I get so many emails from sweet teachers asking me to give them a classroom makeover. I wish I could travel all over this country and help people with this overwhelming task! Truth is, it’s very difficult to travel with all of my “stuff” to decorate. I’ve done it before and it’s the hardest thing ever! I’ve literally had to pack an ENTIRE classroom into one suitcase before…let me tell you, it was brutal!
With that said, I WANT to do a “real” room makeover here and there, but I know that it’s so much easier if I stay close to home and have access to all of my supplies. Real classrooms are a bit tricky because, like this classroom, I only have a short time to decorate and I’m limited to the amount of hours that I’m allowed in the building. I need to be able to get in, decorate quickly, and get out before students arrive.
Abby is the PERFECT candidate for a classroom makeover for a few reasons…
1. Abby has a small classroom 2. She doesn’t have a lot of clutter in her room 3. Her school is in my neighborhood and I can get there in a couple minutes.
So, when Abby and I discussed the possibility of a Schoolgirl Style makeover last August, we quickly started to brainstorm ideas for her classroom theme. Abby has great taste, but unlike me, Abby doesn’t like anything “girly.” Abby is drawn to traditional and classic designs AND she doesn’t like bright colors. I was SO excited about creating a classroom that met her personal taste AND wasn’t too cutesy for her 4th grade students! We came up with several ideas, but ultimately, we were inspired by…
Tommy Hilfiger!
I created a red, white, and blue plaid pattern inspired by Tommy Hilfiger as the starting point. I then added coordinating patterns for a clean, summery, Americana inspired classroom!
Introducing County Fair!
We decorated with a classic red, white, and blue color scheme with chalkboard accents…
Our first step to transforming Abby’s room was to hide a boring wall in the back of her classroom. We transformed this dull space by stapling black fadeless bulletin board paper to the entire back wall. I wanted it to look like chalkboard without damaging the wall with paint or glue. Stapling paper worked perfectly and it’s easy to remove when Abby decides to change her theme!
We used accents of this sweet gingham throughout her classroom!
We also brought denim into our color scheme by sewing valances to hide clutter throughout her classroom.
One of my absolute favorite details of Abby’s room…striped awnings on her bulletin boards! I used striped wrapping paper from Party City and covered a 3-fold presentation board with the paper. I added white Bordette and red glitter tape on the sides of the board for an added detail. I then stapled the entire presentation board to her bulletin board! So easy!
Wicker baskets are the perfect addition to the design!
I used black fadeless bulletin board paper around the top of the classroom walls. This space is typically bare in classrooms and it shouldn’t be used for reference materials because it’s not at the children’s eye level. This is the perfect space to create something decorative aunique!
A message center was created in Abby’s classroom using my Chalkboard Organization In Style collection…
I need to give credit to Juliet Poirer ( her child is in Abby’s classroom) for the creation of this back wall. I found a quote that I loved and had Juliet copy it on the black paper. She actually free handed this! Once she finished writing it, we stapled it to the back wall. This is an amazing focal point!
We criss-crossed pennants over the rug area!
We used coordinating papers and my Organization In Style collection to create cute supply storage!
I LOVE this detail…we used Abby’s wagon and created a “book mobile!” Abby planned to use this to transfer library books back and forth. This is SO cute!
I like to find an area in classrooms where students can find any supplies they need. In Abby’s room, we chose an empty counter for our designated supply spot. I added my chalkboard labels from my Organization In Style package as an added detail.
If I could do it all over again, I would paint these old, rusty file cabinets. Like I said, my time was limited and I didn’t have any time to spray paint them. Instead, I used a blank alphabet card and covered as much as I could. This at least brought some pattern and detail into the room. I then added a chalkboard label from my Organization In Style package to label each drawer.
I used the striped wrapping paper on Abby’s metal shelves. She knows I’m not crazy about these, so I needed to dress them up a bit and disguise the industrial look. I had my hubby cut foam board to fit on each shelve, then wrapped in coordinating paper. It looked SO much better with this added detail!
I added a few touches of sparkly glitter in Abby’s room in random places!
