ARTICLE: How Classroom Decor Impacts Learning

There's a growing body of research on how the visual environment of a class impacts – and sometimes hinders – student attention and learning.

A MiddleWeb Substack extra for paid subscribers – the complete text of a popular MIddleWeb article selected by our editors for its high interest and timeliness and delivered to your mailbox each week. It’s easy to upgrade to paid ($5 month; $50 year) and support MiddleWeb’s commitment to share authentic educator voices. You’ll also gain full access to our complete Substack archives.

---

★ MiddleWeb Article of the Week ★

What Research Tells Us about Classroom Decor

By Curtis Chandler

I have two colleagues who couldn’t differ more in their approach to classroom decoration.

The first teacher’s door, walls, and even ceiling are adorned with crafts, posters, mobiles, and brightly colored murals that correlate with various topics and themes studied throughout the school year.

The other teacher’s classroom is simple, spartan…even sterile. I’ve wondered on occasion which approach is best for students.

After all, it’s clear that the environment we work in impacts both our behavior and performance. Studies by environmental psychologists illustrate how color schemes, lighting, and even the appearance of the waitstaff in restaurants influence our dining habits.

Over the past decade, companies like Google, Facebook, and Pixar have pumped billions into designing workspaces for employees that foster collaboration, creativity, and productivity.

Now there is a growing body of research about how the visual environment of a class impacts – and if we’re not careful hinders – students’ attention and learning. If we’re not cautious, our well-intentioned efforts to spruce up the classroom can devolve into visual noise, color variability, and decorations that distract learners and distort their ability to focus on academics.