Pin-Up Style: Why Bulletin Boards Rule

I don’t know about you, but I always seem to have endless paper piles both in the office and at home. They are organized piles, but nonetheless, they still stare at me mockingly every time I glance their way. I go through the bills and correspondence, and then file away what is necessary. The pile of never ending catalogues and magazines is just that… never-ending, and I will probably never work my way through. But then there are the party invitations, notes from friends, random family pictures that make me smile, and magazine tear sheets that I find inspiring… Or just plain pretty. Those items need to be out in the open for daily inspiration and reminders.

Well, I found a solution! One of my very favorite finds is this oversized (and I mean really, really big) bulletin board. It’s functional – I can display and rearrange important reminders, invites, fun pictures, and the like – But its white-washed shabby chic finish had me drooling at first site. It quickly became one of the most useful things, as well as a centerpiece of design and conversation. And I was also very excited to find some shabby chic white flower push pins to hold up some of my paper treasures on this fabulous pin board.

{My oversized pin board}

While the oversized bulletin board is my organizational true love, I also added a smaller, baroque style board at work (aka Beauty Central). This little beauty was originally a smooth-finished black frame that I DIY-ed into a pin board. It was really quite easy. I texturized the frame to give it a vintage flair. After the texture dried, I painted it white. I then added cork (you can get cork rolls at almost any art supply store), and then backed it with cardboard. I found clear and black jeweled push pins, which add a little extra glamour.

{My DIY baroque-style bulletin board}

While bulletin boards are my number one – I would have entire walls made into bulletin boards if I could! –  I also love wipe boards and magnet boards. And if they are a combo, we head into organizational orgasm territory! I have giant wipe boards throughout the Sweet Spun Beauty office. These help keep track of To Dos, projects, and are great for marketing and branding brainstorming sessions. I also have a large calendar wipe board at home. Each family member has a color, and it’s helpful to see the month (and week) at a glance. It helps keep us organized. Well, who am I kidding?… It’s helpful for me, but it’s mostly so my husband can easily see what we have going on without asking me 100 times what we have to do the following weekend.

{Removable dry erase calendar}

It doesn’t stop there. I also have magnet boards. Lots of them. In the pantry, I use one to hold grocery lists, coupons, emergency information (do takeout menus count as emergency information?!), and another for kids’ artwork. In my closet, I have a magnet board of special photographs. Even baby Mandy has a damask-covered magnet board with a beautiful baroque frame in her room. Here, we hang special mementos for her, as well as pictures that her older sisters made for her… Including a picture that they gave her when they met her for the very first time. Eventually, she will be able to hang her own artwork here.

{Magnet board in the pantry to hold lists, coupons, menus, etc.}

{Fabric covered magnet board}

{One of my magnet boards in my closet displays pictures that make me smile}

{The kids put their artwork and pictures from school on this magnet board}

Clearly, bulletin boards, wipe boards and magnet boards help keep me organized both at home and at work. But they also bring a lot of visual fun and sentiment. Whichever style you prefer: bulletin board, wipe board or magnet board (or if you’re like me, you’ll want all three!), these boards can help you stay happily organized and inspired in style.