[Perfect for Photos] Decoration Ideas for School Festivals and Cultural Festivals

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

At school festivals, it’s common to have attractions, exhibits, and food stalls set up in classrooms, isn’t it?

Of course, the main attractions and stalls are important, but to really elevate the atmosphere, decorating the classroom and hallways is essential!

That said, since you have to prepare within a limited time, many of you are probably looking for quick, stylish, and cute ways to decorate.

In this article, we’ll introduce decoration ideas for school festivals—from easy options to slightly more elaborate ones.

Use this article as a guide to transform your everyday classroom into a wonderful space!

[Highly Instagrammable] Decoration Ideas for School Cultural Festivals (71–80)

sudare (bamboo blinds)

When you think of sudare (bamboo blinds), you probably picture something casually hanging on a home balcony.

But in fact, depending on how you decorate with them, they’re a versatile item that suits all kinds of scenes! You can hang them from above to act like a screen, lean them against a wall to create a summery garden vibe, or even use them as a cloth under exhibits.

They’re easy to find at home improvement stores and 100-yen shops, which is a big plus.

They work beautifully with both Japanese and Asian-inspired styles.

Perfect for adding that little extra touch when something feels like it’s missing!

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Tani Satoko

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garland

Among stylish girls and moms, garlands have become a total staple.

From colorful ones to chic, subdued tones, and materials ranging from paper and fabric to wood, there are so many varieties.

Garlands are visually charming and festive, and one of their big appeals is how easy they are to make by hand.

You can make great use of items from 100-yen shops, or create a natural, cute garland using branches or stones you’ve gathered outdoors.

If you use weather-resistant materials, they’ll work well for outdoor decorations too.

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utatane

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candle

Candles are a popular item on Instagram and an essential touch for a stylish space! Light a candle in a dim classroom, and the atmosphere instantly turns romantic.

There are also plenty of cute candles that look great even without lighting them—like ones with flowers inside or with beautiful marble patterns.

Some of these can even be handmade, so if you have time, it might be fun to give it a try.

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Hane Keisuke

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confetti balloon

How about decorating the classroom with confetti balloons, like the ones you often see at weddings? Confetti is basically paper sprinkles, and all you need to do is put them inside a clear or semi-transparent balloon.

Use colorful confetti for a cute vibe, or add gold or silver confetti and sequins for a glamorous look! They’re very eye-catching and photogenic, so they’re great not only as classroom decorations but also as props for photo shoots.

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Hane Keisuke

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Lantern

Oil lanterns are essential for camping, which has become a boom in recent years.

Their stylish shapes and softly flickering light are really popular! You’ll often see lots of lanterns used as décor in cafés, and lately “lantern parfaits” have become trendy too—they’re all over Instagram! If you decorate various spots around the classroom with these cute, stylish lanterns, you can create a wonderful atmosphere.

Dim the classroom with curtains, and it will feel even more magical! There are also LED lanterns shaped like oil lanterns, not the kind that burn oil, so using those is a safer option.

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Hane Keisuke

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Wall decoration made with artificial flowers

So-called artificial flowers—now commonly known as “artificial flowers”—are quite popular these days.

How about using them to make a wall decoration? Some artificial flowers have a hole on the back so you can thread a string through.

Using those, you can string together multiple flowers.

Once you’ve made a few strands, all that’s left is to hang them on the wall.

If you adjust the spacing between the flowers to be even, it will create a more refined and stylish look!

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Hane Keisuke

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Dried flowers

For exhibits and café decor, dried flowers are highly recommended! When it comes to floral decorations, paper flowers are common, but their colors can be too bright and not quite fit the mood.

In such cases, dried flowers have more subdued tones and don’t overpower the space, making them great for chic decorations.

There’s a wide variety of flowers to choose from, and they offer a gentle touch that lets the main attraction shine.

You can find them at 100-yen shops, and if you have time, making them yourself can be fun too!

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Tani Satoko

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