DIY Wall Organizer - Mail Storage, Reminder Board, and Key Holder

If you're like me who's still struggling to declutter the house and organize small stuff, this project might give you an idea for an organizing solution and at the same time utilize your idle wall space. This is just a simple wall organizer for your notes or reminders, mail, and keys. Before making this, our mail, usually billing statements, and keys are just on top of our fridge. It's a good thing that most of our bills are now sent through email or they could pile up really high. 

The design ideas on this kind of project are endless. Different materials can be used for this, like wood or fabric for a hanging organizer, or a dry erase board or chalkboard for the notes, or even a corkboard. As usual, I chose to use what I have that's readily available to me. A lot of the things listed below are actually optional if you're going to make your own, like what I said, different materials can be used but for this particular wall organizer I made, I used the following:

- Illustration board

- Colored paper, wrapping paper

- Glue

-  Mod Podge (gloss finish)

- Watercolor

- Adhesive hooks

- Scissors

- Craft knife

- Mounting tape

First thing I did was to decide what size I want my project to be. I checked out the wall where I'll mount it and based the size on it. With just enough room for the notes, mail storage and key holders, I cut the board with my final measurement which was 20 inches by 12 inches. I cut two compartments for my notes, for the "to do list" and the "to buy list", and one for the mail storage.

The size of the frame is 7 inches by 5 inches. On the outer side of the frame for my notes compartment, I glued some cardboard about half a centimeter wide and about that thick too so when the frame's glued on the board I'll have enough space where I can insert a sheet of paper or more where I'll be writing my notes on. Yes, that's the design I'm aiming for, anyway, there will be a picture later to better explain it. 

The mail storage is not too big so I'll be forced to throw away unnecessary mail and just store the recent and important ones. It's 4 inches by 9 inches and the opening is 1 inch.

I wrapped the pieces with my chosen wrapping paper, just a simple brown background with different clocks print. 

I cut small pieces of colored paper, the label says that it's cyber green, and adhere them to the board using Mod Podge. I want to have that mosaic-like or cracking effect that's why I cut the paper into small pieces first. 

I painted over the paper with watercolor to get the shade of green I wanted, something that would go better with brown. I'm not sure if I've achieved it but it's not really a big deal, haha. 

And of course, I finished off with Mod Podge. 

I got this set of 3 adhesive hooks for only Php 45 ($1) and I think it's perfect for this project. 

After sticking the adhesive hooks on the board, I then glued the mail and notes compartments.

Of course, I wouldn't forget about the labels. I used watercolor to write on the colored paper to make the labels and applied a thin coat of Mod Podge for a glossy finish.

This is what I meant earlier about leaving a space where I can put in paper for my notes, this way, I can also recycle used paper as long as one side is clean. It's actually useful specially for my to buy list, I could just take the paper with me when it's time to go shopping.

Then, it's time to mount the finished project. I used this heavy duty mounting tape along the sides of the back of the board and put little pieces of double sided foam tape in the middle. I'm not planning on hanging other things on the hooks except for keys so I think I was just being OC putting lots of mounting tape. Yeah, I'm like that sometimes. 

Anyway, here it is. I love how it turned out and I'm happy to say that the top of our fridge is now almost clutter free. Yup, almost, but not a big deal really, there are just some things that we're so used to putting on top of the fridge after using, like my husband's box of cigarettes, lighter, and hand sanitizer, which I'm okay with as long as everything is placed neatly.

I would love to hear other organizing or storage solution ideas from you. We all want to have a tidy house, right? There's always something to be done, might as well have fun doing it, and DIY stuff is always fun. 

Ta ta for now!