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I’m gonna need the large size trolley for this trip! Classroom Seating
Ikea has something for everyone, and teachers are no exception! Does your classroom need a refresh? You can use Ikea items as they were intended or take inspiration from amazing Ikea hacks. Get organized and set up the play area or reading nook of your students’ dreams. Get your hands on an affordable toy kitchen then use it as-is, or transform it into a vet clinic! Create a LEGO table from a few base plates and an affordable side table from Ikea. Use an Ikea storage unit or shelf to display books, then add some cute egg chairs or tiny armchairs for cozy seating. Check out these awesome and affordable items that will make your Ikea classroom come alive!
Image credit: Hilary at Pencils to Pigtails
Versatile and stylish, the Kallax bookshelves are a staple of any Ikea classroom. Place them horizontally or vertically and pair multiple shelves together. Get creative styling the shelves and take inspiration from these pictures from Hilary at Pencils to Pigtails.
Buy it: KALLAX shelf units
Image Credit: Move Mountains in Kindergarten
Surely there are a dozen uses for this plant stand with its convenient clip-on containers. You can even create an art center like the one shown here from Move Mountains in Kindergarten.
Buy it: SATSUMAS plant stand
Image credit: Presley Bryant Clifton from Fine Central School in Star Lake, NY
These book stands are perfect for containing books in your Ikea classroom library. We especially love that they have extra room for toy storage too! Second grade teacher Presley Bryant Clifton from Fine Central School in Star Lake, New York, shows how book displays and other storage items can come together to form a dream classroom library.
Buy it: BERGIG book display
With the proliferation of tablets and headphones in the classroom over the past year, these tablet stands will come in mighty handy. And at just $5.99 each, there’s probably room in your classroom budget for a whole collection.
Buy it: MOEJILIGHET headset and tablet stand
Image credit: Emily at Thoroughly Contemporary
Constructed of birch plywood, this mini storage chest (16 ½” x 7″ x 12 5/8″) would be the perfect receptacle for art supplies such as paper, markers, glue, and scissors. Jazz it up by painting it in pretty pastels like Emily at Thoroughly Contemporary did.
Buy it: MOPPE mini storage chest
These sturdy baskets are perfect for your book nook or to organize different book-group materials. Comfy handles make it easy to pull out from shelves and lift and carry.
At around $20, this little table offers the perfect base to create a do-it-yourself LEGO table for your Ikea classroom. Just glue some LEGO base plates on top as shown by Primary Scouts, and allow your students to get creative with building!
Buy it: LACK side table
Image credit: Emily Wilde from San Angelo, TX
The harsh overhead lighting in classrooms doesn’t make for the coziest mood, so why not add this adorable pencil light to your reading nook? We love how high school math teacher Emily Wilde from San Angelo, Texas, has styled her pencil lamp. For more inspiration, follow her at @geometryandjokes on Instagram.
Buy it: PELARBOJ LED table lamp, multicolor
At only $7.99 each, these adorable timers are perfect for centers where students need to time themselves or each other. They double as a clock and a thermometer as well.
Buy it: KLOCKIS clock/thermometer/timer
Image credit: Vanessa of Pre-K Pages
The perfectly stylish way to keep papers straight. Use them on your desk for important docs or on a classroom bookshelf for turn-in baskets. Put them at student height and fill them with different-colored paper like Vanessa of Pre-K Pages did.
Buy it: KVISSLE letter tray
Image credit: Nadia at Fun With Mama
We are loving the utility cart! There are so many amazing ways to use them in the classroom. Not sure how we’ve lived without them. We especially love the idea of using them to contain all your arts-and-crafts supplies like Nadia at Fun With Mama.
Buy it: RASKOG utility cart
Image credit: Subscription Box Ramblings
They may have been created with spices in mind, but these magnetic, stainless-steel containers are really versatile. This image from Subscription Box Ramblings shows how perfect they are for storing paper clips, thumb tacks, or even sparkles. Easily view your items thanks to the clear lids.
Hanging artwork just got easier with this binder clipboard.
Buy it: SOESDALA memo board with clips
Image credit: Kelsey at Kindergarten Is Great
These bright-colored floor cushions could be used as seat spots to help kids stay in their place at circle time or during small-group reading like Kelsey at Kindergarten Is Great.
Buy it: URSPRUNGLIG floor cushion
These colorful trays could hold pushpins, paper clips, binder clips, and more on your desk. Or you could get some buttons or pom-poms and have the kids practice sorting.
Buy it: SURSÖT ice cube tray
This bag could be used to carry library books or to store LEGO or building blocks, or you could use it as your teacher bag. Plus it’s washable! Check out our other favorite teacher totes.
Buy it: SPIKRAK shopping bag
Image credit: Alessandra, K-8 music teacher from Toronto, Canada
These magazine files are not just for magazines or papers. Take inspiration from Alessandra, a K-8 music teacher from Toronto, Canada, and use them to house small string instruments. If you love this idea, follow her on Instagram @teachfromthestage.
