Your students are about to walk through your classroom door for the first time—how are you going to welcome them? These back-to-school classroom door decorations let you show off your teacher personality from day one. From simple but meaningful to artistic and impressive, these ideas cover every subject, every teacher type, and every budget. Plus, check out this free app from from Creative Teaching Press that helps you create, organize, and share your classroom door and bulletin board layouts. Get ready to make an incredible first impression!
Tip: Not allowed to decorate your doors because of fire marshal or safety rules? Many of these make terrific bulletin boards too.
(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)
1. Believe You Can
This is the perfect powerful message to greet your students on the first day!
Source: @joeyudovich
2. Our Class Fits Together
You’re all pieces of the same puzzle, and you’re in this together! (Get that cute puzzle border here.)
Source: @missmuinteoir
3. Colorful Pom-Pom Welcome
Welcome your students into the classroom with this colorful pom-pom door decor. Get the pom-pom cutouts, border, and welcome banner.
Source: Creative Teaching Press
4. Just Keep Swimming
Welcome back an entire school of little fishies (and share a little Disney love)!
Source: @foleyfunfridays
5. Toddler Tiki
If you really want to go all out, 3D elements are sure to grab their attention.
Source: @yogamomkath
6. Puppy Smiles
Even if you don’t have an adorable classroom mascot like Dolly, you can still make classroom door decorations full of puppy smiles!
Source: @dollybaby_oes
7. Monkeying Around
Using brown burlap for the branch adds some cool texture to this door idea. Have kids color their own monkeys for a personal touch.
Source: @inspiration2intention
8. Bright Futures
Classroom doors like this can be personalized for any subject. Find paper sunglasses cutouts here.
Source: @rise.over.run
9. Today a Reader
This is a powerful message for kids to absorb. And these reading monsters are so adorable!
Source: @bloom_in_english
10. Elements of Success
This chemistry-inspired door deserves a Nobel Prize!
Source: Elements of Success by @craftyshanny2
11. Whole Latte Learning
This door design will carry you all the way through fall, so you can focus on the teaching.
Source: @sararains
12. Coco: Live Forever
If this is one of your Disney faves, turn it into a classroom door! You can get a kit at the link, with text in Spanish or English (“Remember me and I will live forever.”)
Source: Coco Door by @sra.davilamadwid
13. Happy Campers
The secret to this camping-themed classroom door? Duct tape!
Source: @craftsbycourt
14. You’ve Got a Friend
Here’s some more Disney love from everybody’s favorite toy duo!
Source: @katelynn_sylvia
15. Building Our Way
Speaking of toys, kids will love these 3D paper LEGO bricks.
Source: @mckinleykaty
16. Classgram
Many students are too young to be on social media, so give them an option they can follow in real life instead. (Buy a kit to make this door from Teach Create Motivate.)
Source: @mrsspeightsdoodles
17. Math Gives Us Hope
You may have 99 problems, but a clever door design isn’t one of them!
Source: Math Gives Us Hope by @craftyshanny2
18. Sign Language Love
Welcome kids by reminding them to embrace diversity in all its forms.
Source: @shiningartstars
19. Rainbow Smiles
This door doesn’t require anything fancier than butcher paper, scissors, and some twisted colorful crepe paper. Easy enough for any teacher to try.
Source: @lessonslattesandlittleminds
20. All Are Welcome
This is another easy-to-create door, especially if you use these realistic planet cutouts and reversible galaxy border.
Source: @6thwithsederberg
21. Paper Quilt
You don’t always need a special theme. Just choose scrapbook papers that you like and create “quilted” classroom door decorations.
Source: @lit_withmissb
22. Math Is My Jam!
We love it when teachers are proud of their subject and display it boldly.
Source: @misscraftymathteacher
23. Ready to Fly
What a great, positive message for students. Help them fly this year!
Source: @melodyteachingadventures
24. Home Sweet Classroom
Your classroom is their home away from home. Make it feel welcoming!
Source: @atouchofclassteaching
25. Learners Among Us
Whatever else might be sus, the learning in your classroom definitely is not!
Source: @teachinginparadise
26. Among Us You’ll Find …
Here’s another take on “Among Us.” Let kids color their own crew mates to personalize these fun classroom door decorations, shared by Brianna C.
27. Amazing Things Happen Here
Simple, colorful, and full of excitement!
Source: @mrs.mcginnis_class
28. We Are a Sharp Bunch
Morgan J.’s door is easy to replicate. Here’s the colored pencil border; make the large pencils out of butcher paper.
29. Inspiring Black Youth
These classroom door decorations were originally created for Black History Month, but they are terrific for back to school too.
Source: @begborrowedandallthefeels
30. I Am Enough
Wow, what an impact! Take inspiration from the book by Grace Byers and remind students that they are enough, every single day.
Source: @blackeducatorsconnect
31. Grow and Bloom
This door’s message makes an impact in any language: Don’t just grow, bloom!
