Transform your middle school ELA classroom with creative, functional, budget-friendly classroom decor ideas that actually get your students excited to learn. No magic wand—or big spending spree—needed, just a few simple tips to turn your space from bland to brilliant.
Middle school ELA teachers, listen—decorating your classroom doesn’t have to drain your wallet or your last bit of energy. In fact, some of the most functional (and fun) decor is simple, affordable, and even gets your students involved.
Who needs overpriced, pre-laminated butterflies anyway?
Let’s dive into five ideas that’ll turn your classroom into a space where kids feel welcome, seen, and maybe even excited to learn—without needing to take out a second mortgage.
1. Build an Academic Vocabulary Word Wall
A word wall isn’t just eye candy—it’s the Swiss Army knife of classroom decor. Pick out academic vocab. words you want your students to use in discussions and in writing, or words your students keep tripping over in readings or assignments. Then slap those words up on the wall or board for all to see.
Here’s where we spice things up: hand your students sticky notes or index cards and let them roam the room, writing or adding definitions as a warm-up or review. It’s movement with a purpose (and honestly, who doesn’t need an excuse to get out of their seat?). Rotate the words with each new unit so everything stays fresh, just like the cafeteria pizza—okay, maybe fresher.
If you are using my ready-made word walls, I’ve included two kinds of note-pages for you and your students: interactive folding notes and non-folding freestyle notes.
Read more about word walls here.
2. Create a Collaborative Mural
I hear you: “But I’m not an artist!” Great news—neither are most middle schoolers, and that’s half the fun. Whether you’ve got a wall begging for a facelift or a suspicious mysterious stain that just won’t scrub out, murals are your secret weapon. Poll your students: do they want a forest, a sun-soaked beach, or a dramatic book-themed masterpiece?
Break the mural into bite-sized chunks so everyone can paint a little. Even your most paint-shy kids can help with backgrounds or easy outlines. Before you know it, you’ll have a wall that tells your students, “Hey, we built this together—and we can make anything happen.” Bonus: it’s a solid conversation starter for every future parent-teacher conference.
Here’s the mural my students painted to cover the stained wall. We used leftover house paint and cheap, dollar-store craft paint.
3. Showcase Student Work with a Rotating Display Wall
How about a little space I call “The Wall of Fame-ish”? Take a section of your wall, string up some clipboards, or get fancy with clothespins and yarn. Then show off your students’ essays, poems, comics, or whatever creative project they just crushed. Swap out the work regularly so everyone gets their moment in the spotlight.
This doesn’t just add personality to your room—it gives students a reason to shine (and hey, nothing motivates like knowing their Percy Jackson haiku might be immortalized on the wall for a week).
Bonus: I’ve found it doubles as a conversation starter for classroom visitors—aka the principal, parents, or nosy 5th graders peeking in to see what 7th grade ELA is about.
4. Design a Cozy Reading Nook
Welcome to “The Plot Spot.” Even the most rambunctious middle schooler likes a comfy corner to chill with a book—trust me on this one.
- Seating Solutions: Grab bean bags, throw pillows, or milk crates with DIY cushions (warning: your cat may covet these if you bring them home).
- Creative Shelving: Stock a cheap bookshelf, baskets, or a rolling cart with a mix of tried-and-true hits and oddball picks from the thrift store.
- Extra Touches: A lamp or string lights ups the coziness factor big time. Suddenly, you’ve got a spot that says, “Come here, let’s escape into a good story—or at least pretend to read while giggling with your bestie.”
5. Hang Inspirational Quotes and Literary-Themed Posters
Plaster your walls with some bright, cheerful, or funny quotes. Nothing wrong with making your students snort-laugh!
- DIY Posters: Print your favorite author quotes using a free website like Canva and mount them with neon construction paper for that “I tried, but I also have 120 essays to grade” vibe.
- Student Creations: Get students to design their own literary posters featuring their favorite quotes from books they’re reading or authors you’ve discussed.
- Printable Designs: Hunt down free downloads online. Mix it up—one day, it’s Maya Angelou, the next it’s a Shakespeare burn about homework. You’ll find your classroom turning into an unofficial museum of wisdom (and a solid distraction during boring announcements).
Why Functional Classroom Decor Matters
The best classrooms don’t look perfect—they look lived in. Functional decor makes your space welcoming, interactive, and uniquely yours (and your students’). Building a word wall, creating a reading nook, or showing off student work isn’t just about pretty walls—it’s about giving everyone a reason to belong. When your classroom feels like a cozy, creative second home, students are more likely to participate, open up, and maybe, just maybe, remember what “onomatopoeia” means.
So embrace your inner thrifty decorator, hand a paintbrush to that kid who’s always doodling, and let your next generation of ELA legends see themselves in the walls around them—cringe poems, weird sketches, and all.
No magic wand required (but sparkly stickers help).