Buy it: TJABBA m agazine file, white
We love this rug as one of our Ikea classroom supplies. Perfect for circle time! Plus, check out our favorite rugs on Amazon!
Helpful for little ones at the sink, drinking fountain, or pencil sharpener. If you’re feeling creative, you can even attach a chair and make for some unique seating like they have done here at Ikea Hackers.
Buy it: BOLMEN step stool
A perfect STEM activity for young learners, these train tracks can be assembled in a number of ways. You can even add some extra wood blocks like the ones added to this track from Fun-a-Day.
Buy it: LILLABO 50-piece track set
Image credit: Kayla from Move Mountains in Kindergarten
A great stackable container for all kinds of school supplies like tissues, sanitizer, etc. Just add some colorful labels like Kayla from Move Mountains in Kindergarten did.
Buy it: SORTERA recycling bins
We love the sturdy rubber construction of this container. You could store guided reading book sets or professional books, or even put potted plants in them.
Another great contraption for displaying artwork. And it’s an octopus—so cute!
Buy it: PRESSA hanging dryer
Casey of Little Lifelong Learners
We love to organize books using these! Each crate could hold a different genre or level. You could even use them to create a cute farm stand like this one from Casey of Little Lifelong Learners.
Image credit: Kayla at Move Mountains in Kindergarten
These pegboards are versatile and affordable. They can hold art and other school supplies like shown in this picture from Kayla at Move Mountains in Kindergarten.
Image credit: Beckie on Knock Off Decor
Pencils, pens, crayons, markers, scissors, paper clips, glue sticks, and so on, and so on, and so on! Add a lazy Susan and labels like Beckie on Knock Off Decor did for a complete art station.
Buy it: SUGAR plant pot, SNUDDA lazy Susan
Great for your reading corner or as a teacher seat while teaching small groups (for those of us with creaky hips or knees who hate sitting flat on the floor). Maybe use it as fun desk seating like in this picture from Digs Digs.
Image credit: Emily Stout of Parker, CO
Shelving and storage are such necessities in any good Ikea classroom, so why not add some Lack shelves into the mix? We especially love how perfect they are for displaying book covers that you want to highlight that week. This picture from second grade teacher Emily Stout of Parker, Colorado, shows how the Lack shelves can be added to other Ikea storage units for an organized classroom.
Buy it: LACK wall shelf
Image credit: Emily Stout of Parker, CO
A nice, clean look with tons of storage, these Trofast storage units can be used for so much more than toys. Keep art supplies or other learning materials at an easily accessible level for little hands. Place multiple units together for tons of storage, like second grade teacher Emily Stout of Parker, Colorado, did.
Buy it: TROFAST toy storage (white)
Image credit: Hilary Statum of Pencils to Pigtails
Looking for a more woodsy feel in your classroom? Choose the pine Trofast storage that is versatile enough to contain anything from toys to art supplies and more. We especially love how Hilary Statum of Pencils to Pigtails has styled her pine Trofast with a grass backdrop and fake plants.
Buy it: TROFAST storage (pine)
A super-comfortable, just-the-right-size chair for little kids. While you can use it anywhere in your classroom, it will make a reading nook even more inviting.
Buy it: POAENG kids armchair
Classic wooden design for an old-fashioned favorite free-play activity. You can even buy cute decals like this one from Etsy to transform it into a barn, fire station, and more!
Buy it: FLISAT dollhouse/shelf
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KI8xA33bYI
You can let your students use these pens or save them all for yourself!
Buy it: MALA felt-tip pens
Image credit: Jo of My Mom Can Craft
Another favorite area for the little ones to role-play. If you’re feeling creative, turn it into a vet clinic like Jo of My Mom Can Craft.
Buy it: DUKTIG play kitchen
Perfect for pretend shopping trips and meal prep. Etsy even sells adorable stickers to make your grocery store checkout come to life!
Buy it: LATSAS shopping basket set
This darling little egg is perfect when one of your students needs a little break or wants to have some quiet time. Add it to your Ikea classroom today like the one shown here by Ray Hemachandra.
Buy it: LOMSK Swivel Chair
A timeless learning tool and toy.
This portable circus tent can be used inside or outside. Your kids can use it during free time or quiet reading time. You can even jazz it up to make it extra cozy like they did in this picture from Plaid.
Buy it: CIRKUSTÄLT children’s tent
This one’s perfect for the tiniest (and messiest) artists.
Because devices need to be charged!
Image credit: Kayla at Move Mountains in Kindergarten
These adorable finger puppets can be used for pretend play or they can even be used as desk pets. Set them up in groups by subject or type on shelves like this picture from Move Mountains in Kindergarten so your students can easily find just the right puppet.
Buy it: WATCH ANIMALS finger puppets
Some of these are genius, TBH.
These ideas are absolutely genius.
Give your kids some space of their own.
Combined, the We Are Teachers editorial team has over 75 years of teaching experience across elementary, middle, and high school. We also work with a network of over 500 teacher writers and contributors to create the articles you see on our site. Learn more about writing for We Are Teachers and contributing to our social media channels.
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