17 Classroom Decorations That Meant the Holidays Were Near
These classic classroom decorations instantly brought the holiday spirit to school.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Holiday cheer at school always started with the decorations. Teachers pulled out the same stash of colorful cutouts, glittery crafts, and quirky posters year after year, and somehow they never failed to make the classroom feel magical. Each piece tells a story of excitement, creativity, and anticipation for the holiday season.
1. Construction Paper Chains
Steve Miller/VOA on Wikimedia Commons
Long loops of red and green paper linked across the room felt like the ultimate sign of December. Students loved making them because everyone got to add a piece. By the time the chain stretched wall to wall, it felt like the holidays had fully arrived.
2. Sparkly Snowflake Cutouts
Zülfü Demir📸 on Wikimedia Commons
Every desk ended up covered in tiny paper scraps as kids folded and snipped out snowflakes. Some looked perfect, while others had odd shapes that barely resembled snow. Either way, taping them to the windows made the whole room feel like winter.
3. Bulletin Boards Wrapped Like Presents
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Teachers loved to cover bulletin boards with shiny wrapping paper and giant bows. It instantly turned a plain corner into something festive. Students would sneak peeks to see if their names appeared as part of the decoration.
4. Cotton Ball Snowmen
RDNE Stock project on Pexels
A snowman made of glued cotton balls was a holiday classic. The wobbly stick arms and crooked hats made them even better. Lining them up on the walls gave the room a handmade winter wonderland vibe.
5. Garland Across the Chalkboard
Kristina Paukshtite on Pexels
Whether it was tinsel, lights, or handmade garland, draping it across the chalkboard instantly transformed the classroom. It made math problems and spelling words look more cheerful. Even the teacher’s handwriting seemed more festive.
6. Santa Cutouts on the Door
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A giant paper Santa waving at everyone who walked in always set the tone. Some doors had the full North Pole crew, while others just kept it simple with Santa. Either way, the classroom door felt like an entrance to holiday fun.
7. Glitter-Covered Ornaments
Magda Ehlers on Pexels
No holiday classroom was complete without ornaments dripping in glitter. Half the sparkle usually ended up on desks, chairs, and kids’ hands. Still, those shiny creations made the classroom tree glow.
8. Window Painting with Fake Snow Spray
Eva Bronzini on Pexels
Teachers or older students often sprayed white “snow” onto windows, making frosty shapes and holiday scenes. The smell of the spray lingered, but it gave the room instant charm. Looking out through painted snowflakes always felt magical.
9. Holiday Lights Around the Room
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String lights wrapped around bulletin boards or bookshelves brought a soft glow to the classroom. They looked even better when the overhead lights were turned off. It gave the school day a cozy holiday feel.
10. Holiday-Themed Borders for Bulletin Boards
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Teachers loved to switch out bulletin board borders for candy cane stripes or holly patterns. It was such a small detail, but students always noticed. It made even grammar charts feel a little more cheerful.
11. Classroom Christmas Tree
Toni Cuenca on Pexels
A small tree in the corner was usually decorated with student-made ornaments. Some classes had paper chains for garland, while others had store-bought baubles. The tree quickly became the heart of the classroom during December.
12. Felt Stockings on the Wall
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Stockings labeled with students’ names gave everyone a sense of excitement. Even if they never got filled, they felt special to see. It was like a personal touch of holiday spirit for each kid.
13. Handmade Reindeer Crafts
Nikita Nikitin on Pexels
Tracing hands and feet to make reindeer never got old. Some came out silly, some looked surprisingly good, but all of them ended up taped proudly to the wall. Seeing a whole herd of them was pure holiday fun.
14. Advent Calendar on the Wall
Markus Spiske on Pexels
Some classrooms featured a giant calendar that revealed a new surprise each day. It might be a riddle, a piece of candy, or a decoration. Counting down together made the whole class buzz with excitement.
15. Holiday Posters with Cheerful Sayings
Ahmet Çiftçi on Pexels
Posters with phrases like “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holidays” were everywhere. They usually came with cartoon Santas, snowmen, or reindeer smiling back at you. It was impossible not to feel festive walking into a room filled with them.
16. Holiday Scene Dioramas
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Some teachers went all out with shoebox dioramas of snowy villages or Santa’s workshop. Students loved helping set them up on shelves. It was like stepping into a mini winter wonderland.
17. Big Countdown to Winter Break
Markus Spiske on Pexels
A chalkboard or poster counting down the days to vacation was the most exciting decoration of all. Watching the numbers shrink made every school day feel more special. It was the perfect way to mark the season.