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Backpacks are just one of the many things students bring to school each day. They may also bring coats, hats, water bottles, stuffies, and other personal belongings that need somewhere to go. Without a designated “spot,” these items can end up on the floor, pile on furniture, or scattered around the classroom.
The right backpack storage can make a huge difference. Fortunately, there are plenty of classroom backpack storage ideas to choose from. From traditional cubbies and coat lockers to wall-mounted racks and mobile storage units, different solutions offer different advantages depending on your students’ ages, classroom layout, and available space.
Not every classroom needs the same type of backpack storage. Some rooms need shelves and cubbies while others can get away with just hooks. Here are five classroom backpack storage options worth considering.
Open cubbies are one of the most familiar classroom backpack storage solutions. Each cubby has an open compartment where a student can store their backpack and other belongings.
Cubbie units come in several configurations, including horizontal rows and vertical columns. Larger units usually have multiple compartments, allowing several students to store their belongings in one piece of furniture.
Unlike traditional lockers, cubbies don’t have doors, making it easy for students to see and access their belongings. This can be particularly helpful in preschool and kindergarten classrooms, where younger children are still learning to manage their personal items.
When choosing backpack cubbies, consider:
Coat lockers are a more complete storage solution. They generally combine vertical storage spaces, coat hooks, and smaller cubbies or shelves, giving students separate places for their coat, backpack, lunch bag, and anything else they need to store that day.
Lockers are especially useful in places where students need extra space for seasonal outerwear, like bulky winter coats, snow pants, boots, hats, and mittens. Not only does it provide a designated space to keep these items coralled, it also helps keep wet items from making a mess on the classroom floor.
When classroom space is limited, wall mounted backpack and coat racks offer a space-saving alternative to traditional backpack storage ideas.
These racks typically have a row of hooks where everyone can hang backpacks, jackets, and other items. Some racks also have an upper shelf for hats, mittens, or gloves.
However, filled backpacks and heavy coats can add a lot of weight. Hooks need to be sturdy and mounted securely in the wall. And unlike cubbies or lockers, wall-mounted racks provide less separation between belongings. If students need additional storage for shoes, lunch pages, or other small items, consider adding shelves with small bins nearby.
Mobile backpack storage units serve the same purpose as traditional cubbies or lockers, but with the added flexibility of wheels or casters, making them particularly useful in classrooms that serve multiple purposes throughout the day.
For example, a preschool classroom might need to rearrange furniture for group activities, rest time, or special events. Mobile backpack storage allows teachers to reposition the backpack unit quickly and easily, repurposing the space however it’s needed..
Some mobile units also feature double-sided storage, with compartments accessible from both sides. The advantage is that more children can access the unit but without taking up as much space.
Some classroom storage furniture combines individual coat lockers or cubbies with built-in seating. They feature open compartments with hooks for coats and backpacks, along with a bench or individual seats at the bottom, something that’s especially helpful when children need to sit while working with shoes, boots, and snow pants.
Some seated lockers feature a continuous bench beneath several storage compartments, while others provide individual seats for each student. Both configurations eliminate the need for separate seating, although they generally require more floor space than standard cubbies or wall-mounted racks.
While backpacks may be the largest items students bring to school, they’re rarely the only things that need storage.
Coats, hats, mittens, lunch bags, and extra clothing can take up considerable space. Choosing furniture that accommodates these belongings can help prevent backpacks from becoming catchall storage spaces.
A few features are particularly useful:
With so many backpack storage ideas available, the best choice depends on more than the number of students in the classroom.
Not sure where to start? Use our space planning tool to figure things out.
Before selecting storage furniture, consider where it will go and how much space students will need to access their belongings. This is especially important during arrival and dismissal, when several students may be putting away or getting backpacks at the same time.
A row of lockers may fit comfortably along a wall, but students still need room to stand in front of their compartments, remove backpacks, and put on coats. Double-sided mobile units need clearance on both sides, while lockers with seats require enough space for students to sit and move around comfortably.
A backpack cubby may be sufficient if students only need somewhere to put their bags. But if they also bring coats, lunch bags, extra shoes, and seasonal clothing, a combination locker may be more practical, so think about storage needs throughout the entire school year.
And remember that more compartments don’t necessarily mean better storage. A unit with fewer, larger compartments may be more useful than one with many small openings that can’t accommodate students’ backpacks.
Whether you’re furnishing a new preschool classroom, updating a kindergarten coatroom, or looking for better backpack storage for elementary students, choosing the right furniture can make everyday routines easier.
At KinderMarkKids, we offer a variety of classroom storage solutions, including cubbies, coat lockers, mobile storage, and combination units designed to accommodate students’ personal belongings.
Not sure where to start? Contact us today and our team will match you with the right backpack storage solution for your classroom.
