More Than a Beautiful Room: The Movement to Restore the People Who Shape Our Future
This blog was written by Rhobin DelaCruz
Heard of The Design Besties? They’re the team behind the national campaign, The Teachers’ Lounge Movement – and they’re headed to the 901 for a Memphis Grizzlies Prep takeover!
Teacher, this one’s for you.
Every day, you pour your heart into our kids. You inspire curiosity, calm anxious minds, celebrate victories, and carry burdens most people never see. You arrive early, stay late, and give more of yourself than anyone realizes.
But when it’s time for you to recharge, where do you go?
The Design Besties have an answer.
(Nikki Watson | Homestager and CEO of The Design Quad, Whitney Atkinson | Inventor and Founder of WUGS, Weighted Rug, Rhobin DelaCruz | Interior Designer and Chief Design Officer of Rhobin DelaCruz Designs, Lori Johnson | Artist and Owner of Lori Johnson Fine Art)
The Room Where Furniture Goes to Die
In most schools, the teachers’ lounge is literally where old furniture goes to die.
It’s built for function, not restoration – a place to eat lunch, answer emails, prep for next period. Rarely a place that reminds a teacher they’re valued.
We think that’s not enough. Not even close.
Good design isn’t just about making a room pretty. It’s about how an educator feels the second they walk in: seen, cared for, restored.
That’s where our story starts.
(Before - T.W. Andrews High School - High Point, NC)
(After - T.W. Andrews High School - High Point, NC)
An Unexpected Friendship, A Shared Purpose
Four friends in the interior design world got to talking about how they could give back. Those conversations quickly became something bigger than a shared love of beautiful spaces – they became a belief that great design could be an act of service.
That belief became The Teachers’ Lounge Movement, a national movement turning overlooked teachers’ lounges into professionally designed wellness spaces where educators can recharge, reconnect, and head back to their students with fuller cups.
Invest in teachers, and you’re investing in every student whose life they touch.
(Bowman Middle School - Plano, Texas)
Why Teachers’ Lounges?
Teachers spend hours building inspiring classrooms for their students. The one room built for them usually gets none of that same care.
“Teachers deserve better than worn furniture, buzzing fluorescent lights, and a vending machine on its last leg. They deserve a space that says: we see you, we value you.” says Nikki Watson.
Every Design Besties transformation is intentional. Every color, chair, light fixture, and gathering nook is chosen with one goal: help teachers feel restored before they walk back into the classroom.
(The Teachers of T.W. Andrews High School in their lounge for the first time.)
Building a National Movement
One idea has already grown into something much bigger.
The Design Besties now bring together creatives, manufacturers, corporate sponsors, volunteers, educators, and community leaders – all believing teachers deserve spaces that reflect the value of their work.
Our vision is bold: not just redesigning lounges, but building a movement that reaches all 50 states, proving thoughtful design can be a real tool for educator well-being.
Memphis Is Next
Memphis, it’s your turn!
We’re honored to partner with Grizzlies Prep – the only charter school backed by an NBA franchise – the Memphis Grizzlies. Together, we’re building a wellness-inspired space with the same grit, heart, and resilience Memphis is known for. And there’s more! For the first time ever, we are also incorporating a student space.
Next month, our team, national, and local partners will bring it to life, one wall, one chair, one detail at a time – for you, and for every teacher at Grizzlies Prep who’s earned a place to breathe.
How to get involved:
We quickly learned how tight-knit the Memphis community is, and how much enthusiasm there is for getting involved. If you are a brand that would like to be part of our Memphis Movement, please reach out for sponsorship opportunities. If you are a community enthusiast, every little bit helps – see our donation link below. And if you’re neither, share this with a Memphis teacher who deserves to hear it.
Memphis, welcome to the movement! Let’s build it together.
For Sponsorship please contact Rhobin at rhobin@thedesignbesties.org
About the Author
Rhobin DelaCruz is an interior designer, serial entrepreneur, and community builder based in New York City. As the founder of Rhobin DelaCruz Designs, a full-service interior design firm, he creates bold, functional spaces for residential and commercial clients, with a roster that includes GQ, TED, and MTV. Rhobin is also the co-founder and President of The Design Besties, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit transforming teachers’ lounges into wellness spaces for educators, a national campaign known as The Teachers’ Lounge Movement. Through design, entrepreneurship, and community, he champions collaboration and believes great spaces can create meaningful impact.