Source: Grow and Bloom by @sra.davilamadwid
32. Something Within Us
Such an important message for every single student to hear.
Source: @misschidiacs.moments
33. You Are Loved
Everyone needs to hear these things and know that there’s a place where they belong.
Source: @natalielynnkindergarten
34. Beautiful Butterflies
Those hand-cut butterflies are truly astonishing! No time to do that yourself? Buy pre-cut paper butterflies here.
Source: Butterfly Tree by @theprintedsociety
35. We Stick Together
Use artificial flowers to add some color to a paper cactus. Punchy details bring door decorations to life!
Source: @adventures_in2nd
36. Oversize Pencil
Here’s another take on the “sharp bunch” theme, with the door itself turned into a giant pencil!
Source: Paola Garcia on Pinterest
37. Shoot 4 Success
The real basketball hoop makes this classroom door so much fun!
Source: @mrseskander
38. Learn and Grow
The big ruler really makes this colorful design pop.
Source: @kindershenanigans
39. Pete the Cat
He will always be a favorite! This design really works because it’s big, bright, and friendly.
Source: @teach.play.grow
40. Hello, My Name Is …
If you’re looking for a simple, colorful classroom door you can throw together in a snap, try this idea. Here are the supplies you’ll need: colorful name tags, tassel garland, and rainbow dots border.
Source: @fireworks.in.first
41. Llama Fun
Here’s another easy one any teacher can do. Save time by buying these cute paper llama cutouts to personalize.
Source: @mrs.hugosclassyclass
42. Cheerful Pirate
Arrgh you ready for some learning? This classroom definitely is!
Source: @sarah.eb72
43. Chalkboard Door
Make it easy to have a new classroom door message whenever you want! Cover your door with chalkboard paint (be sure to get permission first), then chalk up a new message whenever inspiration strikes.
Source: @ewhitmyre
44. Art Inspiration
Using colorful paper plates to make a paint set? So clever and so easy.
Source: @k.smith.art
45. Calculate Kindness
That paper calculator is so much fun!
Source: @teachwithchar
46. Be Kind
Your students help make this door something special by adding their own ideas on how to show kindness to others.
Source: @strongermindsinschool
47. A-maze-ing Year
Those old-school retro vibes are everything.
Source: @teachingthird
48. Spread Your Wings
Perfect for those first-day pictures!
Source: Butterfly Photo Op by @theprintedsociety
49. Be a Pineapple
Pineapples send a surprisingly positive message.
Source: @carolineandconfetti
50. Take the First Step
This inspiring scene from the film Hidden Figures has us in awe.
Source: @dallascsw
51. Welcome to the Nest
Personalize this cozy door by having students decorate their own bird, write their name, and add one fact that makes them unique.
Source: My Classroom Ideas on Pinterest
52. Colorful Crayons
What’s better than a fresh new pack of crayons?
Source: Kyrsta Pokoski on Pinterest
53. Popping In
We’d love to pair this with a first-day popcorn snack! Get popcorn piece cutouts here to use for the names.
54. Up and Away
This is one of those incredible classroom doors that’s been making the rounds for so long that no one seems to know who originally created it. Whoever you are, we salute your creativity!
55. Best of the Bunch
Apples are a back-to-school classic, and this door is a bushel of fun. Try these apple cutouts to make your own.
Source: Supply Me
56. Reading Adventures
Welcome all the readers to your classroom!
Source: @glitterandglue4k2
57. Aim High
Have students trace their arms on colored paper and fill your door with student goals for the school year. Save these goals for reflection in June. (This is another one of those popular doors that is everywhere on the web, but no one seems to know who made it first.)
58. Look Whooo’s Here
Those giant wiggly eyes make this personalized door extra cute.
Source: mrsleeskinderkids.blogspot.com
59. Oh Snap!
We love Instagram-inspired classroom doors! Fill it with summer photos or clips from experiences that students can expect in your class (the covers of novels you’ll read, photos of the field trip to the zoo, students reading outside in the spring …).
Source: Sew Woodsy
60. Oh So Sweet
These Popsicle-themed, glitter-covered classroom door decorations are the perfect sweet start to the year.
Source: First Grade Sweeties
61. Ocean Reef
Take a trip under the sea!
Source: Amber Beers on Pinterest
62. A Whale of a Door
This is a doorway your students will never forget!
Source: @tyrumble
63. Superheroes in Training
That 3D effect is easy to create and really adds a lot of impact.
Source: Ricardo Caballero on Pinterest
64. Notebook Paper
What a wonderful way to display your students’ names. The design is simple and perfect.
Source: @teacherjdot
65. 3D Crayons
Those 3D crayons are incredibly clever! We love how they’re “coloring” the door.
Source: @artistically_kymm
66. Incredible Year
Love the Incredibles movies? Try this door decoration!
Source: @kickin.it.in.kindergarten
Come and share your classroom doors in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Plus, check out some of our favorite back-to-school bulletin boards.
