So…still on the laundry room theme here…sorry about that. I promise I will change it up here soon so as not to bore you to tears! We updated our family organizational boards here recently. I shared with you earlier this family work station that has really worked well to keep me on top (ha…ya right!) of all that comes with raising five kids. You can see that post here:
Kids Organizing Bulletin Boards
I wanted to style it up a bit and make it look like an actual piece of “furniture.” But I could not have it stick out from the wall as the outside door opens right into it. (see the black door mat?) So we added a few more changes to it. I tried to show on the picture below what pieces we used to create this bulletin board. It is really pretty easy and you can make it to your own tastes as well. Here is what we used:
I will not share the lengths we used unless some of you would like the exact specifics. Just leave a comment and I would be happy to add some edits to this post. I figured since every one will have different wall dimensions and kids, etc, you would have to come up with something that will work for you. This picture should be able to help you visualize it better.
After we added all of our molding and MDF pieces with nails (we always use nails rather than glue…just in case we ever want to take it down), we caulked all the seams with painters caulk. After it had time to dry properly we sanded any areas that needed it. Then we painted it with our white trim paint in a semi-gloss finish.
I also wanted to add some magnetic days of the week for each child to help us to organize their individual schedules.
I printed up some 1 inch circles with the days of the week on them and printed them onto some magnetic paper using my Xyron machine. ( You can always save those restaurant magnets and Mod Podge them onto there too).
Then printed up some of the kids activities on strips of magnet paper too. Such as piano lessons, soccer, ballet, basketball and so on. We also are including things at school like PE days (so we wear the right shoes), library and computer days so we don’t forget to turn in our keyboarding homework or library books *ahem*!
This wall is right at the front of my laundry/mud room as you walk in a side door of our home. So this is the door my kids use when they get home. It also happens to be the door all of my friends and family enter my home as well. So this room NEEDS to stay clean…ha…whatever.
In theory…the kids are supposed to come home and put up papers and assignments on their boards (which each have been labeled with their names) and then hang up their coats and backpacks…MOST of the time they are pretty good and only need “gentle” reminders here and there.
But for me it has really cut down on a lot of the searching and chaos of the early morning rush or the evening homework routine. It was really pretty easy to make and wasn’t that expensive. We were able to use a lot of scraps we had on hand, but my estimates for this project would be about $50 depending on the hardware (hooks) you bought.
If you were to ask me which DIY project has been the most useful to me as a mom…hands down…this would be it.
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
Would you like more Recipes, DIY, Printables and Organization Ideas?
Subscribing to the newsletter will enable us to periodically send you creative content exclusively for Idea Room subscribers.
*View our Privacy Policy here.
Jen says
Looks great! I love it!
Dawn says
that’s AWESOME, thanks for sharing!! :) Enjoy your crafty organized wall!!
Amy says
Thanks Dawn! I always appreciate it when people take the time to leave a comment.
That’s a pretty big endorsement at the end of this post. I can see how it would be a fantastic sanity saver.
Ha…yes it is. And I was not paid to make that endorsement either if that adds any credence to it too :). It has made my life a little bit simpler. Every little bit helps us mommas!
This is FABULOUS and real! I love it! I’m so so so so so so tired of backpacks being dropped in the middle of floor when they get home from school. haha. Thanks for always having so many great ideas! :)
Thank you Cindy. It was done out of desperation!! :) Don’t know why it is hard to take one more second and actually hang the backpack rather than drop it :)
I love this! I’m actually looking at a space that I could do this in right now.
Oh fun! Let me know if I can help out :)!
This is AWESOME!
Thank you Jen :)____
Can we see a before photo?? It would really help me to visualize if this will work in my home! Thank you!!
I do not have a before photo of just the plain wall…as I made the “first” version of it BEFORE I was blogging. Hence I never figured I would need to have a picture of a blank wall…Ha! Now I know better. :) I did however link to the “first” version of it that we made a few years ago when i shared it in an earlier post. Here is the link again…http://www.theidearoom.net/2009/07/kids-organizing-bulletin-board.html Thanks Pam! Hope you can figure on out to fit your space.
this is a fabulous idea! I love it
Thank you Tara! I really appreciate that.
