THE humble pinboard has come a long way from a piece of cork framed with cheap pine and covered in unpaid bills.
These days it's more likely to be contained in a gilt frame and covered with lush fabric, while the notes and bills have been replaced by things that inspire happy thoughts, not depressing ones.
They're also no longer called pinboards, they're inspiration boards, or mood boards, and as the name implies they're all about inspiring the beholder.
Pinterest is a series of online pinboards, each dedicated to a different theme, and is particularly good for keeping your thoughts organised across several projects.
But you can't just glance at it on your screen as you're passing without the effort of opening the page.
A board can create a particular mood through a colour scheme or a group of related objects grouped together, or keep you focused on your work by reminding you of the very reason you're putting so much effort into your project. Start with an inspiring board — a gilt frame or whitewashed timber. Cover the board with a fabric that makes you feel good and consider how you're going to fix your pictures and goodies onto it, say, pretty pins or criss-crossed ribbons or tiny pegs and coloured string.
■ More inspiration: pinterest.com/yourhomefairfax or facebook.com/YourHomeFCN.
