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September 2026

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For Preschool Classroom Design, Less is More

By Cecilia Cabrera Martirena

Throughout my many years as a preschool teacher and pedagogical adviser supporting teachers in their practice, I have come to appreciate that less is more.

So, what does this mean? Should we avoid color and visual displays altogether? No, thoughtfully designed classrooms do not need to be empty. By carefully selecting what is displayed and giving visual elements space to breathe, we can create environments that are welcoming but also calmer and more respectful of children’s developmental needs.

Designing for children and with children
Often, classroom displays are designed entirely by adults and then presented to children. While these displays may be attractive, they sometimes miss an important opportunity: involving children in the process of creating them and deciding what should be displayed. Children should participate in the creation of classroom displays whenever possible. Depending on their age, they may contribute ideas, select images, choose work samples, dictate captions or labels, make decisions about layout and aesthetics, or even create the display themselves with the teacher’s guidance.

Making displays work for children
Meaningful displays are not necessarily elaborate ones. The most effective resources are those that children can easily understand and access (those at eye level). A visual support should serve a purpose within children’s daily experiences and help them focus their attention on what they are working on at the moment. It shouldn’t be there just to exist on the wall. The goal is to provide children with resources that help them think and that make their thinking visible.

Designing spaces that help children focus
If displays are intended to support learning, children need to be able to find and use them. When every surface competes for attention, important information can easily become lost. This is why intentionally empty spaces are not wasted spaces. Empty spaces are valuable because they create visual balance, helping meaningful resources to stand out and reducing unnecessary competition for children’s attention.

Using Color Strategically
Color is a powerful form of communication within the classroom environment, and it should be used strategically. When bright colors are used intentionally, they provide visual cues that support children’s understanding. Devote bright colors to highlighting important information, supporting organization, and defining areas. Leave other areas – walls, floors, shelves – in calmer colors, such as pastel shades.

Children need environments that offer stimulation and create opportunities for deep engagement, supporting their curiosity without overwhelming it. In my experience, the most effective environments are the ones that embrace simplicity and common sense.

*Excerpts taken from “For Preschool Classroom Design, Less is More” By Cecilia Cabrera Martirena
www.edutopia.org – Edutopia, George Lucas Learning Foundation.

Activity of the Month!

Pumpkin Vine Name Craft

Materials Needed:

• Pumpkin-shaped orange construction paper (1 per child)
• Green construction paper (cut into long strips for vines)
• Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
• Glue sticks
• Scissors (teacher use or child-safe, as appropriate)
• Tape or stapler for display

Have each child decorate a pumpkin and write their name in the center. Once everyone is finished, connect the pumpkins with green paper vines and display them together on a wall or bulletin board to create a festive pumpkin patch.

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