When designing a preschool, select durable, low-maintenance materials designed for heavy use. Incorporate soft, carpeted areas for block play and group time. Lay vinyl, linoleum or laminate flooring in areas where art projects take place. Incorporate a large storage closet or cupboards into your design to keep materials well-organized.
Choose sturdy furniture without sharp corners. The furniture found in educational supply catalogs is durable but pricey. Scour yard sales, used furniture stores or online want ad sites for inexpensive furniture. Look for schools that are closing for reduced prices on furniture. Worn furniture is easily painted for a fresh look. Select furniture that can be used in multiple ways. Use bookcases, for example, to hold art supplies, blocks and toys, as well as books.
Once you have planned the basic furnishings of your room, it's time to add visual and sensory appeal. Textured carpets on a wall are irresistible to a young child. Install mirrors, prisms, light boxes and shelves filled with natural materials to encourage exploration. Plan an art area to include large easels, shelves for supplies and, of course, easy access to water for cleaning up. Use natural wicker baskets instead of plastic bins to corral materials for a homey look.
Consider your priorities and what you hope to accomplish in the classroom. If dramatic play is important to you, incorporate a small stage into your design. Fill the classroom with open-ended materials, such as scarves, smooth pieces of wood, shells and pine cones, that can be used in a variety of ways. Incorporate tables for project work and a place for sand or water play. Experiment with the arrangement of the furniture in your classroom until you find one that works. The ideal furniture arrangement utilizes clearly divided boundaries for various activities with a large, open space for group activities. Label the materials, and organize them so children understand how to use and care for them.
No preschool classroom is complete without an area for art displays and communications with parents. Build shelves to display clay sculptures, and add bulletin boards for hanging art and charting projects. Forgo expensive bulletin board kits and wall decorations, and instead use your wall space to display charts, photos and art work that showcases the interests and activities of the children. Organize a parent area near the exit for calendars, newsletters and helpful information. Include a lending library with useful books for parents.