We used twine and clothespins to display “PRIZE” work…
Red tickets and ribbons are the perfect accessory in your County Fair theme!
We used the black paper to display the district’s Character Education traits (to pull in the curriculum) and reinforced those traits on the ribbons! We also thought it would be fun to add the year her class will graduate! I really LOVE this!
I love the flag jar with tinsel…just another way to add some sparkle!
This is the view from the hallway…
We found that using a white oil pastel or a white paint pen works great to write on the fadeless bulletin board paper.
I adore this old, vintage Coke crate purchased from Etsy! I used this as a clever way to store supplies!
I found these wooden Coke caddies at Kmart on clearance. I bought one for each table to hold student supplies.
I laugh every time I see this picture! What was I thinking? It was suppose to say 2022, not 2012. Yep, I was tired!:)
I used all sorts of fun ribbon in glitter, polka dots, and stripes to create this piece!
Sweet daisies wrapped in coordinating paper (I used a soup can) is such a cute detail to add throughout your classroom!
Giveaway!
Now’s YOUR chance to own this beautiful collection along with your bulletin board paper and border from Pacon. Plus, I’m going to give you coordinating lanterns, daisies, or poms to hang in your room too!
I’ve teamed up with Rachelle and Natalie from What the Teacher Wants to offer you an amazing prize package!
Are you following Rachelle and Natalie yet?
I adore this dynamic duo! I can’t imagine sharing a blog, but these girls do it and they are AWESOME! The two of them have such a great chemistry and it shows in the amount of followers they have! They DO know what teachers want and have created quite the following!
These two women are beautiful on the inside and out! They literally inspire thousands of teachers on a daily basis!
I would LOVE for you to stop by their blog, take a look around, and make sure you enter our BIG decor giveaway!
Here are the prizes:
– COUNTY FAIR full digital collection from Schoolgirl Style
-Fadeless paper from Pacon
-Coordinating border from Pacon
-Poms, daisies, or lanterns from the Schoolgirl Style Shop
Over $100 value!
Click HERE to head over to What the Teacher Wants blog…
Let’s Go Shopping!
Photography: E.C. Campbell Photography
COUNTY FAIR classroom decor: Schoolgirl Style Shop
Fadeless bulletin board paper: Schoolgirl Style Shop
border: Schoolgirl Style Shop
paper daisies: Schoolgirl Style Shop
silver buckets: Target
white paint pens, ribbon, flowers: Michaels
ribbon, wicker baskets: Joann Fabric
Red and white striped wrapping paper: Party City
Chalkboard easels, glitter stars: Hobby Lobby
Message Center & Black Chalkboard labels: Schoolgirl Style Shop (Organization In Style package)
Coke crate: Etsy
coke caddies: Kmart
flags, bunting: Walmart
Blue book baskets, black book baskets: Dollar Tree
white file folders in Message Center, paper: Staples (I used a high gloss photo paper for best results)
Most items are editable and can be personalized for a custom look (Type in your student’s names and customize classroom labels…perfect handwriting every time!)
Breathtakingly beautiful!
Erin
Short and Sassy Teacher
Thank you for all of your kind words, Erin!!! You made my reveal so much fun with all of your nice comments! xoxo
Amazing!!!!!
Thank you, Joy!
Beautiful!! Love this!!!
Thanks, sis!!!
Oh, this is just wonderful! So all-American! I really love the graduation year and the character traits on the ribbons. And the buntings! I think the red and blue plaid might be my favorite pattern of all your patterns! Every time I look back at the pictures, I find something else to love. And the wheels are turning in my mind as I consider the possibilities of using a blank alphabet card! So, so cute, so boy and girl-friendly and just right for fourth graders. Abby is one lucky girl to have her classroom made over by you, Melanie.
Thank you for all of these new themes– I have truly enjoyed discovering each one and have loved finding new blogs to follow. What a great idea to do it this way!
Awe! Thank you so so much, Diane! You have made this experience fun too! I looked forward to all of your sweet comments. Thank you so much for all of your support! xoxo
Wow I think they should have the next TH kids photo shoot in that class! It really does capture the style. Very pretty Melanie.
