How To Decorate A Classroom With No Windows

My friend Bonnie reached out to me last week to run across if I could help her figure out how to decorate her new classroom. She is switching roles from teaching eye schoolhouse social studies to the middle school guidance counselor. Bonnie was nervous about the room having no windows and feeling claustrophobic.

We met at school last calendar week to accept a await. Here's what the space looks like right at present:

Yikes. Quite the challenge. Let'southward start with the positive. The walls have just been painted that light turquoise color, and the new linoleum floor is a calorie-free greyness. Bonnie likes the wall colour so that is a good thing. The classroom is large. It will serve as a place for Bonnie to run into with students 1-on-one, and in group settings.

Here's what she had to say about her approach to working with her students and her goals with her new classroom:

Showtime, I want them to know that I recognize them equally individuals – with their ain unique talents and gifts. Second, I want them to feel supported in their learning and daily activities in my classroom. And third, I desire to create a super positive, fun and happy spot in their solar day when they're with me.

Tin you see why she is such a beloved instructor?! These students truly feel respected past Bonnie.

Coming Upward with a Program

When trying to come up upwardly with some ideas to make this classroom more than welcoming for Bonnie and the students she serves, I started with the major factors to address. I ordinarily like to start here because I meet design as a manner of solving bug and leveraging opportunities.

In the instance of this room, the 3 biggest issues that I saw were:

1. No texture. The vast amount of cement block and linoleum are flat and artificial. Never has there been a improve case written report for a lack of texture than this room. We tin add texture with baskets, weathered wood, pillows, etc.
2. No natural light. Considering of the lack of windows…or a window, there are non trees, sunshine or cakewalk to look at. This room needs life added – big time.
3. The color. The color per se is not a problem, it is but something that we will need to highly consider when bringing in whatsoever other colors. If yous bring in anything that is bright, or even too much of a pastel, it could apace turn into a kiddy space which I know she doesn't want.

In add-on to those factors, our two other challenges will be the existing furniture and…budget. The article of furniture was all being stored in a separate room. From what I could run across, it is clunky, heavy and brown. Bonnie and I will be getting together in the next week or ii to start playing around with the placement. At that point, nosotros will become a better idea of what we are up confronting. Every bit for budget, there really is none. Bonnie volition be picking upwardly some things on her own.

After facing the challenges straight on, my next step was to first coming up with ideas for Bonnie'south classroom. Brainstorming how we could make this a space that fits her needs and that her middle schoolhouse students love.

Source

Bonnie texted me this image to give me an idea of an role she loves. Of course she would selection this gorgeous light-filled infinite from i of my favorite designers, Studio McGee . It'due south super traditional and fresh at the same time. While it was tough to replicate the calorie-free in this room, I did remember we could try to get the same corporeality of texture. Delight note how much life the pops of greenery add to this home part. Not sure if we will be able to become one, I did find a desk similar to the inspiration image at a Dandy price in case Bonnie decides she wants to pass on the i currently slated for her classroom.

I compiled the products for the inspiration mostly from Target , with a few fiddling things from World Market place and Pier Ane sprinkled in. The reason for this is three-fold: 1) Target is local to us. Information technology's like shooting fish in a barrel to popular in, grab a few things and go. 2) Sometimes students get y'all gift cards to awesome places like Target 🙂

Bonnie is non stuck to ownership everything from one place. These boards are just to help her visualize the colors, textures and elements she tin add to her infinite. And then, if she happens upon something at a garage sale, on clearance at a dissimilar shop or wherever, she tin can pick that up just the aforementioned. These boards can guide her in her choices.

Choice #ane – Textured Traditional Classroom

This mood lath reflects a traditional way in neutral tones. Lots of grays and a dark indigo as a little bit of colour. The colors are kept neutral to offset the effulgence coming from the walls. You volition see both mood boards include greenery because the room needs that bear upon of life.  Considering the room gets zippo natural light, preserved boxwoods and faux plants will exist her friends. The hooks are also on both boards. These will be crucial for student backpacks to go up on instead of the floor.

Choice #ii – Inviting Littoral Classroom

Selection #two is a little more than littoral, less traditional than the showtime. The colors are a little brighter. In that location is however a lot of textural elements, like the chair, the throw, the burlap in the lamp shade, etc. The area rug comes in a blue version and this warmer version. I beloved the blue ane, but we needed something to rest all of the bluish we have in the walls. The little bits of rusty coral is perfect. Here is a closeup of the carpet so y'all can see:

And then there you lot have it. Two different looks with a lot in common. What I love is that Bonnie can mix and friction match from both if she would like. Most of the elements could easily be swapped.  Once I get feedback from Bonnie on which look she prefers, it volition be easier to move forrard on the furniture placement. I will go along you posted on how that goes!

Which one is your favorite? Practise you prefer the more toned down neutral, or the brighter selection?

Similar these inspiration posts? Check out similar posts Here .

Source: https://www.theoutsideandin.com/inspiration-windowless-classroom/

Posted by: meurerfiefultoothe.blogspot.com

Share this post