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A Year in Pastel Classroom Makeover Reveal
Get ready for all the pastel goodness... because this makeover is a dreamy one! For our second (and final!) makeover of the summer, the Schoolgirl Style team packed our bags and headed to Quinlan, Texas, where we surprised Lori, an incredible second grade teacher, with the classroom transformation of her dreams.
Using our A Year in Pastel collection, we created a classroom filled with soft pastels, vintage school charm, and thoughtful nostalgic details around every corner. From the excitement of back-to-school to the magic of every season in between, this space was designed to celebrate the entire school year, one cozy classroom moment at a time.
Ready to see how this classroom blooms through every season? Let's take the tour!
A Year in Pastel Classroom Makeover Reveal
Beautiful Spaces for Every Season
Every classroom has its own unique layout, and Lori's classroom reminded us that great design isn't about having more space, it's about making every inch count. Because this classroom had a smaller footprint, we thoughtfully designed each area to flow seamlessly into the next while still creating purposeful spaces for whole group lessons, small groups, independent work, and cozy reading. Many of these spaces even serve more than one purpose, helping the room feel open, organized, and ready for whatever the school day brings!
Whole Group Area
We designed this classroom around the students! Collaborative table groups sit right in the center of the room, giving every student a clear view of the whiteboard while keeping them connected to every learning space around them. The layout feels open, encourages teamwork, and makes it easy to move from one activity to the next!
One of our favorite little details is coordinating each group's table accessories with the lantern hanging above it! Not only does it add the cutest pop of color, but it also makes it super easy for students to identify their groups throughout the day and for teachers who like using group names in their management strategies!
Small Group Area
One of our favorite things about this classroom is that this space does double duty! During planning time, it's Lori's personal workspace filled with everything she needs to stay organized. When it's time for centers or guided instruction, it quickly transforms into an inviting small group table with all of her teaching resources right within reach.
A Teacher Space That Works Hard
We wanted Lori's desk area to feel just as organized as the rest of the classroom! Behind her desk, we added shelving filled with our pastel storage bins, binders and binder labels, and everyday teaching essentials. We have our Monthly Storage Bin Labels on creates along the top of the shelves and Days of the Week Labels on bins right behind her desk as well to keep materials organized and easy to access!
We are also obsessed with our pencil topper cutouts peeking out from along the top of the shelves!
Planning Made Pretty
Every teacher deserves a workspace they love! We finished Lori's desk with one of our coordinating teacher desk mats and a matching teacher planner, creating a space that's both functional and inspiring for lesson planning, paperwork, and everyday teacher life!
We also loved utilizing a 10 drawer cart here because its perfect for personal planning and small group use!
Ready for Small Groups
When it's time to work with students, everything Lori needs is already within arm's reach. With organized storage surrounding the table, she can easily transition from planning to guided reading, math groups, or centers without having to leave her workspace. It's the perfect example of making one area work smarter, not harder!
Calendar & Morning Meeting Area
This cheerful corner is where every school day begins! Designed to celebrate every season, it's a welcoming space where students gather, build routines, and start each morning together!
A Cozy Place to Gather
Our Washables by SGS™ classroom mat and coordinating pillow covers create a comfortable gathering space for morning meetings, calendar time, and classroom conversations. We also kept Lori's weekly prep bin nearby, making it easy to grab everything she needs to start the day.
Celebrating Every Season
At the heart of this space is our Bulletin Board Calendar Set, complete with the sweetest vintage-inspired Seasons Calendar Topper. As the school year changes, this display helps students celebrate every season while bringing the charm of the A Year in Pastel collection to life!
The Cutest Calendar Time Ever
Our Weather Pups™ Clubhouse makes learning about the weather, months, holidays, and even how to dress for the day an interactive part of every morning!
The Finishing Touch
Our seasonal character cutouts displayed on colorful paper fans above the whiteboard might just be our favorite detail in the room! They perfectly capture the heart of the A Year in Pastel collection, bringing a little extra joy and nostalgic charm to every season. The Alphabet Wagon Alphabet Line gives students another colorful reference they'll use all year long!
One Corner, Endless Possibilities
One of our favorite parts of this makeover is how this single corner serves so many different purposes throughout the school day! By combining organization, student celebration, seasonal decor, and cozy seating, we created a space that's just as hardworking as it is beautiful.
A Bulletin Board That Changes with the Seasons
We made the most of the large bulletin board by giving it two jobs! One half is dedicated to our Student Work Student Display, giving Lori the perfect place to celebrate student accomplishments, while the other features one of our Fall seasonal bulletin board set! We kicked off the school year with our fall display so students are welcomed back with all the cozy back-to-school vibes. (Find all of the seasonal bulletin board sets in this bundle so you can change them for each season!)
Rainbow Organization
Below the bulletin board, shelves filled with our coordinating pastel storage caddies create the prettiest ROYGBIV display while giving classroom supplies a designated home. Paired with backpack hooks underneath, this area keeps everyday routines organized without sacrificing style!
A Cozy Place to Reset
We finished the corner with a Washables by SGS™ classroom mat, cozy pillows, and an affirmation station surrounding a mirror to create a welcoming calming corner. Whether students need a quiet place to reset, reflect, or curl up with a good book, this little corner is ready for whatever they need!
