You know that huge, impersonal bulletin board hanging over
your desk? The one that’s proudly peppered with your grade-A tests…from two
years ago? Yeah,
that one. Pull that
sucker down and hit refresh. After all, why should you wait ‘til spring to
clean up your act when the new semester starts, like, right now?
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 ON 1/31/2012 5:15:00 PM
POSTED IN redo your room, DIY room decor, get organized now