Classroom Storage Ideas for Teachers

Every teacher knows the importance of finding the right classroom storage to keep your space neat and to make your tools easy to find. It’s also important to make your layout unique to the requirements of your classroom, teaching style, students and budget. Because of this, what works for one teacher might not work for the next. Knowing more than one way to utilize storage can also help when you need to change to a different classroom since what works for you in one room might not be functional in another.

When planning storage, try to keep manipulatives and other supplies as near to their respective workspaces as possible, display horizontally and store vertically and store anything large and flat-hanging, like posters or anchor charts, for optimal usage. Most importantly, label, label, label. If your storage systems are not labeled, you and your students might find it hard to maintain the organization in your classroom.

This article will cover a variety of ways to organize and create storage in your classroom by suggesting uses for different containers, like cubbies, or methods for storing specific items, like clipboards.

How to Organize Your Classroom

Sizes and shapes of classrooms, as well as the furniture and storage that comes with them, varies, so additional storage ideas will be unique for each teacher. It’s important to be creative with your setup in the space. Always try to look at the room from different perspectives. There’s plenty of ways to organize that will benefit any teacher and any space. Here are some storage ideas to organize your classroom:

Classroom Bin Storage

Those colorful arrays of plastic storage bins are seen in almost every classroom and for good reason. Bin storage makes a great way for organization that is easy for both you and your students. These are some ways you might consider using bin storage in your classroom:

• Rolling carts with built-in plastic storage bins are great for storing papers and materials. You can make the labels for what is contained in each drawer match to your classroom décor. The rolling carts can also be great for organizing your technology. They’ll keep the wires and cords out of sight for a cleaner look.
• Every teacher has extra bulletin board materials. A plastic box with a lid is a great way to store them in one spot. It will also protect them from damage.
• Plastic magazine holders are great for storing clipboards or dry erase boards for classroom use. They will also provide easy access for students to retrieve and put them away on their own.
• Art supplies are easily organized in a multi-drawer cart. Label each material and tool so everything is found easily.

Classroom bin storage is a go-to storage option. No matter what other storage pieces you choose and use, you’ll almost definitely have a plastic bin or two somewhere in your classroom.

Classroom Storage Bags

Storage bags are often overlooked when searching for storage solutions for classroom teacher supplies. But don’t pass on their flexibility in use. Here are some ways you might utilize them in your classroom:

• Have students personalize a bag to store their supplies that they need to carry from classroom to classroom. You can match the bag to your décor as well. 
• DIY pencil pouches for students for an inexpensive storage solution. Hole punch the bottom so they can be easily added to a folder or a binder. If one were to break or go missing, it’s easy to replace since the material is affordable.
• Store your manipulatives in storage bags.

This is also a great option if you’re tight on your budget. Storage bags keep things organized and sorted for a lesser cost than other units. Be sure to label the bags if you choose to use them to prevent random materials from being stuffed into them.

Classroom Cubby Storage

Cubbies are another common storage solution found in classrooms. They offer a variety of uses. Think about these cubby storage ideas when planning your classroom space:

• Instead of filling the cubbies, you can leave them open for the students to store their belongings. It’s important for them to have a place to call their own in the shared space, even if other students use it in different class periods.
• Use the cubby storage to organize papers that students need to hand in or to store special surprises to reward students. It will keep classroom systems running smoothly.
• Store papers and notes that are to be sent home in the cubbies by adding shelves or dividers with student names.
• Add file boxes to the cubbies to store supplies so they are out of the way.

If you don’t have enough space for cubbies but want a similar organization system, consider adding labeled file boxes into the room. Personalize with a student’s name or picture.

Classroom Desk Organizers

You’ll see and work at your desk daily. It’s your personal space in the classroom. Keeping it organized will make you feel good about it and could help with stress levels. Here are some ways you can organize your classroom desk:

• Use a desk organizer to keep your drawers sorted. If you can’t find a desk organizer that works, try repurposing a silverware organizer.
• Pencil holders might be considered straightforward, but they can really free up space. Consider putting the holders inside a desk drawer rather than on the desktop to save workspace and avoid visual clutter.
• Jewelry boxes also work well as organizers for teacher supplies.
• Keep papers off your desk by labeling and hanging folders on the wall next to your desk or even on the side of the desk itself.

You might be the only one who sees or uses your desk, so it might be the last thing on your list. But really, it should be first. If you aren’t organized in your own space, it’ll make it harder to keep the rest of the classroom and the students organized. More than that though, you don’t want to overwhelm yourself with a messy desk if you don’t have to.

Classroom Storage Solutions

Sometimes, space is too limited in a classroom to get larger storage pieces like a cubby system or shelves. These are some uncommon alternatives to try if you’re pressed for storage space:

• Create a rack out of PVC pipes to make hanging storage, like for organizing headphones.
• Hanging jewelry or shoe organizers are great to create vertical storage without using floor space. You can even take them off the wall and roll them up when not in use.
• Crates, like plastic bins, are a great storage option. In them you can store anything from lesson plans, manipulatives or files. You can also use them as book baskets or theme boxes. Here are some other ways to use crates as storage:
• Store basic files in a crate with labeled dividers if you don’t have a filing cabinet. Or use a filing crate to create classroom command centers where you place all current papers, manipulatives and lesson plans in one spot. This also works wonders for any last-minute emergency when needing to call in a substitute. They’ll be able to easily and quickly find everything they need.
• Paper baskets can be used for turning in and passing back student work or for organizing professional papers. They can also be used for scrap papers and trash.
• Store papers or file folder games in a basket that was made for dishes, like a drying rack. This method is also great for storing electronics like classroom tablets.
• Use chair pockets to store supplies and essentials right at a student’s desk.

