School Days Classroom Makeover Reveal

The summer makeover magic is still rolling with our second transformation of the season! This time, we brought bright, bold, school-spirit energy to a first grade classroom in Raleigh, North Carolina! For this makeover, we swapped soft pastels for bold primaries and dainty florals for retro school supplies of our School Days collection—think flair pens, composition notebooks, chunky crayons, and all the nostalgic back-to-school feels. Inspired by all the things we loved most about going back to school—crayons, notebooks, doodles, and that fresh classroom buzz—this makeover is a true celebration of everything that makes school days, the best days!

Ready to take the tour? Come on in and let’s walk through all the centers, and details that make this School Days classroom makeover come to life!

School Days Classroom Makeover Reveal

Centers of the Classroom

Whole Group Area

The heart of the room! We designed this space for morning meetings, read-alouds, and whole-group instruction. A bold classroom rug with sit spots anchors the area, with a clear view to the whiteboard. We added a bulletin board calendar area with all the classic school-themed icons to make this a colorful, engaging spot where the day begins! We also love the use of cutouts, paper airplanes in this case, to give this space intrigue in the cutest ROY G BIV way possible! 

Small Group Area

Tucked right near the teacher desk, this small group table is where the magic happens. We kept distractions low by placing it near a wall and in a corner, and made sure it was close to supplies, so everything is within reach during instruction! The table itself doubles as a whiteboard so it’s  functional—ready for reading groups, math centers, or a quick reteach moment!

Art Center

This art center is a work of art in itself! We kept the entire space aligned with a ROY G BIV color scheme—not only because it's aesthetically pleasing, but because it seamlessly ties into the classroom’s color coding management system (more on that later!). Rainbow lanterns hang above the table, creating a pendant light effect that sets the creative tone for the space!

The center is fully stocked with materials that are easy for students to access, plus tons of organized storage to keep supplies neat and ready. Positioned near the sink and student bathroom, it’s perfectly placed for quick clean-ups. And with both bench and stool seating, this area offers flexible seating options—giving students a small but meaningful choice in their day, which can be so empowering in a structured environment (we are here for the little wins)!

Student Desks

Setting up student desks is no small feat—but it’s one of the most essential parts of classroom design! Because collaboration and social interaction play such a big role in the early years, we went with grouped desks in this room. Bonus: they have dry-erase tops for hands-on learning and interactive activities! We made sure every student has a clear view of the front board, while also keeping open pathways for easy flow throughout the space.

Each table group is color-coded to match the classroom’s overall color coding system, adding both function and style. We also have the table numbers hanging with the lanterns above each group so they are easy to see but out of reach on the table! These tables also double as built-in center spaces—perfect for small group rotations or independent work. Whether students are teaming up or working solo, these desks are designed to flex with your teaching style and their needs!

Writing Center

This space is all about creativity and independence in its own little corner of the classroom! We love using IKEA shelves to divide up sections in the room—they help define each area while still keeping the space open, functional, and full of flow. Plus, they double as both storage and seating!

This writing center is intentionally sectioned off to promote focus and clarity while students work. It’s stocked with fresh writing materials and still offers clear visibility to key learning tools around the room, like the word wall and alphabet cards! It’s the perfect spot for young writers to get inspired, stay organized, and let their ideas shine!

 

Classroom Library

We’re not going to stop obsessing over this classroom library anytime soon (or ever!). Stepping into this cozy little hideaway feels like getting lost in the pages of your favorite book. From the soft classroom rug perfect for floor seating, to the bench seating, cozy pillows, and space to add bean bags or other flexible seating options—this spot is made for comfort and connection. Rows of book bins are labeled with our Rainbow Classroom Library Labels to keep everything organized and student-friendly. The labels include both words and pictures to support word-image association, environmental print recognition, and early reading skills!

Not only do the visuals help students locate and return books independently (a classroom management win!), but they also make this space feel like a real mini library where young readers can relax, explore, and fall in love with books!

More Primary-Perfect Spaces in the Classroom 

Teacher Desk Space

Functional, fabulous, and full of retro charm! The teacher desk area is your personal retreat in the heart of the classroom—a cozy corner made just for you, where calm meets creativity. In this School Days makeover, we hung our Bubblegum Pink Pocket Chart and filled it in with our School Days Pocket Chart Calendar set in to keep things on track, a classic labeled teacher toolbox, and added framed posters that double as inspiration and decor! We also hung curtains using our bulletin board paper and added in a classroom rug for extra comfort! We also spelled out her name using our adorable Pencil Letters! Now this teacher has the perfect setup to sip coffee, prep with purpose, and take on the school day!

Color Coding Organization

We brought the power of color to this classroom—literally! Using our Color Coding Your Classroom system, we wove purposeful organization into every part of the room. Each student is assigned a color, and that color carries through everything—folders, journals, supply bins, table spots, and more. Not only does this create a cohesive and cheerful visual look, but it also simplifies routines, supports group work, and encourages student independence. In a classroom full of bright ideas and busy learners, color coding keeps things moving smoothly—and looking good while doing it!

Bulletin Board Paper

Bulletin board paper is the unsung hero of classroom decorating—and in this makeover, we used it everywhere! We lined entire walls with it to create a clean, prettier backdrops, hung it as curtains to soften the space, and wrapped it around foam boards to add extra bulletin board surfaces wherever we needed them! We even used some of the paper covered foam boards to cover the sides of bookshelves, turning them into functional display zones and helping define different classroom areas.

“Welcome to First Grade” Headline

This Welcome to First Grade inspirational headline is one of our absolute favorites in the room! Bold, bright, and bursting with school spirit, it sets the tone the second you walk through the door. Whether you're a student, parent, or admin, this cheerful greeting is impossible not to smile at. And don’t worry—we created one for every grade, so no matter what you teach, you can share this love with your students!

 

“Mistakes Are Proof You’re Trying” Headline

We can’t think of a better message to inspire your students with! We love this “Mistakes Are Proof You’re Trying” headline against our Hooray for School bulletin board paper! We used a hot glue gun to add some crumpled papers on the bottom for a fun 3D effect! 

Word Wall

The word wall in this classroom is a true celebration of early literacy. With the cutest pencil letters and lots of space to grow the display throughout the year, this visual anchor helps students access and remember high-frequency or vocab words all year long!

Classroom Jobs Bulletin Board Set

Involving students in the flow of the classroom isn’t just fun for them—it’s a game-changer for classroom management, community, and responsibility! We created a Classroom Jobs board that’s as functional as it is fun, inspired by the charm of vintage crayon boxes. Each student’s name goes on a colorful crayon cutout that easily slips into a job slot, making assigning and rotating responsibilities a breeze!

To Wrap It All Up:

From the bright colors to the classic school icons, this School Days classroom makeover brought back all the fun and nostalgia of being a kid on the first day of school again! Every detail was designed to help students feel excited, confident, and ready to learn in a space that actually functions and celebrates everything we love about school!

Want to see more? Be sure to check out our School Days Makeover Page and Lookbook to keep the inspiration going! 

If you’re transforming your own space this year, tag us using #SchoolgirlStyled so we can see your classroom glow-up too!