You are SO not boring me with the laundry room business!!!
haha…good to hear…cause I may have a bit more coming :)!
Most of the time I see board and batten type interiors they have to take out the baseboard and just put a flat plank in. Did you baseboard just happen to be thick enough or did you add some pieces to it?
We did actually add another piece of molding to the top of our baseboard. It was just the smallest baseboard that came with the original home 30+ years ago. Instead of replacing all of it we just added another piece to make it “appear” like the taller baseboard. Nice way to pay attention to detail. Sharing it here on the blog soon if you are interested :)!
Wow, I love it!! What a great idea & it looks beautiful too. I’ve been trying to figure out how to organize my kids stuff too, but our mud room is in the garage so we’d never see it. I’ve been thinking of using metal too. Thanks for the great ideas!!
Love it! Awesome. There never is enough room or enough organization when kids are involved!
AMAZING! This is EXACTLY what I have been looking to make for the kids! I have an old church pew that I’m using as the bench, but have been putting off the hooks and other things because nothing looked right. This will be perfect! So glad I saw this. You are truly talented!
Oh my goodness! Too cute – great idea and tutorial, as always!
Wow, I just love this! I have 3 lil ones now but this will come in so handy when I have older kids with crazy schedules. Thanks, I have stumbled this post. Vicky from Mess For Less
These are so awesome!! This is a great tutorial also. I will definitely keep this in mind for when I have kids old enough to utilize this, it looks great & functional!!
Visiting from 30 handmade days :)
LOVE this, great job!!!
This is amazing!!! I love it and actually have a space to do something similar (if I can convince the hubster that we don’t *really* need that passthrough…LOL
It’s fantastic–thanks for sharing!
This is simply fantastic Amy! Beautiful and functional together is always a winner in my book! :)
I love this!! I actually made a version of YOUR first version but I think that I might change mine up too!! Can I ask how high your hooks are? And the size of the sheet metal pieces?
I LOVE this idea! I’m hoping that I can convince my husband that I NEED this in our entry:). Five kiddos ages 15 months to 8 years old in our house=mess, coats, backpacks and papers EVERYWHERE! Thanks for the post!
Such a great idea!
I saw your original post and we went to town making one for our 5 kiddos as well. I thought it was a brilliant idea and too cute. It really has helped keep track of papers and they like displaying awards and invites.
I am a little bummed because some of the thin boards just fell off. It started warping a little too. Might have been our fault. I don’t wanna chuck it so I’m searching for a stronger glue. I used the one HD suggested but may have to go back.
This white one is gorgeous!
I love this idea and we are putting it into action as we speak. Just wondering where you bought supplies. We haven’t been able to come across 2in mdf only 1 1/2 and 2 1/2? Checked Home depot and some other random places. And also wondering in more detail how you did the bottom part? did it line up with the baseboard evenly? I saw in another comment that you added something to the top of your original baseboard? But if we did that we would have to extend ours all the way down the hallway to make it look uniform. Any suggestions? Thank you for this wonderful idea.
Could use please send me your detailed dimensions for this project? I have the perfect spot for this and want to see if I would have enough room. Thanks do much
Awesome post, and I love your blog! I pinned multiple ideas! Looks beautiful and so functional!
Love this idea and want to do the 5 hooks/spaces. Could you please send me the dimensions.
Thanks so much!
Found you on stumble! Based on this page alone, I am following along. Great design idea!!!
I LOVE THIS..I thought the top was a window…but after reading all of it and seeing the magnets I love it even more! With 4 kids all in school and never being able to find all their school papers,notes ect ect this would be a god send!!! now to find a wall hmmmmmmm hehe
Hi, could u send me te dimensions? I’m rubbish with this kind of thing lol.
