Are you looking for creative new ideas to decorate your classroom door? Do you enjoy creating something that ties in with your classroom theme, the current season, or some of your students’ interests? Adding fun decorations to your classroom door is the perfect way to welcome students into your room. We’ve selected 18 of the best classroom door decoration ideas to help you choose unique and exciting ways to display your creative side.
In her TEDx Talk, children’s book author Catherine Thimmesh shares that “creativity is the ability to make new things or think of new or original ideas.” She explains how important it is for teachers to help their students learn to think outside of the box and provide them with opportunities to enhance their creative thinking skills.
According to Thimmesh, one of the key reasons why helping students develop their creative thinking skills is so important is because we don’t know what the future holds. Teachers are supposed to prepare students for the future, but since we don’t know what that future will look like, our students need to be equipped to come up with creative solutions for challenges that are yet unknown.
In the real world, problems are much more complex and open-ended than simply selecting the correct answer from a list of questions. Helping children become more creative thinkers can help prepare them for a future career and other possible challenges they may face.
One way you can help develop your students’ creative thinking skills is to involve them in planning and decorating your classroom door each month. Students can brainstorm their own ideas for the theme or ways they can decorate the door to match the monthly theme or units of focus in your classroom. Involving students in this process will not only help develop their creative thinking skills, but it can also help them feel like they are important members of your classroom community.
Best Classroom Door Decoration Ideas
- Pumpkin →
- Popcorn →
- Dr. Seuss Ideas →
- You are… →
- Owls →
- Look Who’s Hiding in the Leaves →
- Out of This World →
- Fall Decorating →
- Turtle →
- Today a Reader Tomorrow a Leader →
- Snowman →
- Emojis →
- Be ARTrageous →
- The Kids are Making Memories →
- Disney →
- Sunglasses →
- Birthdays →
- Superheroes →
In the sections below, I’ve pulled together 18 creative ways you can decorate your classroom door. Involve your students in the process of planning out the door and creating the different decorations that will be placed on it.
1. Pumpkin
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Orange, black, and green butcher paper or construction paper
- Markers
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
This fun pumpkin door decoration is the perfect way to welcome students during the weeks leading up to Halloween. With just a few different colors of construction paper, you can transform a boring door into a fun (or spooky) jack-o-lantern. To decorate your door, you’ll first need to cut out a large piece of orange butcher paper that is large enough to cover the entire door. Cut out a hole for the window, and attach the paper to your door.
Next, cut out the face for your jack-o-lantern from black paper.
You could involve students in this step by having them vote for whether they want a silly, spooky, or traditional face or even having them draw their own jack-o-lantern faces and voting on one as a class.
To finish off the door, add some leaves and vines using green construction paper. You can create the vines by rolling/twisting a long piece of butcher paper.
Best for: A fall classroom theme with early elementary school students
2. Popcorn
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Red, white, and yellow butcher paper or construction paper
- Two plastic popcorn bins/buckets
- Popcorn cutouts
- Stringed popcorn
- Markers
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
Kids love popcorn, and this poppin’ classroom door decoration is sure to get them excited to walk into your room. The door says “Look Who’s Popping In” and has each student’s name written on a large piece of popcorn. This would be a great way to decorate your door for the beginning of the school year and display the name of each student in your class.
To create this door, start with a large piece of red butcher paper covering your door. Cut out or print out letters to write “Look Who’s Popping In.” Next, create a large popcorn bucket out of construction paper. You can write your name/grade level on this if you’d like.
Print out large images of pieces of popcorn and write each students’ name on one piece.
To put the door together, you can center the “Look Who’s Popping In” towards the top of the door and place the large popcorn bucket with your name on the bottom of the door. Next, scatter and tape or glue the student names around the rest of the board. You may also choose to add a string of popcorn garland to the top of your door or attach a few small popcorn buckets to it.
Best for: Elementary school classrooms at the beginning of the school year
3. Dr. Seuss Ideas
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Orange, yellow, red, white, gray, and black butcher paper or construction paper
- Markers
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
Who doesn’t love Dr. Suess? Young children will be excited to see some of their favorite Dr. Suess characters come to life on their classroom door. This door features the Lorax, Horton, and the Cat in the Hat, though you could easily switch in some of your students’ other favorites.
Next to each character is a speech bubble with a quote from their book. For example, the Lorax is saying, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
For as cute as it is, this door is actually pretty simple to create. You’ll want to start with an orange piece of butcher paper covering the entire door. Next, you’ll use the colored construction papers to cut out shapes to make the faces of Lorax, Horton, and the Cat in the Hat. Finally, print out the quotes from each book and cut them out in the shape of a speech bubble.
