This is step 2. There are five parts to this craft room organization wall project: Make Your Creative Wall Frames; How to Make a Gift Wrap Organizer; How to Make a $20 Photo Studio; How to Add Crown Molding to a Craft Wall.
If you have been following me the past week, you know I have been working on the “Creative Wall” in my craft room… aka… my Studioffice. This wall side of the room in general is where I create – hence the name I have given the room as it is more than just a home office – it is a creative studio + office = Studioffice. I am making this room everything I need it to be –
1. Functional in not one, but four ways: I need to have a place to – write blog posts, wrap gifts, make and create things, take photos where there is lots of light.
2 Pretty
3. Place for everything
4. No clutter
The tool frame is the most utilitarian aspect of the room, but without it – the room would not function and without the function the design of the room would be a failure. Before making this tool frame, I kept the tools I used daily in cache pots I made that I kept on the worktable. These looked very pretty, but whenever I began to make something– they were in the way and I had to move them – not functional. The tools on the wall keeps my worktable clutter free while the tools are still easily accessible.
This is what I love about design and decorating – customizing for the way I live and work in a space – the process is the same for every room. If you read in your living room, do you have the right type of task lighting to make reading easy or is there only one ceiling light that makes it hard to read? Is there a place to curl your feet up and a side table to place your drink?
When I look at a room – these are the first things I consider-
What is this room’s main purpose? What items will make that purpose happen? What needs to be added? What is not needed?
Editing. It makes me happy and enables me to create a home that meshes perfectly with how my family and I live, not some arbitrary source that says a room should look or be a certain way.
How to Make the Tool Organizing Frame
supplies needed:
- Frame
- Pegboard
- Pegboard Organizer Kit
- Staple gun
- 1/2-inch staples
- Saw tooth hanger and wall hanging nail and hook
- White gloss spray paint
- Tin cans
- Ribbon
- Awl
- Hot glue and glue gun
The last wall frame is where I will set up to take photos of the items I make. I will show you it in my next post.
Before
To see how I made the frame, you can click over to this post – Putting the Creative Wall Together. I bought the pegboard at Lowes. It comes in white, but only very big sheets of it. I only needed a small section, so I opted for this $6 brown piece and spray painted it white.
Once the paint was dry – I stapled it to the back of the frame using 1/2 – inch heavy duty staples. You could also nail it on with small nails
I added two saw tooth hangers to the back of the frame – one on each side, then hung it on the wall. Since the frames are butted up against each other, use a level to make sure you are placing the picture hanger on the wall in the right spot. If you have trouble doing this – here is a picture hanging trick that may help you figure out exactly where the nail and hook should go on the wall.
I bought this pegboard organizing kit at Lowes for $12. I didn’t use all of the items. The blue plastic just didn’t do it for me. They would be fine if this was in my basement, but in this room, I decided to use tin cans covered with ribbon to hold some of the smaller items I use daily. I used an awl to punch a hole into the top edge of each can and hung them on hooks that came in the kit.
Details count! I wanted to change the blue tips that were on some of the hooks, so I went into my daughters’ stash of nail polish. Having two daughters means I had quite an array of colors to choose from. I picked pink and green. I dipped each blue tip on the hooks into the nail polish and let it dry. Now I have colors that coordinate with the room. Easy! I used nail polish instead of craft paint since it is shiny and has an enamel finish.
If you look closely, you can see the green and pink tips in the photo below.
Form does not come first for me, function does. What good is a pretty item, piece of furniture, or room if it is uncomfortable or serves no purpose in your life? It may look good, but if you never sit in it -what good is it? If it makes you smile then it serves a purpose :) the best kind of purpose! If it doesn’t then I would probably edit it – out of my life.
Trying to come up with functional pieces that also look good for my craft room – is what good design is all about.
Tanya says
Thanks so much for this post! Every time I make the effort to clean my office/craft room, it gets super messy in a day or two =( But I think I just don’t have the proper storage and organization. The peg board is totally going to help with all the hammers and pliers I have around.
Winnie says
Diane: I have my new pegboard done! I am very very happy with it. Thank you for sharing the how to and the inspiration. My hubby made it for me and I am loving having my tools out at my fingertips. Here is the link to share it with you. You are linked in the post.
http://winniesinkyfingers.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-new-peg-board.html
Thanks again!!
Vicki V says
LOVE your ideas and your philosophy! The nail polish trick was ingenious!
winnie says
Hi..I love your board. I am going to be making a craft room in a spareroom and wanted a peg board but it looked to “workroom” looking to go with what I have in mind. I LOVE your idea of framing it and painting it.. Thank you for the inspiration..Can’t wait to see what I can come up with. Thank you.
Diane says
Hi Winnie- What a fun project you are about to take on – creating a craft room in a spare room. The best part – you get to customize it and design it just for you! Love to see it when you are all done. Enjoy!
Ginger says
I jsut saw something on pinterest the other day with the peg board and I love the idea. I just commented on your other post so like I said before I love your whole set up. Your board is 100 times better then the other one I saw. I don’t think I have the space for all three frames but I definitely want to try and fit the too. Pinning both of your posts!
Ginger
Diane says
Hi Ginger – Thanks for the nice note. Having each frame separate lets you customize it for your needs and space. Two will work perfectly! That was one of the reasons I designed it the way I did – to easily place together or separate in case I have to move. If I don’t have a large wall in my next house, I will still be able to hang them individually and not lose the function :)
Christine says
SO PRETTY!!!!!!! Gosh.. can I move in?
I hope you’ll share this at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality!! PLEASE :)
http://thediydreamer.blogspot.ca/2012/04/from-dream-to-reality-linky-party-10.html
preppy home decor says
OOHHHH WOW!!!
This is really a great one!!!
This is so wonderful and informative one that there will be many other moms over there that will benefit in this post that you shared to us.
More power!!!
Katharine says
It turns out my husband wants our computers kept separate. My computer will stay in the pink room and his will stay in the yellow room. I’m going to create an inspiration board in my room by putting some cork squares together. I’m going to cover them with paper or fabric. I love the nail polish idea!!! That is so clever! I’ve enjoyed watching this project unfold and look forward to the next segment. :)
Vanessa Barker says
Who would have thought to use nail polish? So fun.
I’d love if you could come link up at my first ever Tutorial Tuesday at Our Thrifty Ideas http://www.ourthriftyideas.com/2012/04/tutorial-tuesday-1.html
Melissa Mead says
Diane – you are now officially my hero! You are so very clever. That nail polish trick especially. With your blog maybe I can redo our house.
Christina Rodriguez | The Diva's Home says
I love the nail polish trick! Good idea!
Linda says
Love how this came together. Thanks for sharing the tips on the cans and painting the tips of the hooks with nail polish. Those are some great ideas.
Cindy says
I love how pretty you made this functional piece. The nail polish was brilliant! :)
Cheri says
I love the little details like the nail polished tips and the ribbon to dress up the cans. I’m all about the CUTE FACTOR and your ideas are always that! Thanks so much for sharing your ideas:)
Laura @ Ms Smartie Pants says
It look beautiful! I made one of those for my craft room last year and I love it! The only problem is, since I am organized and everyone knows right where my stuff it, because it’s always in it’s place, things seem to sprout legs and walk off but never walk back! I may have to get a lock for my room. ;) Your place is really pretty!
Susan says
FANTASTIC!
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
That is fantastic, Diane! I love seeing your creative wall evolving!
Sheryll & Critters. says
I love this one most of all and your nail polish to cover the blue tips, very clever. I can not wait to get some money to do this one and the craft paper roller one. I love everything you do. It is like you borrowed my mind to check out my likes and did them all just for me.