The physical environments in which students learn best have been studied at length by scholars in the field. Provided below are links to some of these studies:
Arranging the Physical Environment of the Classroom to Support Teaching/Learning by Catherine Hoffman Kaser, M.A
http://education.odu.edu/esse/docs/classroomenvironments.pdf
Get Organized! Preparing Your Classroom for Learning by Angie Dorrell, M.A.
http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=572
A Place for Learning: The Physical Environment of Classrooms by Mark Phillips
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/the-physical-environment-of-classrooms-mark-phillips
The Physical Environment by Jacqueline Patterson and Kristal McMillan, California Baptist University
http://pattersonandmcmillan.weebly.com/the-physical-environment.html
Classroom Environment: The Basics by Denise Young
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/734
Classroom Physical Arrangement/Environment by Ron Walker
http://education.wm.edu/centers/ttac/resources/articles/challengebehav/classphysarrange/index.php
http://education.odu.edu/esse/docs/classroomenvironments.pdf
Get Organized! Preparing Your Classroom for Learning by Angie Dorrell, M.A.
http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=572
A Place for Learning: The Physical Environment of Classrooms by Mark Phillips
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/the-physical-environment-of-classrooms-mark-phillips
The Physical Environment by Jacqueline Patterson and Kristal McMillan, California Baptist University
http://pattersonandmcmillan.weebly.com/the-physical-environment.html
Classroom Environment: The Basics by Denise Young
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/734
Classroom Physical Arrangement/Environment by Ron Walker
http://education.wm.edu/centers/ttac/resources/articles/challengebehav/classphysarrange/index.php