1,440 hours. That’s the minimum amount of time you spend in your classroom each school year. You likely spend as many waking hours in your classroom as you do at home. So why not make your classroom a happier and cozier place to be? No matter your budget, there are ways you can create an inspiring environment for students and yourself. If you want to make a great first day impression and boost morale all year long, here are some ELA classroom decorations that will help you get started!
Light Academia ELA Classroom Decorations
If you love light-filled libraries, vintage books, and classical music playing softly in the background, the Light Academia theme might be calling your name. This aesthetic is all about a romanticized version of academic life, which makes it the perfect fit for English teachers. You can get all the ELA classroom decorations in this post: Light Academia Middle School ELA Classroom Decor
How to decorate your English classroom:
- Color Palette: Use warm neutrals, soft whites, and blues.
- Wall Decorations: Frame posters using gold-trimmed borders.
- DIY Fireplaces: Bring cozy vibes with a faux fireplace made from cardboard or backdrop designs, paired with flickering battery-operated candles.
- Lighting: Hang fairy and string lights for a soft, whimsical glow.
- Library Vibes: Create the ambiance of an old library with stacks of thrifted books and display them in creative ways, such as table numbers.
- Furniture and Accents: Incorporate gold clips for your student displays, storage cubes for visual cleanliness, and light-colored curtains to soften your windows.
Dark Academia English Classroom
If you love moody colors, antique bookstores, and reading Gothic literature by a fire, the Dark Academia theme might be more your style. This theme idea for English teachers channels a “Hogwarts library” vibe in all the best ways. Browse the ELA classroom decorations in this post: Dark Academia High School English Classroom Decor
How to decorate your ELA classroom:
- Color Palette: Use deep greens, burgundies, black, gold, and dark wood tones.
- Wall Accents: Think owl artwork, moody blackboards, and Gothic-style picture frames.
- Focal Points: Add a mood-setting fireplace backdrop
- Lighting: Opt for string lights or warm incandescent lamps to reduce harsh fluorescent lighting and add to the old-world charm.
- Creative Accessories: Adorn your desk or walls with vintage items like clocks, bookends shaped like globes or busts, or even a thrifted Shakespeare figurine.
Nature-Themed ELA Classroom
If you love earth tones, plants, and reading a book in a hammock with a mountain view, then a nature-themed ELA classroom will make you feel right at home. This aesthetic is all about bringing the outdoors right into your classroom with a classroom design that promotes calmness and creativity. Find nature-themed ELA classroom decorations in this post: Nature Themed Classroom Decor: A Calming Plant Filled Classroom
How to decorate your English classroom:
- Color Palette: Choose colors inspired by your favorite scenes in nature
- Plants, Plants, Plants: Incorporate potted plants, hanging macrame planters, or even faux plants to create a leafy oasis.
- Textures and Patterns: Use wooden textures, birch-tree wallpapers, and woven materials like baskets or throw pillows.
- Feature Walls: Transform an otherwise dull bulletin board with shower curtain nature scene
- Cozy Nooks: Add a reading tent or soft seating area with stump-shaped cushions and rugs where students can unwind with a good book.
- Lighting: Suncatcher crystals, string lights, and lamps can bring light into your classroom
Retro Reading English Classroom
If you love retro colors, thrift stores, and listening to Dolly Parton on a record player, then you’ll vibe with the Reading Retro classroom! This is an easy-to-thrift theme perfect for bringing in pops of color and playful design elements. Get inspired by the ELA classroom decorations in this post: A Dolly Parton Retro Classroom Theme
How to decorate your ELA classroom:
- Color Palette: Incorporate retro rainbow colors like mustard yellow and burnt orange.
- Wall Art: Hang records, retro-themed posters, or vintage-style literary quotes as focal points.
- Props and Accessories: Use old suitcases for practical storage and display thrifted desk lamps for extra lighting.
- Interactive Spaces: Include retro elements like records, affirmation cards on a vintage Rolodex, or disco balls reflecting light.
- Bulletin Boards: Use cane accents and retro-colored borders.
World Literature ELA Classroom
If you love shades of blue and greens, diverse cultures, and exploring the globe, then a world-themed classroom will check all the boxes. This design helps set the stage for world history or world literature classrooms in a beautiful way. Though originally designed for my husband’s history classroom, you can get ELA classroom decoration ideas in this post: Middle School World History Classroom: Inspiration for a Small Windowless Classroom
How to decorate your ELA classroom:
- Color Palette: Think globe colors in shades of blue and green
- Maps and Globes: Hang a giant map tapestry and suspend inflatable globes from the ceiling using craft wire.
- Flag Displays: Arrange international flags along walls to highlight the diversity of authors and geographical contexts.
- Cultural Accents: Look for affordable replicas or posters of cultural artifacts, international clocks set to various time zones, or traditional craft pieces.
- Quotes That Inspire: Feature quotes from famous authors in large prints as part of your walls’ focus areas.
- Designated Work Displays: Add areas to rotate student work under the theme “Your Voice in the World.”
Decorate Your ELA Classroom
We all know that what happens in a classroom is far more important than what goes on a classroom wall. But, if you care about classroom activities AND aesthetics, then I hope this post has inspired you to decorate your English classroom!
Want help bringing your vision to life? Download a classroom decor kit to get started! Or, if you have a theme in mind that I haven’t covered, get creative here: How to Make Classroom Decor Bundles in Canva
