I Can’t Get Over the Cuteness of This Functional Wall Decor Idea

I’m someone who loves to collect mementos — museum tickets, concert wristbands, important envelope stamps — to remind me of special occasions. I have quirky business cards from places I stumbled across on road trips, coasters from girls’ nights out, and postcards from practically every vacation.

But these mementos either end up stacked in my keepsake box — never to see the light of day — or taped to the wall next to my desk as my haphazard variation of a memory collage. So when I saw Aaryn Brink’s (@aarynbrink) TikTok video of how she decorated a basic framed pin board with her photographs and memories, I instantly loved this elevated and coordinated version way more than my method. 

I’m fully convinced that a bulletin board is an absolute must-have if you want pretty wall decor that’s actually functional — especially if you’re a college student and need multipurpose decor items for your small space. (You could also create memory frames for special occasions or “end-of-chapter” moments.)

On TikTok, Kendall (@kenpaigeee) took this wall decor idea one adorable step further, by DIYing a unique pin board. The project cost about $50, according to Kendall in the comment section. And the responses are filled with praise from users who are obsessed with the creation and think it’s “gorgeous,” “so precious,” and “everything.” One wrote, “Ugh now I want to do this immediately.” 

I’ve always wanted to DIY something like this — especially because I can customize everything about it, like the color and fabric pattern. But I seem to never have enough free time to tackle all the projects I want to get to. So I lean toward ready-to-go bulletin boards, like this supercute linen oval board on Amazon, which feels similar to Brink’s board above, or even a more standard cork board with a fancier frame. 

Plus, you can find so many accessories like thumbtacks, washi tape, and push pin clips to personalize your bulletin board even more. 

Whether you want to fully DIY a pin board or find one as-is and save the DIYing for arranging your mementos, they’re a great option for showing off your photographs and keepsakes in an organized and special way.