I have been in school for nearly 9 weeks, but the classroom improvements continue!
As you know by now, I am teaching in a new building this year and I am lucky enough to teach in a classroom that is simply stunning (it was a collaborative project between myself and Melanie from Schoolgirl Style.) As I settle more into the classroom each day, I continue to “fine tune” a few of the details in the learning space. This week's touch-up was a simple improvement of the bench in my classroom library.
The focal point of my classroom is definitely the library area. With bright book boxes, yellow silk gerber daisies, and the silhouette of a child swinging from a tree, it is such an inviting corner. I purchased an Expedit bookshelf and Dröna fabric bins from Ikea to use as a bench in the reading area, topped off with a pink chevron cushion.
The bookshelf-turned-bench is stunning but it needed a tiny little something to give it some extra pizzazz. At a recent trip to Michaels, I checked out the ribbon aisle and had a revelation! I bought my favorite stitched grosgrain ribbon in black and bright pink and was ready to do a quick little DIY!
I began by wrapping the black ribbon across the cushion and around the top of the bench, then securing the ribbon with a large bow. I did this 3 times across the shelf. It makes a bold statement and also keeps the cushion from sliding around as the students climb on and off of the bench to read.
Next, I wrapped the pink ribbon across the top panel on the front of each fabric box. I used hot glue to attach each end of the ribbon to the box's side panels. This gave the bench the little bit of extra pop that it needed.
I loved my library bench before, now I love it EVEN MORE!
The bench for reading is wonderful and I adore all of the storage it brings into my classroom. Right now the bench is filled with all of my library books that still need to be sorted.
Have you discovered Vine yet? Its a new form of social media that loops 6 seconds of video. I created and shared the above video in Vine, along with a few others. I would love for you to follow me on Vine for extra glimpses into my classroom!
Want to see more photos of my classroom? Check out my previous big reveal!
Have a great week everyone!
Annie Moffatt says
November 3, 2013 at 7:00 amOh goodness! I am in LOVE with your classroom and that pink and black just makes me happy 🙂 Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!
Krista Smith says
November 3, 2013 at 7:23 amYour classroom is absolutely gorgeous! I’m definitely jealous. Doesn’t it just make your days even better working in a room that looks so good?!
School Days with Smith
Erin says
November 3, 2013 at 8:35 amYour classroom is stunning! What a fun and inviting place for students (and you) to work and play in each day!
Erin
Short and Sassy Teacher
Maria Manore says
November 3, 2013 at 1:03 pmThanks Erin! We always have a lot of fun in the room!
Kris says
November 3, 2013 at 9:39 amVery cute!
KinderKapers says
November 3, 2013 at 10:15 amWhat a beautiful and inviting space!
Terri Izatt
KinderKapers
Maria Manore says
November 3, 2013 at 1:02 pmThank you Terri!
Kathleen Sherburne says
November 3, 2013 at 11:49 amI think your classroom is adorable! I like your bench. Did you make the cushion or find it somewhere?
Maria Manore says
November 3, 2013 at 1:02 pmThank you Kathleen! To answer your question, I bought fabric for the cushion at Hobby Lobby, then purchased the foam and found a local sewing shop to create the cushion for me.
Jessica says
July 12, 2015 at 10:21 pmMaria, I absolutely LOVE everything about your classroom! My husband just put together my bench from IKEA today! Now, onto the bench cushion… Where did you get the foam for the cushion?
Maria Manore says
July 19, 2015 at 3:08 pmHi Jessica,
There is a store near me called “The Foam Factory.” I purchased the foam from there. Maybe you can try googling “wholesale foam?”
Andrea Monroe says
November 3, 2013 at 12:29 pmGorgeous!
Kristin says
November 3, 2013 at 12:30 pmwhat does the back of the bench look like? Is it white also?
Looks wonderful!!
Maria Manore says
November 3, 2013 at 1:01 pmThe back of the bench looks exactly like the front. It is white on all sides and you can access the baskets from the front or the back side.
Michelle Griffo says
November 3, 2013 at 12:38 pmIt is just so colorful and lovely!!! I’m obsessed!
Maria Manore says
November 3, 2013 at 1:00 pmThank you Michelle! The obsession is mutual!
Amanda says
November 3, 2013 at 3:31 pmLove reading your blog, thanks for being an inspiration to so many ECE out there 😉 Classroom is stunning & looks like a fun place to learn. I use a cushion gripper drawer/shelf liner at circle time with my preschool class. Cut into 18″ squares, works great for squares for them to sit on, and “grips” the floor. I wonder, if placing a long strip between the chevron cushion and the Expedit would help grip the cushion, to prevent extra moving around? ~Amanda
Katie Knight says
November 3, 2013 at 11:36 pmJust darling!!!!!!!!!
Marsha McGuire says
November 4, 2013 at 6:03 pmMaria, you are officially never invited to my classroom. You would be so disappointed in my mismatch, disheveled, put-together space. I’m so ashamed.
Your class is fantabulous . . . amazing and a bag of chips. I just love it.
Marsha
A Differentiated Kindergarten
Tami Terry says
June 2, 2014 at 6:33 pmJust FYI, the shelf is no longer available at Ikea 🙁 They do have a new one that is similar, but it’s shorter (only four spaces), called Kallax. 🙂
Sandy says
August 29, 2015 at 2:20 pmOH MY HOW BEAUTIFUL!…It makes me wanna empty my room and have you come and decorate it for me!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE the decals of the children AND the reading bench!!! After I hit send I’m googling IKEA!!!!
Sarah says
February 14, 2016 at 10:28 amYour classroom ist really amazing! I even can’t imagine how much work and how much money you spent on it!
Every time I see such great rooms as yours my own seems really boring to me 😉
Do american teachers get extra money to buy stuff for their rooms?
Greetings from Germany 🙂
Sarah