School events are a great opportunity to bring the community together—and they're also the perfect time to showcase creativity, sustainability, and teamwork. One of the best ways to make your events memorable without stretching the budget is by using recycled materials for decorations. Simple items like cardboard boxes, newspapers, plastic bottles, fabric scraps, and old charts can be transformed into eye-catching décor with just a little imagination. Not only does this reduce waste, but it also sets a great example for students about environmental responsibility and mindful consumption. It also encourages collaboration across classes, clubs, and even between teachers and parents, turning the preparation itself into a fun, educational project.
Here are some imaginative, low-cost decoration ideas using things already available at school or at home that will make your event look vibrant, meaningful, and truly unique:
Paper Roll Art
Save cardboard toilet paper rolls, kitchen rolls, or even old mailing tubes. These can be cut, painted, and shaped into flowers, animals, wall art, or even hanging garlands. Teachers can pre-cut a few basic shapes for younger children, while older students can experiment with more intricate patterns, layering, and 3D structures. You can also combine the tubes with other recycled materials like newspaper, twine, or leftover fabric to add texture and color. Once everything is dry, group the finished pieces by class or theme and display them in corridors, on notice boards, or around entrances. Students can easily work with these in groups, and the final results are always cheerful and quirky.
Try this: Use painted rolls to create large “flower patch” murals for school corridors or entrance gates.
Newspaper Wall Murals
Old newspapers can be folded, twisted, or crumpled to create textures and backdrops, such as layered wall panels, table runners, or hanging garlands. You can roll them into tight tubes to build lightweight frames, cut them into strips for paper chains, or weave them into mats and borders for display boards. For added visual interest, you can dye them with natural food coloring to give them a pop of color, use tea or coffee staining for a warm, antique look, or keep them in their raw black-and-white form for a clean, vintage aesthetic. These activities are easy enough for students of different ages to help with, turning decoration-making into a collaborative art project.
Try this: Make a large tree mural where each class adds its own handprint leaf made from old newspapers.
Bottle Cap Decorations
Plastic and metal bottle caps (from water, soda, milk, etc.) can be turned into colorful art pieces like mosaics, curtain hangers, wall initials, or photo frames. You can sort them by size or color to create patterns, school logos, or class names, and glue them onto cardboard, old trays, or wooden boards. They’re lightweight, durable, and easy for even small kids to handle, making them perfect for group activities where each student contributes a few caps to a larger display. After the event, these pieces can be reused for future functions or displayed around the school as a reminder of the students’ creativity and commitment to recycling.
Try this: Create the school name or event title on a board using colorful caps glued into letters.
Used CDs and DVDs
Old, scratched, or non-working CDs can be transformed into sparkly, reflective art. Instead of throwing them away, invite students to collect and clean them, then use them in different group projects. Hang them as mobiles from the ceiling or along the stage to catch the light, create shimmering wall borders or photo booth backdrops, or glue them onto cardboard shapes for signs and banners. You can even cut or break them carefully (with adult supervision) and arrange the pieces into mosaic-style patterns, mandalas, or school logos.
Try this: Make a “Disco Dhamaka” corner for your school dance or fest using CD streamers and lights.
Plastic Bottle Lanterns
Empty water or soda bottles can be cut and shaped into hanging lanterns, flowers, or planters. You can paint them in your school colors, wrap them with leftover ribbon or yarn, or cover them with bits of colored paper to match the theme of your event. Punch a few small holes or cut patterns into the plastic to let the light shine through in interesting shapes. With a few LED tea lights or string lights tucked inside, these recycled decorations create a warm and festive glow along walkways, on classroom walls, or around the stage—perfect for turning an ordinary space into a colorful, eco‑friendly celebration.
Try this: Use these to light up the entrance path for an evening event or drama performance.
Tetra Pak & Carton Banners
Juice boxes, milk cartons, and cereal boxes can be opened, flattened, and painted for bunting or hanging displays. Once cut into triangles, circles, or flag shapes, they can be strung together with ribbon or yarn to create colorful banners that match your event theme. Students can decorate them with eco-friendly paints, markers, or collage materials to spell out messages, showcase house or team colors, or highlight event slogans. Because these materials are sturdy and hold their shape well, they’re easy to handle, simple to hang around classrooms, corridors, and stages, and ideal for older students who can safely manage cutting and designing more intricate patterns.
Try this: Have each class decorate a carton with a theme and string them together across the school courtyard.
Old Clothes or Fabric Scraps
Old dupattas, bedsheets, or sarees make excellent stage backdrops or table covers. You can layer them to add depth, mix patterns and solid colors to match your event theme, or drape them around the stage entrance and notice boards to create a festive frame. Cut into strips, they can also be used as colorful streamers or twisted into ropes for decor, whether you hang them from the ceiling, wrap them around railings, or use them to outline pathways and display areas. This not only saves money but also adds a warm, familiar touch to the event, especially when families contribute old fabrics from home.
Try this: Have each class decorate a carton with a theme and string them together across the school courtyard.
Magazine Collage Posters
Ask students to cut out shapes, letters, or patterns from old magazines. These can be turned into abstract posters, word walls, or event-specific quotes that match the theme of your celebration—such as “Science Fair,” “Literacy Week,” or “Sports Day.” Students can work in small groups to design a layout, arrange the cutouts by color or topic, and then glue them onto recycled chart paper or cardboard to create large, collaborative displays. You can hang these on classroom doors, along corridors, or behind the main stage as a colorful backdrop. It’s a great zero-waste art activity that turns decoration-making into a hands-on learning experience.
Try this: Create a collaborative mural spelling out “Eco-Friendly Fest” using cutouts only.
Final Thoughts
Using recycled materials to decorate your school events not only saves money—it also teaches students the value of sustainability, teamwork, and hands-on creativity. Instead of buying new décor, classes can collect and repurpose everyday items. These activities give students a chance to experiment with colors, textures, and design while reinforcing lessons about reusing resources and reducing waste. These ideas are easy to implement with basic supplies and plenty of imagination. By involving students, teachers, and parents in the decoration process, you also create a sense of ownership and pride in the event, making it more meaningful for everyone involved.
