Fun, vibrant, and inviting are some ways to describe art rooms. Unlike traditional classrooms, art rooms offer teachers lots of creative freedom to craft a unique space. Build the room of your dreams while following smart advice. Read these eight tips for setting up your art classroom now!
Why Are Art Classes Important?
Art classes are important to the school curriculum because they boost critical thinking, decision-making, and motor skills. Students learn about colors, perspectives, balance, and other related topics during classes.
Classes foster creativity as individuals work with various mediums to create wonderful art pieces. Additionally, art classes are enjoyable for many students because they differ from typical academic work. It’s a time to draw, paint, sculpt, and build new things.
Art teachers can start the school year on the right foot by creating a suitable classroom for students. Follow our tips to achieve the best results.
Assess the Floor Plan/Classroom Layout
Before arranging anything, you need to assess the floor plan and classroom layout. In a sketchbook or on a sheet of paper, sketch out the classroom layout you desire. Keep a few things in mind.
For instance, think about your demo space. Maybe it’s in front of the classroom. Figure out the best table arrangement for student engagement. Perhaps pods or a U shape is the best option. You can also plan out extra features like carpet or furniture.
Consider traffic flow and envision how your students enter the room and go to their seats. Ideally, you want enough space for students to navigate the room without disrupting other pupils.
Once you have the flow and layout of your room, ask a custodian or teacher to help you move tables and furniture to meet your standards.
Talk About Your Art Room Needs
At times, the school administration doesn’t know every classroom’s needs. It’s easy for the admin to overlook the fine arts department. You are the voice for your classroom, and you need to discuss the art room’s needs. Whether you request closed storage units or new supplies, make sure administration acknowledges your desires. This way, you’ll secure supplies before the school year starts.
Integrate the new tools into your classroom and get rid of old items. Doing so prevents overcrowded shelves and storage areas.
Additionally, you can get a head start on the year by ordering bulk classroom supplies online. Upgrade the classroom with specific items!
Keep Inventory of Items
Know what you have and determine how to organize everything. It’s best to keep inventory of all classroom items. Of course, we’re not saying to count every crayon or pencil. Just keep track of supply packs, tools, and other resources. Taking inventory can help track supply usage throughout the year because you may need to replenish specific items.
Please note that keeping track of inventory also means tracking classroom furniture. By knowing the number of chairs, desks, and tables you have, you can arrange things as needed. Be sure to leave room for extra students that may trickle into your class.
Figure Out a Theme or Color Scheme
Art classrooms are the epitome of color and pizzazz. Students don’t want a dull room. So, enhance your space with a theme or color scheme. Think about aesthetics and how to create a warm, fun, and inviting place for your students. Make a classroom that students want to visit!
Admittedly, not every art teacher wants rainbows and bright colors to take over the room. Luckily, there are other things you can consider adding to the area. Accent lighting like table lamps and string lights are awesome options. Add greenery such as small house plants and succulents to add warmth. You can even have a water feature!
For color schemes, limit the main hues to three to four colors to avoid visual clutter. If you’re interested in a theme room, add wall decor to prevent overcrowding floor space.
Determine Your Storage Solutions
Another tip for setting up your art classroom is to determine your storage solutions. Then, figure out the best organization method. For help, decide what supplies you predict your students will use the most. For some teachers, supplies include construction paper, crayons, permanent markers, washable markers, and various types of paint. Make sure you store materials somewhere easily accessible to you.
Make the storage unit user-friendly by storing frequently used supplies on the first column of shelves (at eye level), so you can grab them quickly.
You can place materials you don’t use often deep inside the storage area. Furthermore, keep rarely used supplies on higher shelves because you don’t need to access them daily.
Make Supplies Accessible to Students
When organizing your storage space, it’s best to keep regularly used items on hand. The same goes for students. Make frequently used supplies accessible to students by keeping them in marked bins. This way, you don’t have to grab and lay out items before class.
Designate a shelf for art supplies and color-code or label bins. For instance, have “scissors,” “washable markers,” and “paintbrush” bins. If you’re meticulous, consider adding the number of supplies to the bins. At the end of class, you can count the supplies to ensure everything is in place.
Making supplies accessible to students is also a great way to encourage organization. It’s the students’ responsibility to put back supplies and clean up their stations.
Organize Various Stations
Without organization, art rooms become a huge source of clutter. Minimize issues by organizing various stations. Students can locate supplies, work at appropriate zones, and avoid disruptions. Use signs to designate each station, and remember to introduce the areas to students.
You can also discuss the importance of keeping the right supplies at each station. This will decrease clutter and prevent students from misplacing things. If you have young students, add pictures to each station so they’ll recognize appropriate supplies.
Choose a Display Area
Finally, choose a display area for art. It’s very important that every student sees their artwork on display a few times each school year. This encourages creativity and shows your kids how important their contributions are.
When selecting a display area, opt for wall space. This way, you can display as many art pieces as possible. Ideally, choose a wall away from windows to keep papers from shifting or blowing away. Also, avoid walls right behind doors. You don’t want to accidentally smush artwork. Select a suitable, clear area.
Art rooms are blank canvases, waiting for your creative touch. Refer to these tips when setting up your room. It will turn out amazing! If you’re interested in school supplies, purchase them here at Backpacks USA. We look forward to serving you.
