If you enjoy the nostalgia of old scientific posters, weathered books and dusty chalkboards here are a few ways to add some vintage school style to your home.

Retro Classroom Chairs

The wooden stacking chairs of 1950s and 60s classrooms are iconic now. They have a great industrial look, are comfortable to sit on and store away nicely. No wonder they’re so popular in homes and commercial spaces now, making excellent dining and office chairs. Paint the legs to match your décor and stain the seats to work with your wood colours.

Scientific Posters

Detailed star maps, old anatomy posters and illustrative botanical charts make for seriously stylish and educational wall art. Charts like the ones pictured above can be bought on sites like Etsy.

Chalkboards

Chalkboards are so useful for busy families. Perfect for jotting down shopping lists, weekly meal plans, dates and important things to remember. To create a chalkboard, measure out where you want it on the wall or a suitable surface like hardboard or MDF. Apply a couple of coats of chalkboard paint and, once it’s dried, season the surface with chalk before you use it the first time. 

Vintage Clocks

Vintage clocks are a trend that will always stand the test of time and big school clocks make a great statement piece in any room.

A Corkboard

If a chalkboard is too much of a statement, how about a more subtle corkboard? You can clad entire walls in cork or just create a small corkboard for notes, business cards, timetables and receipts.  This is a great look in offices, kid’s rooms and even kitchens.

Metal Lockers

Metal lockers are brilliant for storing coats, shoes and bags in hallways. Buy a set of colourful metal lockers and assign each family member their own! They add an interesting dynamic to modern spaces but if metal isn’t really your thing, wooden pigeonholes stuffed with books and curios are a great alternative.

School Coat Racks

A set of vintage school coat racks will add retro charm to your hallway.

Vintage Pendant Lights

Vintage pendant lights make stylish hanging light fixtures that also double as task lighting. Perfect for kitchens, office or living areas, buy a mix of differenet coloured pendant lights for a contemporary feel.

Vintage school-inspired decor are fun items to seek out at flea markets and craft fairs.

Etsy and eBay are also great places to find vintage school pieces.