Take it all off

Yes, everything. Toss pushpins into a spare jar or empty mug and start going through all the things you’ve stowed on your bulletin board. Separate them into piles: One for pictures and ephemera, one for stuff you wanna keep, one for stuff you need to reference frequently (like your lacrosse sched) and one for stuff you can toss. Once that’s done, toss the junk, put the pictures in a memento box and file away old school papers you don’t wanna get rid of just yet. Set the pile of quick-reference docs to the side.

Head to the craft store

It’s time to give this board a dose of personality! Collect your allowance and look for…

- Flat wooden shapes you can paint on

- Chalkboard paint

- A small, flat dry-erase board

- Plain pushpins with flat, circular heads

- Fun ribbon and other decorations

Chalk it up

Spread your wooden shapes out on a newspaper-covered surface, then cover in a coat of chalkboard paint according to the directions on the paint container. Let it dry completely. Now it’s time to figure out where your shapes are gonna go. We love the idea of creating a column on the left or right side of your bulletin board to scribble messages on, or using them across the top to help keep your pinned-up papers in order. Use brightly colored chalk to write out categories, like your school subjects or “tests,” “homework” and “projects.” Use hot glue or superglue to fix your shapes to the bulletin board.

Dry-erase diva

At office supply or crafts stores, you should be able to find a small dry erase board on a thin, cardboard-like surface. Some will be blank, others might have a pre-drawn calendar. Pick whichever suits your fancy and use hot glue or superglue to attach it to your bulletin board.

Get personal

Glue cutesy toppers (like buttons, teeny fake flowers, ribbon bows or rhinestones) to your flat pushpin heads. Allow to dry completely, then use ‘em to secure papers, notes and even a dry-erase marker (attached to an adorable ribbon, natch) to the board.

Finishing touches

Use ribbon to cover the plain wooden frame border of your board, or to separate sections within the board itself. Glue on any other fun things you find—bumper stickers, patches—and remember, this is your room, so let your personality shine!

by Brittany Taylor | 2/1/2016