Belted Wall Organizer

No matter how clean the rest of the house looks and feels, it can all be for naught when I look over and see the stack of today’s mail, activity calendars, a working grocery list, license renewal forms, permission slips for next week, you catch my drift. Some papers can’t be filed away; and no matter how many times I ask, my husband never puts my keys back where he gets them. In some homes the top of the fridge may be the household catch-all, or maybe it’s the bench by the front door. Whatever it is, why is it always so…ugly?

Evidence of family living shouldn’t be an eyesore. Set aside an afternoon and turn a Walnut Hollow Rustic Pallet Tray into a Belted Organization Station. With hooks for key rings, and belts to hold all your important papers, it’s an attractive set-up whether you hang it in a closet or out for all to see.

Supplies

Walnut Hollow Rustic Pallet Tray

Paint

Decoupage medium

Decorative paper

Screw-in hooks

Belts

First things first, you’ll need to give your rustic tray a coat of paint or two. Then, for a bit of personal style, or maybe to tie the piece into your existing decor, you can decoupage a few of the slats with decorative paper. Just measure and cut the paper to fit and follow the instructions of your decoupage medium.

After everything has dried screw in your hooks to the underside of the top board of the tray.

Finally, cut and staple on your belts. Well, technically first you have to pick your belts out! I began the project hoping to make use of my son’s old leather belts but after I cut them up and laid them out I realized the woven ones I’d picked up at the thrift store looked much better. What do you think?

With your belts selected, and cut to fit, you can start stapling them into place. Begin by lining them up along one side, even with the bottom board of the tray (see the arrow in the image on the left). This, along with stapling to the INSIDE of the tray will ensure that the belts hold your papers and they don’t slide out of the bottom. Note: We used 1/2 staples. 

Old habits are hard to break, but the clutter is slowly making it’s way to our organizer.

Do you struggle with keeping clutter under control?

Erin is a writer, crafter, and homeschooling mother of four based in rural Missouri. On her blog, My Very Educated Mother, she shares projects, crafts, recipes, family activities, and household tips, aimed at encouraging readers to foster creativity in their lives and homes.