As a classroom teacher, you can often find yourself in a situation where you need smart classroom storage solutions when your room doesn’t have many cupboards or cupboards to store all the teaching aids you need throughout the year.
From math manipulatives to textbooks and teacher’s editions, there are plenty of things that need to find a place to live in your classroom. Here are seven easy-to-implement classroom storage ideas to help keep your classroom organized and running smoothly.
Classroom storage ideas that work
Depending on the available space and limitations when it comes to hanging things in your classroom, some ideas may work well and some may not be an option. Choose the ones that work for you and give you the classroom storage you so desperately need!
Included in the ideas below are affiliate links to help you find materials and storage solutions to help keep your classroom organized.
1 – Hang up bulletin boards
Pegboards are one of my favorite classroom storage hacks! They don’t take up a ton of space, but they hold so many things! There are pegboard baskets that can be used to hold binders and larger items, and then simple pegs that are great for hanging scissors, rulers and all sorts. You can even hang small buckets on pegs and take them down for use in small groups or centers. Pegboards make storage and easy access to materials easy!
2 – Use marked containers
It may sound simple, but labeling containers can be a game changer! Place labeled containers around the classroom for items such as markers and crayons so students know where they should go after use. By labeling boxes and bins, students can easily help you keep your classroom organized. There are self-adhesive labels that are great if you never have to remove them, but clip-on labels are also an option that make it easy to change things out from year to year.
3 – Recycle shoe boxes
You can put all kinds of school supplies in the shoe box and label it with contents such as stationery or art supplies. For extra flair, cover the shoe boxes with pretty sticky paper to match your classroom’s color scheme! Shoe boxes are an inexpensive option to add much needed classroom storage to your space!
4 – Use Over-the-Door Storage
Take advantage of the unused space behind the classroom door by installing an over-the-door organizer to store classroom items such as flashcards, paper clips, erasers, etc. While you may not be able to place the organizer on the main classroom door, if you have a closet, it would be great door organizer. Some teachers also use them to store rewards or incentives in the classroom!
5 – Hang baskets and buckets
Hang some extra large wire baskets on the walls for classroom items like notebooks, folders, and textbooks that need to be easily accessible but also properly stored! For smaller items, use colorful buckets or containers so you can easily see what’s inside without having to dig.
6 – Furniture for reuse
Use an old, repainted dresser or bookcase as a classroom storage cabinet by adding baskets and labels to organize all of your classroom items. You may even want to have a small bookcase by your center tables or an area with all the centerpieces in the tubs.
If you have an old dresser, label and use the drawers to store everything from science materials to math manipulatives to whiteboards and more! Drawer dividers can be really useful! Just make sure if you use furniture in the classroom that it’s properly anchored to the wall so it doesn’t fall on the students. You may need to enlist the help of your school’s superintendent and maintenance staff to help you with this.
7 – Use window sills
Windowsills are one of the best places to get extra storage space in your classroom. They are usually deep enough to accommodate boxes and baskets without obstructing the view or blocking access. Some firefighters can be picky about stuff on their windowsills, so be sure to check with your office before you take the plunge and decorate your windowsills with storage solutions!
As classroom teachers, we often need clever storage solutions in the classroom when our rooms do not have enough cupboards or cupboards. With these seven easy-to-implement classroom storage ideas, you can keep your classroom organized and running smoothly without wasting space. From hanging hangers to reusing old furniture, there are plenty of ways to create a functional yet stylish classroom environment that is sure to please you and your students! So go ahead and start planning how to store all those supplies so everyone can focus on learning instead of clutter.
