Classroom storage ideas: top tips for teachers

Raise your classroom storage game with these handy hints...

New year, new starts. It's back to work and school for many of us this week. And although teachers kick off their "new year" in September, we have been busy compiling some fresh classroom storage ideas for 2017 to get the year off to a great start for primary and secondary school teachers alike.

We've researched the best tips and tricks for classroom storage from around the web, to bring you the cream of the crop.

These genius ideas are cheap or even free in many cases, using and upcycling items from the home. So, if you're a teacher preparing to motivate your pupils to get back into the swing of classroom life after the Christmas holidays, these top tips may be just the ticket to stay top of the class.

1. Store by colour

Crayons and coloured pencils are easily mixed up and lost in a classroom setting so it's difficult to keep tabs on the various colours and quantities. Storing them in colour order can make them easier to grab and count up at the end of the day's lessons.

Choose from a range of receptacles. Why not get inventive by recycling old milk cartons, jars and tins from the kitchen?

2. Staple spares

Pupils are forgetful. To save you wasting valuable time dishing out paper and pens at the beginning of every lesson, anticipate it and let them help themselves as they walk in. Staple three folders to the wall (saving precious desk space). Fill them with scrap paper, lined paper and plain paper they can grab and go. No more excuses!

3. Pick up a pen

Similarly, doling out pens, pencils and other stationery to scatty students can take up time. Keep pots of spares at the front of the classroom and let pupils know where to find them if they turn up unprepared. Even better, fill the pots up with what's left behind after each lesson and you'll save yourself some time and money stocking up your spares.

4. Recycle and repurpose

Old Pringle jars make the perfect ruler holders with a bit of clever wrapping. It's time to get snacking!

5. Cart it out

Ikea isn't just for the home - the Swedish flat pack faves have some fantastic storage solutions for teachers, too. Try this utility cart to stash your classroom supplies like pens, pencils, crayons, books, stationery and other essentials. It's compact enough to fit neatly into the corner, ready to be rolled out and easily moved around the room when its contents are needed.

In fact, a quick Pinterest search comes up with hundreds of amazing uses for this storage gem for the classroom and beyond. Use it for plants, tins and jars of food, make up and hairstyling equipment, office supplies, bathroom products and hand towels, knitting or sewing stuff, children's toys and books. The storage solutions are endless!

6. Squeeze it

For primary schools or art teachers. Clean out ketchup bottles for fun and functional paint storage - the squeezy bottles save waste, too.

7. Store with us

If clutter is taking over your classroom, we can help. Schools can store surplus or seasonal equipment at Store First to save space in the classroom, leaving more room for learning. Visit www.storefirst.com/locations to find your nearest centre.