How to Create a Home Mail Organizer

Sort the mail with a DIY home mail organizer.

A home mail organizer is used to hold and separate mail. These organizers come in all different shapes and sizes, but they all serve the same purpose. These functional devices clean up office spaces, entry spaces and countertops. A well-made mail sorter is attractive and livens up household spaces. Martha Stewart suggests a creative way to make a mail organizer out of old window shutters. These organizers hold personal mail, bills, to-do lists and photographs. Customize this design to fit your needs: change the color, use one or more shutters, or hang the shutters in a different pattern. However you adapt this pattern, it's a quick and easy way to organize your home mail.

Things You'll Need

• Window shutters
• Wood putty
• Hot glue gun
• Medium-grain sandpaper
• Power drill
• Primer
• Interior paint
• Screws
• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Fill in all holes on the shutter's surface with wood putty.

2. Glue the slider (device that opens and closes the slats) into the down position with a hot glue gun. Glue the bottom of the slider into the indention where it rests in the down position. Use a generous amount of hot glue. The appearance is not important because it is on the backside of the shutter.

3. Sand any rough spots on the shutter with the sandpaper. If you want to achieve a rustic look, skip this step.

4. Drill one hole in each of the four corners with an automatic power drill. Use a drill bit appropriate for the size of the mounting screws. Drill each hole 1/2 inch down and 1/2 inch into each corner.

5. Paint the shutter with primer and let it dry.

6. Paint the shutter with an interior paint in a color of your choice. Leave the shutter until it is dry.

7. Hold the shutter up to the wall where it will hang. Mark the wall where each of the four drilled holes are.

8. Drill a hole in the wall over each of the marks. Drill with the same bit used on the shutter.

9. Line the shutter holes up with the holes drilled into the wall. Make sure to face the side with the slider toward the wall. If the shutter is vertical, the open sides of the slats need to face upward. Place a screw in one corner and drill it in with the appropriate screwdriver. Repeat this for each corner.

References

• Martha Stewart: Entryway Organizers

Resources

• Apartment Therapy: DIY Mail Holders