Standout Spaces
Sometimes it's the smallest spaces that end up making the biggest impact! Here are a few of the little corners around Lori's classroom that we couldn't stop smiling about.
A Hidden Hallway Full of Charm
One of our favorite transformations was the little hallway leading to the bathroom and sink area! We painted both the bathroom door and supply closet a soft pastel mint, then added the sweetest coordinating valance (find in our Amazon storefront) to make the space feel bright, cheerful, and completely intentional.
Because this area sits just behind Lori's teacher workspace, it naturally creates a more private little hallway. We took advantage of that extra space by adding even more storage, making it easy to keep classroom essentials tucked away but always within reach!
To finish it off, we hung our Group Sheets so important student information is always easy to access, and displayed our Birthday Cakes Bulletin Board Set on the wall to celebrate every student's special day in the sweetest way!
We also found the perfect spot to hang our School is Cool banner above the doors!
A Wall That Does It All
This wall truly does it all! Our It's a Great Day to Read banner creates a cheerful focal point, while kraft bulletin board paper sets the perfect backdrop for all of the sweet pastel details layered throughout the display. Framing the board are our signature Apple Tree Bulletin Board Sets, one of our favorite features of the A Year in Pastel collection because the leaves and seasonal accessories can be swapped throughout the year to keep the display fresh, interactive, and always in season with our tree bundle!
Above, our Number Cards with Ten Frames give students an everyday math reference, while our adorable Weather Pups™ dressed for each month bring even more seasonal fun to the room. We also made the most of the space above the cabinets by displaying our pastel crates with coordinating Monthly Bin Labels, turning extra storage into part of the decor. To finish it all off, we filled the built-in bench seating with our cozy gingham pillow covers, creating the perfect spot for students to relax with a good book or gather for classroom activities!
A Library Wall Filled with Possibilities
Lori's entire back wall is lined with gorgeous windows, so we knew it had to become the classroom library! To make the space feel even cozier, we created simple DIY curtains using our Kraft Bulletin Board Paper, then finished them off by bordering the top and bottom! The borders at the bottom are our pastel ombre scallop border, layered on top of our sugar stripes border! The large border along the very top of the classroom is a custom item we special ordered just for Lori, but you can achieve a similar look by enlarging and printing our digital version of this border!
We lined the windows with IKEA cube shelves and filled them with our pastel storage bins (in ROYGBIV order, of course!) to create a library that's both beautiful and functional. Our Classroom Library Labels and Posters make it easy for students to browse books by genre, while the coordinating posters and the class's favorite read-alouds displayed across the tops of the shelves give the space the sweetest library feel.
At the end of the shelves, we tucked in a few extra coordinating crates (our favorite method of organizing!) to create dedicated homes for Lori's substitute teacher bin, organized teacher system bin, student data bin, and papers to grade bin... because we'll never say no to a little extra organization!
Bulletin Boards & Door Decor
We always say the classroom magic starts at the door! Just inside, our So Happy You're Here Door Decor welcomes students each morning with the sweetest vintage school bus and adorable pastel characters, creating a space where every child feels seen and excited to start the day!
Nearby, our Welcome Back Bulletin Board Set is the perfect way to kick off a brand-new school year! It's a fun, nostalgic display that makes students smile from the moment they walk through the door.
A Hallway That Works Hard
The fun doesn't stop at the classroom door! We wanted the hallway outside Lori's classroom to feel just as welcoming, creating a space that gets students excited before they even step inside.
Easy DIY Hallway Displays
One of our favorite teacher hacks is using our Walgreens Ready Banners to decorate spaces in half the time! For the back of Lori's classroom door, we simply hung bulletin board paper, framed it with coordinating borders, and added one of our vertical "In Second Grade We..." banners for an instant statement display!
We used the same trick on the wall next to the door by mounting foam board to create a simple DIY bulletin board, then papered and bordered it, and added one of our personalized vinyl banners (You can replicate this in a more cost effective way by using our editable canva banners as well)! It's an easy way to transform any blank wall into a beautiful focal point! Even better? Our banners come perfectly sized for Walgreens and other local print shops, so all you have to do is download, print, and hang.
We also turned the hallway into an extension of the classroom by adding an IKEA bench with cozy pillows, creating a comfortable place for students to sit while also adding extra storage underneath. A row of pastel purple lockers provides even more space for classroom overflow, proving that every inch of your classroom (even the hallway) can be both beautiful and functional!
To Wrap It All Up
As much as we love designing classrooms, our favorite part will always be seeing the teacher's reaction. Watching Lori walk into her transformed classroom and take in every thoughtful detail was a moment we'll never forget. She is such a kind, dedicated teacher, and we feel so grateful we had the opportunity to create a space that's just as beautiful, welcoming, and inspiring as she is!
There's something so special about a classroom that changes and grows with its students, and that's exactly what A Year in Pastel was created to do. Whether it's swapping the apple tree through the seasons, refreshing bulletin boards, or celebrating every new chapter of the school year, this classroom is ready to make memories from August all the way through next summer!
Thank you, Lori, for letting us be part of your classroom journey! We hope this makeover sparked a few ideas for your own space, and we can't wait to see how you bring A Year in Pastel to life in your classroom! Show us your take on this collection by tagging us on our socials or using #SchoolgirlStyled!
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