hot glue on top of the tape, and place the poster on top. 

Voila! You are decorating a classroom WITHOUT becoming your custodian’s nemesis. 😏

Mistake #8: Forgetting to Leave Space for Important Visual Supports

Decorating a classroom is SO fun. It’s easy to get distracted and fill in all of the empty spaces on the wall with your favorite decor items. 

Only to realize you don’t have space for your alphabet line. Or schedule. Or calendar. Or learning targets. 😬

Let alone anchor charts and content posters. 🫠

Start by placing the items you know you need to support your students and classroom management. 

Then fill in the extra areas with your other favorites! 

Mistake #9: Not Having an Organizational System for all of your Papers

There is a common enemy among all classrooms: papers. 📄

They quickly cover every available surface. And become impossible to find when you need them. 

Before you know it, you’re sprinting to the copier to make more copies for your social studies lesson because you can’t remember where you put them down. 

Having an organizational system for your copies is KEY to staying sane in the midst of crazy days. 🤩

I LOVE a 10-drawer cart for papers, but other teachers love using a filing system, weekly bins or drawers, or a combination of everything. 

These editable rolling cart labels are included in the Hello Pastel Classroom Theme. 

Another idea is to organize papers in binders. 

Whatever route you choose, I strongly encourage you to label your binders, drawers, or other solutions. That way, it is SUPER clear what papers need to go where. 

Mistake #10: Forgetting to Check the Curriculum First 

Your curriculum might actually HELP you as you begin decorating a classroom. 

Before you jump in with what supports and resources you THINK your students will benefit from, check in with your curriculum. 

See what topics, standards, and skills you’ll be teaching your students this year. 

Then you’ll be able to answer the question: what anchor charts will my class need this year? 👏

You’ll know if a RACES display is something your students will utilize every day of the school year.

You’ll pull up the editable posters and know exactly what anchor chart to create. 

Decorating a classroom should be done in a way that supports student learning, not just makes the space look and feel cute. 🙌

At the end of the day, decorating a classroom isn’t about creating the most impressive room in the building.

It’s about creating a space that works.

A space that helps students learn.
A space that helps you stay organized.
And a space that feels like home for the next school year.

Avoiding these 10 common mistakes will help you spend less time redoing projects and more time enjoying the classroom you’ve worked so hard to create.

If you aren’t fully certain whether using a printable classroom decor bundle is actually worth it, check this blog post out. It’s filled with 9 FAQs to help you decide if it’s the right path for you!

And if you’re still looking for the perfect decor bundle for your classroom, I’d be honored for you to consider the bundles I’ve put together.