This simple, sexy pinboard is perfect for your notes, clippings, postcards and inspirational materials. Its simplicity is its strength; itwould fit in with a variety of work spaces. You don’t need much tomake your own minimalist pinboard,but thistidy, pinnable graphic covers it all.

Materials list:

A piece of galvanized steel mesh, ideally 2ft x 3ft, with 2-inch grid spacing. You should find this in the fencing section of your local hardware store.Spray paint. Spring for the good stuff with primer included–the coverage and durability is worth it.Clean rag and turpentine, for getting the mesh panel squeaky clean.Mini clothespins, which you’ll find at a craft store. These 1½” versions were perfect.

Wipe down the mesh, to make sure ALLtraces of grease and dirt are gone, and then spray the mesh with three coats of paint. Use light coats of paint, 3-4 hours apart.

Let the paint dry overnight…and it’s ready to use.

If you want the inspiration board to be a feature, like a scrapbook for your wall, you could try out a fun, punchy color and pick up some washi tape to match. I wanted mine to blend in with the wall,soI went with plain white.

I set the board in place as soon as I assembled thisstanding workbench, and it was excitingto pin up some of the postcards and mementos that had been collecting in shoeboxes for years. It would look better on the wall rather than leaning against it, which is easy enough to fix with some push pins.

Some of these images are for future project inspiration, some of them conjure upstrong ties to my past, some of them are travel souvenirs, some of them are works by artists that I deeply admire. It’s my very own analog Pinterest board, and having that board in my study here makes the place feel like mine. That comfort blanket is wonderful to have when I’m working through my own projects. Don’t underrate having a real-life pinboard, is what I’m saying.

And just like any other inspiration board, this minimalist version is easy tomodify. Keep us posted (heh) if you’ve got other inspiration-board-inspirations to share!