How to Decorate a School Locker

Start looking forward to going back to school by focusing on how you want to decorate your locker instead of all the homework you'll have. You'll be able to reuse these items for several years and the benefits are both cosmetic and utilitarian. Many of these idea will let you express your individuality.

Instructions

1. Tape wrapping paper to the inside of your locker door to match your mood. You can easily change the paper during different seasons, using a flower motif in the spring, holiday-themed paper in the winter and hearts and roses during February for Valentine's Day.

2. Add a small stick-on mirror, available at most department stores. Don't just put up the plain type, glue on some sequins, stickers, and other decorative doodads to make it more original.

3. Put up pictures of your peeps. Magnetic picture frames are available, but if you don't want to spend a lot of money, just frame the pictures with a mat made from colored paper. Your pictures are easily changeable, in case you fall out with a friend. Add a few famous faces to your friend collage for fun.

4. Buy a lot of magnets and attach them everywhere. You can stick with a theme, like flowers, or use the funny little ones with sayings. Make your own magnets by attaching some magnetic tape to the back of almost anything. For the really artistic, make some homemade art dough and sculpt a masterpiece.

5. Consider creating a personal style or theme and coordinating all of your decorations around that theme. Hawaiian themes could include palm tree designs, surfboards, and leis hanging from the hooks. A Hollywood theme might have lots of glitter and glam.

6. Add some baskets and bins to help keep you organized. Fill them with frequently used school supplies, like colorful sticky notes and gel pens, so you'll be able to quickly grab what you need. An extra shelf at the bottom will organize your books and binders.

7. Place an air freshener in your favorite scent inside your locker for a "scent-sational" experience every time you open the door. Or add potpourri to a small fabric square tied with a ribbon and place it in the back of your locker, changing the scent occasionally.

8. Stick up a whiteboard, if you want to be able to leave yourself reminders. Beware, though. Friends will want to write cute sayings on it, so have a supply of colorful markers available in a magnetic cup holder.

9. Put a mail holder under the slits in your locker and friends can drop you little messages during the day. An empty tissue box, decorated of course, will do the job.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to use magnets instead of tape so you won't have to spend extra time at the end of the year scrapping glue gunk off the locker.

• Don't make any permanent additions to your school locker or you may end up paying a fine at the end of the year. Obey any school rules governing your locker.