This door would be the perfect way to kick off Read Across America Day, a unit on Dr. Suess, or other exciting Dr. Suess activities (https://mytechclassroom.com/dr-seuss-classroom-ideas/) with your students.
Best for: Early elementary school students at any time of the year or in March for Read Across America Day
4. You are…
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Black, white, blue, yellow, green, orange, and pink butcher paper or construction paper.
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
Welcome students into your room with an empowering message with this classroom door idea. The door reads “You are SMART; You are BRAVE; You are STRONG; You are KIND; You are LOVED.” Each time students enter your room and read this message, they will get a boost in their self-confidence and be reminded that you, their teacher, believe in them and thinks they can be successful.
To put this door together, start with a black backdrop on your door. Then cut out the words for the saying using construction paper.
Use white construction paper and a smaller font for each “You are.” Choose bright colors with a bolder, thicker font for the adjectives (SMART, BRAVE, STRONG, KIND, LOVED). Using brighter colors for these adjectives will make them stand out for kids and show that they are the keywords on your door.
Best for: Students of any age at any time of the year
5. Owls
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Black, brown, green, and yellow butcher paper or construction paper
- Assorted colors of construction paper for the owls
- Yellow border
- Markers
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
If you have an owl theme for your classroom or just love owls, this classroom door is a great option for displaying the names of the students in your class at the beginning of the school year. The door says, “Look Whooo’s in (Mr. or Mrs. _____’s) Class” and shows owls with each student’s name sitting in a tree.
To create this door, start with a black background and add a yellow border if you’d like. Next, cut out a large brown tree and a yellow crescent moon from construction paper. Print out or cut out owls for each student and write their name on them.
Or, you could have students design and color their own owls for the door. Next, print out the wording for the door: “Look Whooo’s in (Mr. or Mrs. _____’s) Class.”
To put the door altogether, start with gluing or taping the tree to the door. Next, place the crescent moon on the top left-hand side of the tree. Finally, add the text to the tree and place each students’ owl so it looks like they’re sitting in the tree.
Best for: Elementary school students for the beginning of the school year
6. Look Who’s Hiding in the Leaves
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Light blue, black, and brown construction paper
- Fake fall leaves/leaf cutouts
- Pictures of each student (cut out around their body)
- String/rope
- Markers
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
Jumping in the leaves is a fun childhood activity, and you can make it look like the students in your classroom are jumping in the leaves on your classroom door with this cute idea. The door says, “Look Who’s Hiding in the Leaves” and shows each student’s picture popping out of a big pile of leaves.
To put this door together, you need to start with a light blue or neutral background taped to the door. Use a thick marker to write “Look Who’s Hiding in the” on the top of the door. You could also cut out or print out black letters and attach them to the door.
Next, use brown paper with white letters to create a small banner that says “LEAVES” and attach it under the other text on the door.
Take the pictures of each student and the fake leaves and arrange them on the bottom of the door so it looks like each student’s body is jumping out of the leaves. If you have too many students to easily fit them all on the bottom of the door without it looking too crowded, you could add a small bucket or wheelbarrow cutout to the side of your door where you could add more of your students mixed in with more fake leaves.
Best for: Fall/the beginning of the school year for younger students
7. Out of This World
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Black, orange, yellow, blue, and white butcher paper or construction paper
- Printed/hand-made spaceship icons for each student
- Markers
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
Blast off into a great school year with this outer space themed classroom door. The design features a large spaceship where you can write a label for the door, such as “Mr./Mrs. ______’s Intergalactic Class.” Each child’s name is written on their own little spaceship spread out on the black background with stars.
While it looks a bit more complex than other door designs, creating this door for your classroom won’t be too difficult. You’ll want to start by covering the door with black butcher paper. Next, make a large spaceship where you’ll write your name using yellow, blue, and white paper. Add a driver inside the spaceship; you can even make it look like yourself.
Then, you’ll want to print out or create mini spaceships for each student and write each student’s name on a ship. Cut out some orange stars and you’ll be all ready to put everything up on the door to get it decorated!
Best for: Elementary students at the beginning of the school year
8. Fall Decorating
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Yellow, brown-green, and red butcher paper or construction paper
- Orange border
- Small scarecrow
- Markers
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
Say ‘goodbye’ to summer ‘hello’ to fall with this seasonal door design. This door will definitely make it look like you’re ready to welcome fall with your arms wide open. This door design features a large tree with brightly colored fall leaves. Many leaves have fallen to the ground, while others are still on the tree or are on blowing in the air. There is also a fun scarecrow sticking up from the base of the door holding a sign that says “Happy Fall Y’all!”
