Resources
Teachers, remember when we were in school, sitting in hard plastic, metal, or wooden chairs for hours on end every school day? Whether we’re talking about back problems, unrestrained fidgetiness or lack of focus, those seats likely did not encourage us to succeed in school. Luckily, we can now provide our students with better seating options than we had through flexible seating.
Flexible seating invites students to choose where and how to sit so they are able to learn and be the best student they can be. While this might sound like it would be chaos at first, once you’ve outlined your expectations and demonstrated proper use of each flexible seating option, your classroom can be a place of effective learning, full of focused and concentrating students.
Just so you know, we may get a small share of the sales made through the affiliate links on this page.
Here are 50 flexible seating options to consider for your modern classroom.
1. Floor cushions
Scatter some floor cushions around for a soft and comfy place to read or study.
2. Balance balls
A little bouncing on an exercise ball is often all it takes to encourage concentration.
3. Wobble cushions
Students can use these wobble cushions on their chairs or scattered on the floor.
4. Reading corner
A pile of comfy pillows will encourage some quiet reading time.
5. Crates with cushions
Turn plastic crates over, put a cushion on top, and your students have a portable seating option that goes where they need to go.
6. Scoop rockers
These colorful scoop rockers are another sensory option that students can move around the classroom.
7. Ergonomic stools
Ergonomic stools are perfect for your reading centers or can be pulled up to student desks.
8. Calming cube chairs
Calming cube chairs can help make students feel safe and secure as they do their work.
9. Story time cushions
These cushions are small enough for students to arrange them for read aloud story time and silent reading.
10. Stackable stools
Students can pull some stools up to reading or math stations. They are also perfect for small group discussions!
11. Short stools
Short stools pair well with short tables or other on-the-floor projects.
12. Storage ottomans
These storage ottomans double as flexible seating and storage for all those books and classroom supplies.
13. Reading pillows
Cozy and portable, these back-supporting reading pillows are a comfortable flexible seating option.
14. Picnic table
Invite students to have meaningful and educational conversations at a classroom picnic table.
15. Lap tray
Lap trays are portable and have storage for all the necessary school supplies to get down to work.
16. Wiggle stools
Students can use these now classic wiggles stools get their wiggles out, exercise their core, and get their work done.
17. Net chair
Net chairs are the perfect place to do a little silent reading.
18. Rolling chairs
These rolling chairs are fun for students but also give a space for visiting adults to sit, especially in elementary classrooms where parent teacher conferences sometimes must take place using only tiny tables and chairs.
19. Gaming chairs
These chairs are typically used for kids to play video games, but they also provide a great flexible seating option in the classroom.
20. Couch and coffee table
Mimic the joy of relaxing and reading with a mini couch and coffee table to give your classroom a living room feel.
21. Armchairs
Comfy armchairs are another super great flexible seating option that will make kids feel right at home during silent reading or small group work time.
22. Rocking chair
Rocking chairs are both a classic and comforting place to read a book!
23. Inflatable chairs
Inflatable chairs are another fun and portable way to add flexible seating to your classroom. They are also light, easily stored, and cost-effective.
24. Bean bag chairs
These bean bag chairs are classics that will be always be big hit with kids.
25. Tractor seats
These tractor seats will add color, functionality, and fun to your classroom.
26. Patio furniture
Invite classroom discussion with a cute patio set.
27. Modular seating stools
These modular stool sets are multi-purpose because they can be put together for group work and moved apart for individual work.
28. Otto storage stools
Otto storage stools come in a variety of colors and double as a lightweight storage system in your classroom.
29. Floor pillows
Large pillows can be arranged under chairs and tables or in corners for a quiet work spot.
30. Mobile desk chairs
With these rolling desk chairs, students can move and take their desk where work best.
31. Donut chair
Donut chairs are similar to inflatables but with an indent perfect for getting comfortable.
32. Floor dots
Assign kids a color or let them choose a spot on the floor to sit and learn.
33. Floor rug
A rug with circles or dots is the perfect place to teach a whole group lesson. Each student gets to choose a dot to sit on.
34. Mimon seating
These chairs come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors to better meet the needs of all your students.
35. Yoga mats
Yoga mats are portable, comfortable, and allow students to stretch out while they’re working.
36. TiltED chairs
These tilted stools allow students to move around without disturbing their classmates.
37. Back support floor chairs
Provide some back support with these comfy floor chairs.
38. Wave seat
Wave seats can be flipped to provide multiple ways to sit.
39. Bench
Add some pillows and a bench is the perfect place to work or do some silent reading.
40. Painted stools
Add some flair and personality to your classroom with some hand-painted stools.
41. Privacy folders
Students can use a privacy folder during tests or when they want to focus on an individual task.
42. Camp chairs
Camp chairs are light and portable and come in a variety of sizes and colors. You may even have an extra one in your garage that could be repurposed.
43. Bucket chairs
Attach a cushion to the top of a 5-gallon bucket and you have some inexpensive flexible seating. For extra fun, have students decorate their own bucket chair!
44. Yoga ball chairs
Yoga ball chairs come with legs, so they provide a bit more stability than traditional yoga balls.
45. Patio chair pillows
These long patio chair pillows make it easy for students to spread out and get their work done. They can also be shared for partner work.
46. Modular, rearrangable seating
The fact that these rearrangable seats can be built in a variety of ways makes them several flexible seating options in one.
47. Laundry basket
Who didn’t try to climb into laundry baskets as a kid? Used as flexible seating, each child can have their own space to read or use a clipboard to get their written work done.
48. Chair band
Modify your regular classroom chairs with what has become a favorite flexible seating option among teachers. As long as the chair has legs, adding a chair band allows students to wiggle and fidget quietly while helping them focus.
49. Rolling yoga ball chairs
A combination of yoga balls and rolling chairs, the rolling yoga ball chair brings bounce, stability, and portability together.
50. Floor poufs
Flour poufs are another portable and comfortable seating option.
Whatever flexible seating options you add to your classroom, you’ll be providing your students with the opportunity to feel better, focus better, and learn better.