Mels
Thank you!!! I agree! 🙂
I have enjoyed getting up each morning to see what the new reveal will be. I don’t know what I’ll do tomorrow! You have made it very difficult for me to decide on my theme for next year. Either way I go I can’t lose, right?! Now I’m off to start making my pro/con list. I may need an intervention!
I LOVE that you need an intervention! You just made me happy! 🙂
I agree 100%. I’m torn between three designs and have been polling everyone I work with to find the right fit for me. I’m sad to see the fun designs stop, but now I can finally choose! 🙂
I love this collection because it is so fresh and classic at the same time. Perfect!!
Thank you! I love it too!!!
I love the black paper above the bulletin board! You have inspired me! Going to try to SOMEHOW incorporate that into my yellow and gray classroom. Any tips?
Use hot glue!!! 🙂
I love covering clutter with valances! How were you able to do that, if you don’t mind my asking?
I use the sew on tape to create valances. I can’t actually sew, but it irons on and works perfectly!
I am so sad that this is the last day. I’ve been looking forward to this each day. I work in a super stressful district and this gave me inspiration for next year. I loved the classroom makeover. Very preppy. My favorites were the valances, coke containers and low clotheslines. Loved this! Still haven’t officially chosen which theme I’m going to choose for next year. Thank you again Melanie for your hard work. I’m sure your ready to relax!
Awe! You made me all teary eyed! Thank you so much for all of your kind words throughout the reveal…you truly made my day with each collection!
I bet Abby is SOOO happy with this room! I’m not a huge fan of patriotic or americana themes, but I could definitely live in this one! I love every single detail! You did a great job of showing how a beautifully decorated classroom can also be functional and educational. I get so tired of people judging cute classrooms and saying those teachers must not focus as much on academics because they are busy decorating. Most the time, we do both! I really might have to twist your arm into vacationing in Maui this summer and helping me set up my new classroom. Our new house has a guest room – just saying! 😉 Love and love everything you do – Congrats on a beautiful and successful reveal!
This is truly amazing! I love this set and you just always know just how to pull it together. I wish you lived in California so you could come help me too! I have enjoyed your reveal so much. I have looked forward to checking your blog every morning and I have not been disappointed. Thank you for inspiring me. I still can’t decide which one I will purchase. I need time to let them all sink in.
Wendi! You have been AWESOME during the reveal…thank you SO much! You have no idea how much I appreciate all of your kind comments!
PERFECTION, as usual!
Thank you so much! 🙂
This is simply beautiful. So many amazing choices for next year. Trying to adjust from Kinder. decor to 4th grade is a challenge –
I can understand for sure…I went from Kindergarten to 4th grade as well!:)
Absolutely gorgeous. I retired last year but IF I were still teaching, I would definitely do this for my 5th graders. So well done!!
Wow! I will be entering my 18th year of teaching this fall and I am looking forward to implementing this set into my classroom! I have many patriotic/Americana student gifts that will work well. What a refreshing, gender welcoming design. You are truly talented.
I absolutely love every single detail!! This looks amazing! I am moving from a primary school to an elementary school teaching 5th grade. I just went to look at my new classroom and the walls are not white. The bottom half is gray, there is white chair molding. Above the molding, most walls are a pail yellow, and then there is one small accent sort of wall that is a terracotta orange. Sadly I won’t be able to do this county fair theme with what I’m working with but I don’t have a clue as to what theme I could do. Lot’s of brain storming will be going on.
Beautiful! I just ordered your package. I’m having difficulty typing on the nameplates. Can you tell me how to go about typing, changing the font, and resizing on the PDF.?
Thanks!
Hi Tess! My assistant can help you with this! Can you email me at schoolgirlstyle@gmail.com and I will forward your email to her? Thanks!!!
This is so creative!
The link above to purchase the package takes us instead to the gingerbread party theme supplies~ Is it one and the same??
Wow I think they should have the next TH kids photo shoot in that class! It really does capture the style. Very pretty Melanie. I have enjoyed your reveal so much. I have looked forward to checking your blog every morning and I have not been disappointed. where to buy essay – Irish Essays Thank you for inspiring me.