To make this door, start with a yellow background. You can also add an orange border around the outside of the door if you’d like. Next, you’ll need to make a tree out of long pieces of brown butcher paper. To do this, twist the paper to form the trunk and branches of the tree and glue/tape it on the side of your door.
Next, cut leaves out of red, yellow, green, and brown paper. You can use a marker to add details or even to write the names of your students on some of the leaves. Glue or tape the leaves all over the door so it looks like some are in the tree, some are falling down, and some have already fallen to the ground.
Finally, attach a scarecrow with the “Happy Fall Y’all!” sign off to the side of the tree, and your door will be finished and ready for students to enjoy. If you want to involve your students more in the process of making this door, you can have them draw and cut out the fall leaves.
Best for: Autumn months for elementary school students, primarily early elementary school students
9. Turtle
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Blue, brown, and green construction paper
- Paper plates
- Green paint
- Markers
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
If you’re teaching summer school or have an ocean theme for your classroom, this cute turtle door is a great option to consider. The door shows a group of turtles swimming together in the ocean alongside some bubbles and seaweed. The board title reads “Summer in the Sea,” though you could easily change it to match your classroom theme or welcome a new group of students to your room.
This board looks more complex than it is. While the sea turtles look 3D, they’re actually quite easy to make.
Just pain the back of paper plates with some green paint. Add each student’s name to a plate and cut out a head and legs for each turtle from construction paper. Then, simply add eyes to each head, and you can glue or tape the turtles against a blue backdrop on the door.
To finish off the board, use some brown paper to make the sandy ocean floor and cut some green paper (or twist butcher paper) to make seaweed. Add some bubbles and your board title, and you’re all done.
Best for: Summer school classrooms or classrooms with an ocean or beach theme
10. Today a Reader Tomorrow a Leader
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Black, white, and blue butcher paper or construction paper,
- Border
- Drawing of a student reading or individual pictures of your students reading
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
Our students are our future and you can convey that message to them with this classroom door design. The door reads: “Today A Reader; Tomorrow A Leader” and has a picture of a child reading a book. Sharing this powerful message with students can help them begin to see how important reading is and how many doors it can open for them in the future. To make the board, you should start with a black (or solid color) background. Cut out or print letters to write out “Today A Reader; Tomorrow A Leader.” You can use silver, white, or another more neutral color for the words today, a tomorrow, and a, and use a bolder and bright color with a different font for the reader and leader of the words. This will help them stand out more to help students key in on the message being conveyed.
Finally, you’ll just need to add an image of a person reading a book. You may also choose to personalize your door by adding images of the students in your class reading.
Best for: Students at any grade level
11. Snowman
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Blue construction paper
- Paper snowflakes
- Clear plastic cups
- Black felt
- Red scarf
- Two sticks
- Markers
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
Welcome children into a winter wonderland with this friendly snowman door decoration. Children will be delighted to see the happy snowman greeting them each day. The snowman’s body is made from plastic cups and is accented with a black felt top hat, black felt eyes, an orange nose, a red felt smile, a red scarf, and black felt buttons.
To create this door, start with a blue backdrop. Then, arrange the cups to create three large 3D half-spheres for the snowman’s body. Cut out and add the accessories to the snowman, and he’ll be all ready to welcome students to your room. You can also add a few paper snowflakes to the backdrop.
Best for: Younger elementary school students during the winter months
12. Emojis
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Emoji Editable Bulletin Board Accents
- Solid color butcher paper or construction paper
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
What elementary school student doesn’t like emojis? With the Emoji Editable Bulletin Board Accents, you can print out your own set of emojis along with a welcoming message to display on your door. The printable message says: “We are happy to see you” with a fun emoji border.
There are 22 emoji faces available with this set, so you won’t need to worry about too much overlap in the emojis you choose for your students. Each emoji is editable and has a box under the face where you can write the name of your students.
After personalizing the emojis, simply print out the set and cut them out. Then add a solid color background to your door. A dark blue, red, or black will make the yellow faces really stand out. Then, just arrange the emojis and the welcome sign on your door and tape them up.
Best for: Elementary school students of any age
13. Be ARTrageous
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Assorted colors of butcher paper or construction paper
- 7 oval-shaped paper or plastic plates
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
What better way to welcome students into the art room than with an art-themed classroom door. This door has a large paint pallet and paintbrush on one side, and the other side reads: “Be Art-rageous.”
To put this board together, you’ll want to start with a solid black background. You can create a large paint pallet with a long strip of white paper and seven oval paper or plastic plates. Paint each plate a different solid color (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink). Attach the plates to the paper on one side of the door. Next, create a large paintbrush by rolling butcher paper. You can use any color for the handle, brown for the brush, and gray for the metal piece where the brush connects to the handle.
