5 Ideas to Set Up Your Reggio-Inspired Classroom
Creating a Reggio-inspired classroom isn’t about picture-perfect shelves or Pinterest-worthy displays. It’s about designing a space that invites curiosity, supports independence, and reflects the belief that children are capable, competent, and full of potential.
If you’re just getting started, here are five powerful ideas to help you set up a Reggio-inspired classroom that feels intentional, beautiful, and alive with children’s voices.
1. The Environment Is the Third Teacher
In Reggio-inspired education, the environment (indoor and outdoor) is more than a backdrop — it’s a co-teacher. Every choice you make in your classroom influences how children think, feel, and engage.
Ideas to Try:
Use soft, neutral tones with natural textures (wood, linen, wool)
Include flexible seating: pillows, stools, or benches that move with children
Display children’s voices, photos, and family connections throughout the room
Leave wall space open for documentation and evolving displays
Think of your classroom not as a finished product, but as a responsive space that grows alongside your children. Learn more about designing the Environment as the Third Teacher.
Colorado State University Early Childhood Center, Fort Collins, Colorado
2. Use Natural Light & Real Materials
Children are naturally drawn to beauty and authenticity. Real materials create sensory-rich experiences that inspire deeper exploration. Instead of plastic-heavy toys, bring in items that feel grounding and connected to the natural world.
Ideas to Try:
Let in as much natural light as possible; add soft lamps instead of harsh fluorescent lighting
Offer materials like pinecones, stones, seashells, and branches
Store supplies in wooden trays, glass jars, or ceramic bowls
Incorporate plants or a small classroom garden for beauty and responsibility
When children are surrounded by real, tactile materials, they feel calm, inspired, and ready to learn.
Boulder Journey School
3. Create Child-Accessible, Organized Spaces
Independence flourishes when children can take ownership of their environment. Keep materials within reach, clearly labeled, and intentionally chosen. Instead of overwhelming shelves filled with toys, provide fewer — but more meaningful — materials.
Ideas to Try:
Use low, open shelving that children can access independently
Label bins or trays with photos, sketches, or clear icons
Rotate materials regularly to keep curiosity alive
Provide small tools for setup and cleanup (dustpans, cloths, spray bottles)
When children know where things belong, they take pride in caring for their classroom.
Documentation: New Horizons Preschool, Australia
4. Design Documentation Spaces
Documentation is at the heart of Reggio-inspired learning. By displaying children’s words, drawings, and projects, you make their thinking visible and celebrate their growth.
Ideas to Try:
Hang children’s conversations alongside their artwork
Use clipboards, bulletin boards, or wire lines to display current projects
Keep portfolios or journals open and accessible to children
Include family photos or child-chosen artifacts in displays
These spaces don’t have to be perfect — they simply need to honor children’s voices and invite reflection.
Sand Provocation
5. Set Up Provocations & Invitations
Provocations and Invitations are intentional setups that spark curiosity and exploration. A provocation might be as simple as a mirror with seashells or as layered as a sensory table inspired by children’s questions.
Ideas to Try:
A mirror with seashells and drawing tools for self-reflection
Transparent blocks on a light table to explore light and pattern
A tray of pinecones with watercolors and pipettes
Clay and natural tools like sticks, leaves, or pebbles
The goal isn’t to tell children what to do, but to invite them to wonder, explore, and discover.
Final Thoughts
Building a Reggio-inspired classroom doesn’t mean buying all new furniture or copying someone else’s style. It’s about slowing down, observing your children, and creating a space that feels alive with curiosity and connection. Start small, make one intentional change at a time, and let your classroom evolve with the children in it.
If you’d like step-by-step guidance and real-life examples, our Reggio-Inspired Master Course dives deeper into environment design, documentation, and everyday practices to help you confidently bring the Reggio philosophy to life.
About the Authors:
Megan Haynes and Priscilla Patti are two highly experienced and qualified early childhood educators who are passionate about teaching in a Reggio-Inspired way. They firmly believe in its transformative power in early childhood education.The authors share firsthand accounts of their experiences utilizing the Reggio Emilia Approach in Fort Collins, Colorado.
