How do you feel walking into classrooms where student artwork gets shoved into some random corner? Kids put everything they’ve got into their art. That’s why Good displays make students walk a little taller when they see their work up there.
How you display art tells kids exactly what you think about their work. When you take time to make displays look good, kids notice. They know their work matters.
Classroom art displays are not just decorations. Other kids get inspired and want to try new things. Parents walk in and actually see learning happening. And the whole room feels different and more like a place where creativity lives.
You don’t need a ton of money or special training to make displays that wow people. Just need some solid ideas and real appreciation for what kids create.
1. Vertical Paper Installations for Statement Classroom Walls
Okay, forget everything you know about flat bulletin boards. Vertical installations are where things get interesting. They turn plain walls into moving, flowing art pieces that literally make people stop in their tracks.
That giant pencil installation hanging from the ceiling? That’s what we’re talking about. Layers of yellow tissue paper or construction paper create this massive pencil that dominates the whole space. Black at the top for the point, then bright yellow cascading down in fringed layers, pink at the bottom for the eraser. Kids walk under it. It moves with the air. Suddenly, your classroom has this incredible focal point that nobody can ignore.
2. Shape-Based Art Displays That Highlight Student Creativity
Sometimes keeping things simple works better than getting fancy. Pick one shape and let that organize everything. Sounds basic, but it looks amazing when done right.
That “Round and Round” bulletin board shows exactly what I mean. Circles everywhere: painted circles in every color combination imaginable. Some are perfect concentric rings, others are wild abstract patterns. Each kid’s interpretation is totally different, but the circular shape ties it all together. The display looks cohesive, even though you’ve got realistic attempts next to complete abstract explosions of color.
3. Immersive Hallway Art Displays Using Student Cutouts
Why trap all the good stuff inside your classroom? Hallways and doors also need a student’s artwork. Cutout displays turn those boring corridors into places kids actually want to walk through, rather than just rush past.
Those colorful paper strip installations hanging from the ceiling create this whole immersive effect. Bright strips in yellows, oranges, and pinks, cascading down both sides of the hallway. Walk through, and you’re literally surrounded by student-created color and movement. Way better than blank beige walls.
4. Art Corners That Double as Learning and Display Spaces
Not everything needs wall space; some deserve pretty decoration made by little hands. Art corners are these little gallery spots right in your classroom where student work becomes part of how kids actually learn and create.
That incredible art corner with circles, rainbows, and natural elements everywhere shows what’s possible. Easels displaying current work. Shelves with art supplies visible and accessible. Plants bring life to the space. Photos of kids working on their art. Everything connects: the inspiration, the tools, the process photos, the finished pieces, all in one dedicated corner.
5. Process-Focused Art Displays That Tell a Creative Story
Finished art looks nice, but the messy journey to get there? That’s where kids actually learn things. Show the whole story from first idea to final piece.
Make boards that show how things evolved. Pin up the first rough sketch, then the color test, then the practice version where they messed up, then the final thing. Other kids see that good art doesn’t just happen magically. It takes multiple tries, fixing mistakes, and not giving up.
Add all the colourful artwork together to create a beautiful corner that looks colourful yet creative.
6. Cohesive Bulletin Boards Using a Single Art Theme
Ever seen boards where someone just randomly stuck up whatever got finished that day? Looks chaotic. Nobody really looks at it. Theme-based displays pull everything together while still letting each kid’s unique style show through.
That nature-themed board with leaves and trees is perfection. Watercolor leaves in vibrant colors next to detailed painted trees: some realistic, some abstract, all nature-inspired. The black background makes every piece pop. White borders around each piece give them breathing room. The whole thing feels curated and intentional, not thrown together.
7. Student Artwork with Positive Messages
Art plus uplifting words hits different. These displays feed kids’ eyes and their hearts at the same time, which is something classrooms desperately need more of.
Those animal drawings paired with inspirational messages are brilliant. “Be brave like a lion – courage is trying, even when things feel scary.” “Like the camel, you are stronger than you realize; you can handle tough times.” Each kid drew an animal and got a positive message that connected to that animal’s characteristics. The combination of their artwork with words that build them up creates something way more powerful than either element alone.
8. Three-Dimensional Art Displays That Pop Off the Wall
Flat art is fine for some things, but three-dimensional art really grabs attention, making people stop instead of just glancing while walking past.
Those student-made self-portraits, simplified into silhouettes, create a powerful impact in the hallway. Different skin tones, different hair textures, different clothing colors, all represented in these clean, modern cutouts that celebrate diversity while looking absolutely gorgeous displayed together.
9. Whole-School Collaborative Art Displays for Hallways
Big projects where the whole school pitches in create a serious impact that individual classroom displays just can’t touch. These build community and give every single kid a voice in the shared spaces where everyone walks every day.
That “Say Something” hallway project is exactly what collaborative displays should look like. Hundreds of student self-portraits in speech bubbles lining both walls. Different grades, different art skills, different messages, all coming together to fill an entire corridor with student voice and creativity. Walking through feels like being surrounded by the whole school community at once.
School murals where each class does one section are huge visual statements. Pick a theme that means something to your school community. “What Makes Us Strong,” or “Our Diverse Community,” or “What We Stand For.” Each class interprets it in their own way, with their own techniques and style, and then everything comes together into one enormous collaborative piece that covers massive wall sections.
10. Nature-Inspired Classroom Art Using Found Materials
Some of the coolest displays come from elements kids find outside instead of buying expensive supplies from art catalogs. Nature art connects them to the environment while teaching resourcefulness and creative problem-solving with limited materials.
That stick art collection shows what’s possible with free materials. A smiling sun made from a painted circle with stick rays and real leaves. A sailboat constructed entirely from sticks of different sizes. A bird made from sticks radiating out from a central point. A house with stick walls, stick roof, stick details. All displayed on neutral backgrounds that let the natural materials shine.
Stick art is ridiculously versatile for all age groups. Kids collect different sticks and create sculptures, wall hangings, or woven pieces that showcase natural materials in artistic ways. Display these natural creations alongside notes about where students found their materials during nature walks or recess outdoor time.
Display Student’s Creativity Beautifully
How you display art tells kids what you think about their creativity and effort. Messy displays say it doesn’t matter much. Thoughtful displays say their creativity deserves real respect and careful presentation.
Your classroom walls tell a story every single day about what matters in your space. Fill them with student art displayed in ways that make kids proud to point out their work to parents and visitors. That creates a classroom where taking creative risks feels safe, and every kid knows their artistic voice counts for something real.
An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’,