The Last Place I’d Ever Think to Hang Photos Is Actually Kind Of the Best
As a renter and someone who needs their apartment to feel like home as much as possible, the question surrounding the return of my security deposit looms as I look around my space. Guilt bubbles up as I walk into my somewhat shoddily painted bedroom, and I sometimes cringe when I see the abundance of guitar holders and pictures we have to nail into the walls.
I remind myself that the unapproved changes are important. Feeling like my home reflects my and my partner’s families and special moments throughout the years we spent there is worth the risk of not getting our money back. That being said, though, I’m always looking to pull from others’ homes to see if there are any less risky (yet equally gorgeous) design tricks I can do.
A Wall-Mounted Coat Rack Is the Best Photo Display Area
When I saw what Koert de Jong built for his wife, Liza Veenendaal, in their colorful home in the Netherlands, I immediately wanted to replicate it in my space. It’s nothing out of the ordinary, per se, but the way Liza uses it is so special. Their proudest DIY project is how Koert crafted a coat rack with a shelf on top to hang on their wall.
“Koert made this special for me so I can display pictures, illustrations, and a lot of other stuff,” Liza said at the time of the tour. “It’s a flexible item because you can change things easily and have a new look in no time.”
Even though the coat rack likely required nails to be hung up, Liza is able to display so much more without excessively hammering into the walls. In the dining room, which is painted with Flexa’s See Something Thyme, Liza displays hanging prints, photos, and mementos, and she propped even more on the shelf. If she tires of the arrangement, she can easily swap things out.
While Liza’s is handmade, you can copy this look without pulling out your tools. There’s a coat rack with a shelf from Pottery Barn that comes in two different sizes and is under $90. I’ve certainly added it to my cart for future reference. This multifunctional and stunning use of a product isn’t the only special thing in Liza and Koert’s home; to see more, visit the full House Tour.