Decorating
19 Rooms Made Better Because of Pegboard
A grid of tiny holes punched in hardboard is your versatile best friend in every room
We all remember grandpa’s garden shed with those neat rows of tools hanging on a pegboard. Pure bliss for every organising freak. Thank goodness pegboards have come out of the backyard and into the foreground of every cool home. From outside to every room inside, a new verb is on the rise: pegboarding. Do it.
2. Gung ho in the garage
Keep pegboarding on a bigger scale in the rest of the garage too. Make an entire wall of pegboard (it comes in standard sheets up to 2,440 millimetres x 1,220 millimetres), add a packet of hooks (less than $8) and you have created instant order. No more rummaging to find those little bits and bobs.
TIP: If your brooms or rakes don’t have ready-made loops, drill a hole and thread in cord to hang from the hooks.
Keep pegboarding on a bigger scale in the rest of the garage too. Make an entire wall of pegboard (it comes in standard sheets up to 2,440 millimetres x 1,220 millimetres), add a packet of hooks (less than $8) and you have created instant order. No more rummaging to find those little bits and bobs.
TIP: If your brooms or rakes don’t have ready-made loops, drill a hole and thread in cord to hang from the hooks.
3. Utilise in the utility room
Keep up the good work in the laundry or utility room. Hanging brooms, mops and cleaning paraphernalia makes them much more accessible than jumbled in the broom cupboard, so you can grab what you need for fast clean-ups.
And yes, copy grandpa: outline and name where every item lives, so that other members of the household are trained to put things back. Maybe.
Keep up the good work in the laundry or utility room. Hanging brooms, mops and cleaning paraphernalia makes them much more accessible than jumbled in the broom cupboard, so you can grab what you need for fast clean-ups.
And yes, copy grandpa: outline and name where every item lives, so that other members of the household are trained to put things back. Maybe.
4. Make a mudroom
With winter coming on (think wet coats, muddy dogs), you can create the mudroom you’ve always wanted. There are new, cool (and rather expensive) large scale boards around that take 10 millimetre dowels. But you can make your own on a piece of ply or MDF with the right-sized drill bit, a length of dowel and a steady drilling hand. Try different lengths of rods, add shelves (they’re not that sturdy, so don’t use for precious breakables), and you’ll never lose the dog lead and towel again.
With winter coming on (think wet coats, muddy dogs), you can create the mudroom you’ve always wanted. There are new, cool (and rather expensive) large scale boards around that take 10 millimetre dowels. But you can make your own on a piece of ply or MDF with the right-sized drill bit, a length of dowel and a steady drilling hand. Try different lengths of rods, add shelves (they’re not that sturdy, so don’t use for precious breakables), and you’ll never lose the dog lead and towel again.
5. Kill it in the kitchen
Julia Child’s husband Paul created a pegboard kitchen wall in her tiny Paris flat in the 1950s (you can see it at the Smithsonian, including copper pans). It has been imitated by countless cooks. That’s because it still makes the most of a tiny space, it’s easy to grab the pot you need, and it stops cooks damaging items by stuffing them in a drawer. And even without all copper pans, it still looks gorgeous.
Julia Child’s husband Paul created a pegboard kitchen wall in her tiny Paris flat in the 1950s (you can see it at the Smithsonian, including copper pans). It has been imitated by countless cooks. That’s because it still makes the most of a tiny space, it’s easy to grab the pot you need, and it stops cooks damaging items by stuffing them in a drawer. And even without all copper pans, it still looks gorgeous.
6. Do the drawers too
However, if you like drawers in your kitchen (join the debate here) you can still keep pegboarding. All the smart kitchen fitting suppliers now have variations on peg inners: move the pegs to snugly fit around plates and pans so they don’t slide about when the drawer is opened and closed.
However, if you like drawers in your kitchen (join the debate here) you can still keep pegboarding. All the smart kitchen fitting suppliers now have variations on peg inners: move the pegs to snugly fit around plates and pans so they don’t slide about when the drawer is opened and closed.
7. Winning wine rack
There’s even a canny pegboard variation for wine bottles. This Stackt system uses aluminium rods on wood panels. If you want to experiment, it’s best not to practise with your finest tipples.
