Creating a functional (and beautiful) bulletin board

5 May 2014

Long before Pinterest, pinup boards have been used in houses everywhere to keep important information close at hand and top of mind. These bulletin boards can be really useful for information and for inspiration, but it’s really easy for them to get messy and full of outdated items. When that happens, they lose their utility (and beauty).

Last month, I was a guest on the Springpad Show and at the top of the interview, Katin Miller, who was interviewing me via Google Hangouts, commented on the fabric-covered bulletin board in my office (which was behind me in the shot) and the fact that it’s neat and attractive. In order to have a successful bulletin board, I think you need three things:

The items should all be visible
Outdated items should be removed regularly
The arrangement of the items should be pleasing to the eye

In the May 2014 issue of Martha Stewart Living (on newsstands now through May 16) is an article on pinup boards, called Show and Tell. It features several different types of pinup boards—used for information or inspiration—and, true to Martha Stewart form, they’re beautiful.

I was particularly struck by this little front hall board, which they call a “get-out-the-door organizer.” What I love about it is they’ve used a little nook, paired it with a shallow wall-mounted table (how cool is that?) and it used it for a calendar, pretty photo, and information and mail that’s going out the door (tucked behind a rod mounted to the frame of the board). There are also cup hooks for keys. This is a terrific landing/launch pad for the home.

Here’s another that blew me away, because I had no idea that magnetic wallpaper existed. What will they think of next? I love the bold graphic on this wallpaper, which really transforms the space. And magnets will stick to it!

And there’s this magnetic chalkboard, perfect for a kitchen. It’s a DIY project—they even offer a free tutorial so you can learn how to create your own magnetic chalkboard.

There are more boards, and more details, in the May issue of the magazine. Martha Stewart Living tends to do everything a bit more beautiful than I do (I’m a function-over-form kind of gal), but this article really inspired me.

Tagged with: bulletin boards, inspiration, martha stewart