Thank you so much for posting this!! I have a wall just like this in my laundry room that I’m trying to figure out how to make it a place for organization! This is absolutely perfect! Hope you don’t mind us making an exact replica, I LOVE everything about your’s!
If you put chalkboard paint, either the black stuff or the make it yourself any color you want, on the sheetmetal you would have a writeable and magnetic surface and you wouldn’t have to worry about the day of the week magnets.
I love it and I appreciate you using nails since I also like changing things up. If possible, I would love the exact specifics of the project because I can figure out minute changes but seeing this project as a whole is a little overwhelming. My project would in the laundry room behind two doors. Thank you and I understand it’s been awhile since your original post but I just saw it and followed you on FB so I wouldn’t miss anything else you do.
We are trying to spruce up a farmhouse that is over 100 years old – I have been wanting to design a mudroom space that would help our three boys keep their belongings in “one place”. Love the way you designed your area – was wondering where you purchased the sheet metal – haven’t been able to locate any in our area.
I love this!! And I would love for you to send me the dementions so my husband and I can start building right away! :) I have no kids yet…but am ALWAYS searching for my purse, or the dogs leashes this would be GREAT!! :)
Could I get the dementions? I don’t have kids yet, but I plan to, and I always am searching for my purse and bag for work, it seems to be in a different spot every day! This woul be amazing! :)
I love this. Just wondering how tall it is and about what height you put the hook?
Thanks.
Love this idea. Could you please send me the dimensions.
Thanks so much!
I have the perfect spot for this in the hallway between their rooms! Thank you for sharing!
I did have a few questions about how you attached it to the wall: nails, glue, screws?
I would love to do this. Could you please send me the dimensions?
This is awesome. I must have this in my home. We have 7 children and I run a in home daycare. Would you might dgetting into more detail me? Maybe via email?
Would love to do this in my entry way!! Could you please email me the dimensions? Thank you! Great job, I love it!
I like the sheet metal portion. My kids have lockers, but I still haven’t found a way to tame those stray, but important papers. Add in crazy practice schedules for travel sports x3 – and well, I could use all the help I can get!
I’m thinking of maybe framing some sheet metal – or maybe even just bulletin boards? Hmmm.
Thanks for getting the juices flowing.
This is a great organizational board and I will definitely be building mine soon. Can you send me the dimensions of yours?
Thank you!
I just made this in my hallway. I’m so excited to have the school stuff contained! Thanks so much for the inspiration.
oh!! I am so happy to hear that! It has really been a life saver and sanity saver for us! I am so glad you let me know!!
I would appreciate the demensions you used. My area looks surprisingly similar. You could always come over and help. Ha
This is such an awesome project and would be an absolute life saver in my busy home! Will you please email me dimensions/details? Thanks so much!
What type of sheet metal did you use?
Not sure what type, it was just sheet metal that I got out local Lumber Store. You can find it at Home Depot or Lowe’s.
If I gave you measurements would you make me one? I know I can’t do this on my own. Name the price pls
Melissa- I wish that I had time. So sorry. It is easier than it looks though. Give it a try.
So, my son is 20, no school backpacks. But we live on a farm and my son and husband are not the most organized guys. lol. I may use this concept to get them to hang up the coveralls, reminders of phone calls to make, errands to run etc. Great concept and looks really lovely. A great way to make messy things look nice. I love the look of organized things. But here on the farm, organization is a huge challenge! I married my husband 2 years ago and moved into the farmhouse he grew up in, complete with all his parents’ belongings still here. So, I am loving all your organizational tips. Thanks for taking the time in yoru busy life to share with us. :)
Wendy- Thank you so much!
Outstanding job. I love everything you did here, and you did it very-very well! Thank you so much for sharing this project. You never disappoint. Happy V-Day, and stay warm.
Ivory- Thank you so much!
What a fantastic Idea, I could have used this when my 3 daughters were small, I now look after my autistic Grandson and he is an angel, but I will pass this on to his mother as his sister could definitely use this for her daughter as she is a whirlwind.
Pam- So happy you found this helpful!