Being a teacher often requires creativity in all aspects, so why should that differ when it comes to classroom storage? If your space and budget are limited, you’ll need to do just that. Keep in mind that thinking vertically for best storage options saves floor space.

Top Classroom Storage Ideas

Maybe there are too many options for storage and you aren’t sure exactly how to utilize them. If that’s the case, here are some specific storage items that have worked well for other teachers and how you might use them to get started:

• Locking storage bins with lids: These can be used in a multitude of ways in the classroom. They’re great to hold math manipulatives, centers, inside recess toys and student supplies. The additional feature of the locking handles helps to eliminate spills while still being easy for younger students to use on their own. The bins also come in multiple sizes.
• Black paper storage bin: There’s no such thing as too many bins. You can use a paper storage bin to collect papers, hold center materials or organize small-group materials. It can also be used as a way for students to turn things in to you.
• Border storage: As a teacher, you tend to collect bulletin board borders, and it can be a struggle to store them nicely in a way that’s easy to see what you have at the same time. There are specific containers built to store borders. They stay flat and it rolls up for easy storing. You can fit it into a wide drawer or could hang it in a closet.
• Storage drawers: Drawers are perfect for smaller items, like mini-erasers. They’re also easy for students to use on their own, so consider storing their supplies in them. You can also turn it into a teacher tool box.
• Rolling cart with 10 drawers: Every teacher needs a rolling cart with built-in drawers. Their uses are endless, and they can be easily moved around. Store centers and papers in them or use it as a supply center. 
• Clipboard storage: Clipboards can be a pain to organize and store. A clipboard storage unit makes it easy to store them, and students can easily get and put them away. Use the clipboards for writing or outside learning so it might be useful to keep it near the door.
• Book bins: You can organize your books in bins to function as a classroom library. Or use the bins for students’ independent reading book boxes by adding their names on the labels. They also work great to store any monthly read-alouds. Organize the bins by author, genre or title. Or for young students still learning to read, organize by color so they have an easier time putting the books away on their own. 
• Storage bags: Store crafts that tie to your lessons in storage bags. Keep all the templates, paper and supplies necessary for the craft in the bag so the craft is ready to go when it’s time to do it. 
• Center storage: Bins are often chosen for center storage. It allows for the materials to stay organized and together, but it also lets students be responsible.
• Reading pointer storage: Reading pointers are perfect for motivating reading. They can use the tool instead of their finger, boosting their motivation and excitement to read since they’ll be able to use the special item. A caddy with cups inside can store them while being easily accessible. 
• Storage containers as folder holders: Organize important papers in crates or containers for easy access. You can also use this method for keeping assignments for absent students so they can quickly find and make up the work.
• Filing cabinets and bookshelves: If you have two filing cabinets or bookshelves or any larger storage units of the same size and height, place them back-to-back to create more hanging space. Two filing cabinets can become a magnetic bulletin board. Or you could hang a calendar or labeled file folders. 
• Caddy: The multiple compartments in a caddy can be used to store your common materials like index cards, sticky notes, pencils, pens, markers, scissors and more. Put cups and other small containers inside the caddy to organize each item and to save space.
• Lost items: Have a designated area for lost or misplaced items. Small items like a math cube, marker cap or paper clip can easily be forgotten or left out. Instead of throwing them away, leaving them out or putting them on your desk, keep a labeled bin for them. You can even assign a student each week to help find where the items belong.
• Desktop storage container: Keep drawing materials, like crayons and pencils, in a desktop storage container. You could also separate sharp, dull and new pencils into their own labeled drawers to teach students responsibility of sharpening the pencils. For crayons or colored pencils, label each drawer a color to keep them and similar colors together to make coloring projects easier.
• Binder: Use a binder to keep bulletin board letters and cutouts organized. This will also keep the materials safe from bending, damage and fading.
• PE organization: Physical education teachers can also utilize storage in their spaces. Use shelf totes to separate items like beanbags and pinnies. If you have a wide selection of sports balls, keep them in a mesh bag or an equipment cart instead.

Keep in mind that the caddy and binder examples are using storage options in ways that aren’t their intended use. If you find a container you want to use but haven’t seen anyone else use it in that way before, be the first. The most important thing when choosing storage is ensuring that it will work for you and your space. If you don’t think it’s perfect for you, then even if you get it, it won’t work. Items won’t be returned or the space won’t be maintained. And don’t be afraid to adjust your storage methods as the year goes on — you might realize a better way.

Organize with The Classroom Store

Storage is essential for an organized and successful classroom. You can get both large and small storage or even put storage inside of storage, like storage bags inside of baskets inside of a cubby. The options are endless. Find the solutions that work best for you. Sites like The Classroom Store offer you a multitude of storage options in one location.

On our site, The Classroom Store organizes their storage options into different categories to make it easier for you to find what you’re looking for. Here are the categories we offer:

• Arts and crafts storage
• Baskets
• CD and DVD storage
• Desk organization
• Drawers
• File boxes
• File crates and organizers
• File drawers
• File totes
• Literature organizers
• Miscellaneous storage
• Rolling totes
• Stacking bins and totes
• Totes
• Toy storage
• New products for 2021
• Closeouts

We offer a wide range of affordable classroom storage. When looking through categories like these, don’t be afraid to imagine how you might use a product in a different way than it may be listed. Get creative with your space. It’s important that it works for you and your students. Shop now for storage solutions at The Classroom Store.