Top 10 Questions Teachers Ask About Bulletin Boards

Bulletin boards are an absolute MVP. They can be cute, educational, literally anything you want them to be…but let’s be real: they can also be one of the most time-consuming parts of setting up your room. Whether you’re staring at a blank board in August thinking what even goes here?!, or trying to make your classroom look cute without spending your whole Sunday cutting letters, you’re definitely not alone. Teachers ask us bulletin board questions ALL the time, so we rounded up the top 10 questions teachers actually ask, with real answers and inspo you can use right away!

Top 10 Questions Teachers Ask About Bulletin Boards 

1. “How do I make a bulletin board look good without spending hours on it?”

The secret is using a ready-to-go bulletin board set instead of DIY-ing every single piece from scratch. Schoolgirl Style bulletin board sets come with coordinated headlines/letters, accents, and themed pieces so your board looks professionally styled in way less time! Pro tip: keep the base up all month and just swap out the center pieces weekly. Cute + efficient = teacher win.

2. “What should I put on my bulletin board at the beginning of the year?”

Start with a board that helps students feel safe, welcomed, and excited to be there. Teacher favorites are Welcome boards, Meet the Teacher boards, and a student work display you can use immediately (yes even in week one!). You can even add pieces students make during Meet the Teacher / Back to School Night, or let them hang something they create on the first day as a fun classroom community-building activity. Schoolgirl Style has tons of first-week-friendly bulletin board sets that make your classroom feel decorated instantly. Bonus points if it matches your borders and color palette for that perfectly cohesive vibe!

3. “How do I keep my bulletin board from falling down?”

If your bulletin board gives “gravity is my enemy,” you’re not alone. If you can start with staples for your bulletin board paper (and for any heavier pieces), that’s always a great move and hot glue can be a lifesaver too! For everything else, we swear by our trusty Mavalus Tape. Seriously… this stuff is our secret weapon for keeping borders, letters, and accents up all year long. 

4. “What’s the best bulletin board border combo?”

Layered borders are the moment and they make any board look higher-end instantly. A super easy formula is: one bold border + one neutral border + one thin accent layer (like sparkle/scallop/stripe). Schoolgirl Style borders are made for mixing and matching, so you can build that “Pinterest classroom” look without overthinking it. If you want maximum impact: go contrast + texture (chef’s kiss)! Browse through the iconic Schoolgirl Style Border Bar to find your favorites!

5. “How often should I change my bulletin board?”

Most teachers refresh their boards monthly or by season, and that’s more than enough to keep the room feeling exciting and fresh. A smart strategy is using Schoolgirl Style bulletin boards sets as a base (like birthdays, student work displays, affirmations, or reading themes) that can stay up longer, then you only swap the small parts when needed. And when you do want a seasonal switch-up, our seasonal bulletin board sets make it so easy because they come with everything you need in one set. No guesswork, no piecing things together from five different places: just print, cut, and hang!

 

6. “What are the best bulletin board ideas for small classrooms?”

Small classrooms need bulletin boards that work harder. Choose boards that are functional like classroom expectations, calendar areas, student job boards, or learning objectives, so your wall space is doing double-duty. Using coordinating Schoolgirl Style decor also helps your room feel intentional (not cluttered), even when wall space is limited. And yes: mini boards + vertical designs are your best friends.

We also love the idea of DIY-ing bulletin boards using foam boards (this image is an example)!  Just attach them to open wall space, the backs of shelves/storage, or even cabinets using Velcro strips, and decorate/use them just like a real bulletin board!

7. “How do I make a bulletin board that’s not too busy?”

If your board is giving “visual overload,” simplify the background and let the focal pieces shine. Stick to 1 theme + 2–3 main colors, and give the board some breathing room (blank space is not the enemy!). Schoolgirl Style sets make this easy because the elements are already balanced and cohesive, plus you can find tons of bulletin board inspo right on our website and social media. That means you don’t have to add 47,000 extras to make it look cute. Just like your favorite workout outfit… we love a good matching set!

8. “What should I put on a bulletin board that stays up all year?”

All-year bulletin boards should be useful and cute! Think: birthdays, classroom jobs, calendar set up, growth mindset and SEL, classroom community, book recommendations, or student work displays. Teachers love “evergreen” boards because they save time and still look amazing month after month. Schoolgirl Style has so many sets that work year-round while still matching seasonal add-ons when you want a refresh. The best part? You can build it once and update it in minutes.

9. “How do I make bulletin boards interactive for students?”

Interactive bulletin boards don’t have to be complicated. One of our favorite ways to do this is pairing a Schoolgirl Style bulletin board set with our Ready, Set, TEACH! monthly resources, which include interactive crafts, craftivities, and themed learning pieces that align with what students are learning that time of year. Plus, everything is seasonal so your bulletin boards stay cute and relevant! Suddenly your bulletin board becomes a student-centered display that’s both adorable and meaningful.

10. “What are the best bulletin board themes teachers actually use?”

Teachers love themes that are easy, flexible, and match their personal style and classroom vibe. The best themes are the ones you can reuse every year without them feeling outdated or overdone. That’s exactly why Schoolgirl Style bulletin board sets are so popular! They’re trend-forward and fun, but still timeless enough to keep using long-term. Cute themes for every teacher personality + teacher-friendly setup = the dream.

To Wrap It All Up:

At the end of the day, bulletin boards aren’t just “decor”, they set the tone for your classroom, build community, and make your space feel like home for your students.  And the best part? You don’t have to be crafty, artistic, or have unlimited free time to create boards that look amazing. With the right themes, a few simple hacks, and easy-to-use pieces from Schoolgirl Style, you can bring your dream bulletin boards to life without the stress. Now go make that classroom wall the cutest thing your students see all day!