There’s even a canny pegboard variation for wine bottles. This Stackt system uses aluminium rods on wood panels. If you want to experiment, it’s best not to practise with your finest tipples.
8. Lavish in the living room
A wall of beautiful wood veneer, drilled with holes is an art statement in itself – a nod to mid-century modernism. Hang artwork or clocks, or just admire the rhythm of the hole pattern.
A wall of beautiful wood veneer, drilled with holes is an art statement in itself – a nod to mid-century modernism. Hang artwork or clocks, or just admire the rhythm of the hole pattern.
10. Clever in the closet
If your work space is no more than a tiny cupboard, line the door panels with pegboard to hang baskets for skinny notions, tools and inspiration. Use deep curved hooks (rather than flat L-shaped ones) so that items don’t slip off when you open and close the doors.
If your work space is no more than a tiny cupboard, line the door panels with pegboard to hang baskets for skinny notions, tools and inspiration. Use deep curved hooks (rather than flat L-shaped ones) so that items don’t slip off when you open and close the doors.
11. Perfect in the playroom
Start them young by hanging toys where small fingers can reach them. Organised toy storage teaches kids the good habit of putting things away when they’ve finished playing. Plus they look cute. Even soft toys can hang from their tag; or tie on a pretty ribbon to slide over the hook.
Start them young by hanging toys where small fingers can reach them. Organised toy storage teaches kids the good habit of putting things away when they’ve finished playing. Plus they look cute. Even soft toys can hang from their tag; or tie on a pretty ribbon to slide over the hook.
13. Double the desk space
As they get older, kids’ collections tend to multiply. A pegboard over the desk corrals displays and can be moved about as interests change or acquisitions grow. Have fun sticking to a colour scheme so displays don’t get too chaotic.
As they get older, kids’ collections tend to multiply. A pegboard over the desk corrals displays and can be moved about as interests change or acquisitions grow. Have fun sticking to a colour scheme so displays don’t get too chaotic.
15. Wild walls I
You’ll never loose another plastic toy again, when they’re off the floor and on the walls. Any small person (or big) could have a huge amount of fun rearranging characters and creating scenarios. Bring out everyone’s inner child.
You’ll never loose another plastic toy again, when they’re off the floor and on the walls. Any small person (or big) could have a huge amount of fun rearranging characters and creating scenarios. Bring out everyone’s inner child.
16. Wild walls II
And it doesn’t stop at pegboards with holes. Evros Agathou, who designed this colourful family house in Islington, London made a reverse pegboard: starting with a Lego wall. Who could resist? No more late-night ouch moments from standing on a Lego brick. This idea turns the post-play clean-up into a game all on its own.
And it doesn’t stop at pegboards with holes. Evros Agathou, who designed this colourful family house in Islington, London made a reverse pegboard: starting with a Lego wall. Who could resist? No more late-night ouch moments from standing on a Lego brick. This idea turns the post-play clean-up into a game all on its own.
18. Do up the dressing room
In the dressing room, tuck a sliver of pegboard beside your mirror to hang delicate jewellery such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, belts and other accessories (or on the inside of the wardrobe door). You’ll wear your pieces more often if you can see them on display.
In the dressing room, tuck a sliver of pegboard beside your mirror to hang delicate jewellery such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, belts and other accessories (or on the inside of the wardrobe door). You’ll wear your pieces more often if you can see them on display.
19. Whole hog
What the heck, go the whole hog and cover the entire room. This office meeting room at the Kellogg’s head office in Sydney was designed by TomMarkHenry to inspire creative thinking.
TELL US
What have we missed? Show us photos of your most creative uses of pegboard in the Comments section.
MORE
Pegboards that Work their Socks Off
Stylish Cheats for Time Poor Decorators
What the heck, go the whole hog and cover the entire room. This office meeting room at the Kellogg’s head office in Sydney was designed by TomMarkHenry to inspire creative thinking.
TELL US
What have we missed? Show us photos of your most creative uses of pegboard in the Comments section.
MORE
Pegboards that Work their Socks Off
Stylish Cheats for Time Poor Decorators
Yes, they are a tradition in every old-school garage. Grandpa may not approve, but younger generations are funking up this classic idea with some groovy colours. Go on, pink is having a modern moment, it will make you feel more creative and inspire great things.