Create A Stylish & Functional Kid's Workspace

I'm a mom of two school aged kids which means every week I am handed an assortment of important papers. They come in the form of graded quizzes, tests, time consuming projects and creative works of art! But, we can't keep them all...

To cut down on the paper trail, each year our children select five of their favorite keepsakes to help them remember their school year. I like to take pictures of the artwork that means the most to them so that we can perserve and remember their talents at each age.


We combine these pictures along with our watercolor family photos and use them in our gallery walls. All of the rest of their "treasures" get displayed on a bulletin board in their room on a rotation basis so that we can enjoy their hard work and creative juices all year long! A new gem arrives and old gets discarded.

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Although a bulletin board checks off the box for being functional it doesn't necessarily meet the standards for being stylish. So, today I'm going to show you a quick and easy way to add a little design to the simplest of organizational tools!

This post was sponsored by Country Chic Paint and may contain affiliate links. Read our full disclosure here.

DIY Painted Bulletin Board Tutorial

Supplies To Create A Striped Bulletin Board:

(Some of the links below are affiliate links for your shopping convenience.) 

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painters tape
bulletin boards
paint (I used Country Chic Paint in Dark Roast, Fireside & Cobblestone)
measuring tape
paint brushes
paper mache letters (optional)
ruler
pencil

Step 1: Determine The Width Of Your Lines & Measure:

Measure the length of your bulletin board with your measuring tape and decide how many sets of stripes you want (both painted and non-painted).


Divide that number into the total length of your board. That will give you the measurement of each set of stripes. I think ours worked out to be almost 2" stripes with a little fudging here and there. ;)

Step 2: Tape Your Stripes Onto The Bulletin Board:

Grab a pencil and ruler and mark your lines on the bulletin board. Using the pencil lines as your guide cover every other section with painters tape.


If you're going to paint the bulletin frame the same color as your stripes there's no need to tape off the edge. If you want the frame to be painted in a different color wait until the stripes are dry before hand painting the frame. 

Step 3: Paint!

1st Coat: Dip your paint brush into your paint and wipe the excess off against in the inside of your paint can.


To avoid bleed through, start by placing your paint brush over the painters tape then, drag your paint brush towards the center of the exposed bulletin board. This trick will help seal the painters tape to help prevent paint from seeping underneath the tape.

2nd Coat: Apply a light amount of paint on your paint brush and move your brush in the direction of the stripe. Apply a third coat in the same manner if needed. 

Step 4: Remove Painters Tape:

While the paint is still damp, remove the painters tape at a slight angle.

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Step 5: Paint The Frame (optional):

I like to use a small inexpensive artist brush like the ones in this set to hand paint the frame. Painting the inside of the frame with a steady hand takes the longest, but it really isn't that bad. Catch up on your favorite show while you're doing it!

I painted paper mache letters like these to go above the bulletin board for an added visual. 

Then, it all gets put up on the wall....

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Stop by and check out what we used as a unique toy storage solution for our son's bedroom. Do you live in a house that's short on space? Learn how easy it was to cut down a table and turn it into a DIY Rustic Farmhouse Desk using half of the space!



Happy Organizing!

Carrie || Thirty Eighth Street

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