Create a Place for Inspiration to Flourish
Consider letting your inspiration board roam as freely as your imagination
I'm going to take a leap of faith and assume if you are browsing through this site, you have creative juices that need constant inspirational stimulation. Many of us have our bookmarked design blogs, our ideabooks and Tumblr accounts, and a virtual archive of images and design ideas that inspire us in our daily lives. But isn't it also nice to have favorites in front of you, in a tactile sense, in an organic arrangement that grows and shifts with you? Here are some ideas for creating lively pin boards in your home office, kitchen, or child's room — wherever you may need a dash of inspiration and color.
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Browse workspaces and studios
It's very cool to see these inspiration walls take on a life of their own. They climb to the ceiling and integrate fabric samples, product photos, paint chips, and more among the inspiration images. Don't be bashful about layering and piling it all on. As the wall grows organically, you can't help but look at any corner and find an idea.
Your wall need not grow up. It can grow horizontally and incorporate framed artwork that also inspires you. Gaps of empty wall space will be filled in over time with smaller images, but the larger framed artwork will always ground the framework of your pin wall.
Which came first, the room decor or the pin board? Its nice to see the color schemes and materials of the pinned items perfectly harmonize with the color schemes and the materials of the room in which they reside.
Obviously, the occupant has a singular vision: a light, feminine, and romantic leaning. I am sure the room in which she works infuses the pin board, and the images she pins are used to refine the room.
Obviously, the occupant has a singular vision: a light, feminine, and romantic leaning. I am sure the room in which she works infuses the pin board, and the images she pins are used to refine the room.
Some of us like a uniformly designed area before we begin our pinning. I love the glam-rustic charm of this workspace. The white sheepskin seat cover and ceramic trophy head relate to the leopard-print fabric used to cover the white-framed cork board.
There's a touch of masculine in the wood desk, blue walls, and subtle hunting themes. A lot of feminine with the refined white accent elements. Even without a single image pinned yet, I'm already inspired by what I see.
There's a touch of masculine in the wood desk, blue walls, and subtle hunting themes. A lot of feminine with the refined white accent elements. Even without a single image pinned yet, I'm already inspired by what I see.
Another idea for glamming up your pinboard is wallpaper. Instead of buying rolls and rolls of the expensive stuff you like for the walls, which may be overwhelming once applied, just one roll will infuse the space with the pattern and colors you like. Your pin wall doesn't have to be in front of your desk. The blank wall behind your desk can be a good spot to house your favorite images.
A patchwork of scrapbook paper can dress up the plain cork of your pin board. Choose colors and patterns that coordinate with your desk accessories.
Burlap sack cloth is another easy and inexpensive idea for camoflauging the cork of your pin board. It communicates that this is a free and relaxed area for pinning whatever you desire. There are no rules, and you won't be judged.
Think outside the box. I have been seeing clipboards hung in a grid-like pattern to create an inspiration wall. It is a fresh idea, especially when you dress up your average office-supply clipboards with colorful contact paper. Everything is neatly contained on the clipboards, and your walls remain uncluttered.
How about wires and wood clothespins as another pin board alternative?
Salvage an old picture frame and use chicken wire in place of cork. Attach your finds with clothespins or hooks. This version has a country-farmhouse charm your average pinboard just doesn't offer.
Pink and Gray Dots Tape Duo
If you don't want to hang a cork board or mess up your walls with tiny pin holes, Japanese Washi tape is a cute way to temporarily stick up images. It has the same adhesive strength as masking tape, but the different brands offer hundreds of colors and patterns, which become a source of inspiration themselves.
Linen Pin Board
If you are eager to start your pin board, it's as easy as buying a simple linen wrapped rectangular version. Don't settle for the exposed cork unless you plan on getting crafty by wrapping it with fabric of your own choosing. Your pin board deserves better.
Ferm Living Clipboard
If you think you may do the clipboard-grid idea, consider a version like this as the basis for your display. Look for a wood finish matching the furniture in the room.
More: 15 Ways to Be More Inspired by Your Studio
More: 15 Ways to Be More Inspired by Your Studio
Mixed in with personal mementos, fairy lights, and actual work documents, the space doesn't feel messy because everything is hung neatly and straight.
Against a dark wall, the images really grab your attention.