Finally, write out or cut out “Be Art-rageous” with large, fun letters. You can also choose to add some ‘splats’ of paint to the board using different colors of construction paper.
Best for: Art classrooms
14. The Kids are Making Memories
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Assorted colors of butcher paper or construction paper
- Crayons
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
Let anyone who enters your room know that you believe in letting children learn by doing with this classroom door. The door reads: “Please excuse our mess. The kids are making memories.”
Putting this board together should be pretty straightforward. You’ll want to start with a solid black background and white letters to write out: “Please excuse our mess. The kids are making memories.” Then, using different colors of construction paper, cut out blob-type shapes and designs.
Place the designs around the outside of the board and place the white letters over them/centered on the board.
You can add a few more details by printing out or creating a paint pallet to attach to the door. You can also tape or glue a few crayons around on the board.
Best for: Art classrooms or younger elementary school students
15. Disney
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Black, red, white, and yellow butcher paper or construction paper.
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
If you’re a fan of Mickey Mouse and Disney, this door decoration idea is sure to get you excited. The door is designed to look like Mickey Mouse with his red pants and black ears. A powerful quote from Walt Disney, “If you can dream it, you can do it,” is written on the board.
To create this design, you will need to use red and black butcher paper to make the bottom half of your door red and the top half black. Then, cut out two large circles to overlap on the top of the door to make Mickey’s ears.
Next, use different fonts and colors (red, white, and yellow) to print out or cut out the words “If you can dream it, you can do it,” and Walt Disney’s name.
Then, just arrange the words on the door to spread them out and make them easily visible. Finally, add to yellow ovals for the buttons on Mickey’s pants and two white-gloved hands on the sides.
Best for: Younger elementary students’ classrooms
16. Sunglasses
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Red, black, and yellow butcher paper or construction paper
- Pictures of each of your students wearing sunglasses
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
This creative door could be used in a variety of ways throughout the year. The door displays pictures of the students in your class wearing sunglasses. Above the door is an extra-large pair of sunglasses that say “Our future’s so bright we’ve got to wear shades.” You might choose to use this as a welcome door for the beginning of the year, to go along with writing pieces that your students put their best effort into, or as an end-of-the-year send-off for your students. One of the best things about this board is how simple it is to put together.
Just make a large pair of sunglasses using red and black paper. Print out or cut out letters to write “Our future’s so bright we’ve got to wear shades” and glue the words to both lenses. Attach the glasses above the door.
Finally, attach the pictures of your students wearing sunglasses to the door, and you’ll be all finished!
Best for: Any elementary grade level
17. Birthdays
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Black/another solid color butcher paper of construction paper
- Pictures of your students grouped by birth month
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
Young children love celebrating their birthday and look forward to it all year. With this classroom door idea, you can help them see how close it is getting to their birthday, while also helping them celebrate the birthdays of their classmates. This door includes a picture of the students in your classroom who have a birthday in each month. The pictures are displayed under each month’s name.
To put this board together, start with a solid color of butcher paper for the background. Print out or write out headers for each month of the year.
Next, print out or cut out large letters to spell out “Birthdays” and glue these letters going down the center of the board.
Have students who share a birth month stand together for a picture. Each student can hold a piece of paper with their birthday written on it for the photograph. Then, just print out these pictures and place them on the board under the corresponding month.
Best for: Younger elementary school students
18. Superheroes
What You Will Need to Prepare:
- Black blue, and yellow butcher paper or construction paper
- Superhero cutouts for each student in your class
- Scissors
- Tape/Glue
Description:
Set the tone for a super year with this superheroes classroom door design. The board reads: “____ Grade is going to be Super” and displays superheroes flying through the air and on the top of buildings. Children love the idea of superheroes, and will definitely be excited when they see this design on their classroom door.
To make the door, start with a light blue background. Make a few buildings to go on the bottom of the door by cutting out black rectangles and adding smaller yellow rectangles for windows.
Print or make (or let your students make) a superhero icon for each student. Add their name to it and glue them to the board. You can also add words like “zap” or “pow” written in comic book style around the door.
Best for: Elementary school students of any age
Closing Thoughts
Make a great first impression with a uniquely decorated classroom door. We hope you’ve found some inspiration from the ideas we shared above.
After you’ve planned out your next classroom door decorations, it might be time to start thinking about staying organized for the school year. These articles on the best book bins and the best backpacks for teachers can help your chaotic teacher life feel just a little less crazy. And, if you’re interested in setting up a makerspace in your classroom, be sure to check out this article to help you identify all the materials you’ll want to have available for your students.
Last Updated on August 31, 2023 by Emily
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