Oh sweet victory — our long-debated office art project is finished, and here’s a clear, upbeat account of how it all came together.
We previously shared a detailed play-by-play about how Sherry and I finally settled on a gallery-style postcard ledge arrangement inspired by a feature we saw in Richmond magazine. Once we committed to the gallery look, the rest was mostly planning and a fun trip to Home Depot to gather materials.
Many of you suggested we invite reader-submitted postcards to fill the wall, which made the project extra special and gave us an ever-changing collection to display. We’ve already received cards from places like Hawaii, England, Spain, Canada and many states across the lower 48 — thank you to everyone who contributed.
After measuring the wall, we decided on four rails above the desk, each 64″ long. Using blue painter’s tape to test layouts helped us lock in spacing without committing to anything permanent. For the shelves we picked up simple 1 x 2 pine boards — about $4 each — plus screws and drywall anchors. The whole project cost less than $25.
We originally considered a narrow shelf with a raised lip, but ended up using a Dremel Trio (a Father’s Day gift) to route a shallow groove along the face of each board to hold postcards and small artwork. If you don’t have a saw, the store can cut the boards to length for you, but we used a miter saw to make each board 64″.
Before routing, I read the Dremel instructions and practiced on scrap wood, which saved me from making mistakes. The tool tended to pull to one side, but the included metal guide solved that issue. Because the 1 x 2 boards were narrower than the guide, I clamped two boards together and routed them simultaneously for consistent grooves.
With the guide set about a half inch from the outer edge and the depth around one-third inch, routing the remaining three boards was quick and satisfying. After routing I sanded the boards by hand to smooth the grooves and edges, then applied one coat of primer and one coat of semi-gloss white paint. We chose white to make the postcards stand out and to keep the shelves feeling architectural, matching the room’s trim.
For installation we decided to screw straight through the boards into drywall anchors instead of hunting for studs. The boards are lightweight and will hold postcards, photos, and lightweight paper art, so long 2.5″ screws and appropriate drywall anchors were sufficient. Because only about half an inch of screw would protrude past the back of the board, we used a pack of smaller anchors sized for that length.
To place screws evenly, I measured and marked four pilot hole locations on the first board. Sherry helped by marking a level line for the bottom shelf before Clara woke up, which made it easy to hold the board in place and transfer the pilot-hole marks to the wall. After installing anchors, I used a simple trick to line the shelf up solo: I put screws through the board on the floor so the tip poked out the back just slightly. When I held the shelf up to the wall, the protruding tips would slot into the anchors and keep the board from sliding while I tightened the screws.
We wanted each shelf spaced nine inches apart to give breathing room for a vertically placed 5 x 7″ piece, so I leveled a yardstick vertically and used painter’s tape to hold it while marking the wall for each screw location. That ensured all anchor points were aligned and evenly spaced.
The full hanging process took about 45 minutes because I double- and triple-checked measurements, but all four shelves ended up perfectly level and secure.
Filling the shelves was the fun part. We used postcards from readers, photos, cards, and lightweight ephemera such as flattened foil wrappers and magazine cutouts backed on cardstock to give them a postcard weight. The result is a lively, ever-changing gallery wall that will evolve as we rotate pieces in and out.
Some of our decorative wallflowers made it back onto the shelves, and we found a new home for the rest of them to be shared in a future post. For now we’re delighted that the previously intimidating blank wall is gone and replaced with a rotating display that adds personality and color to the room.
We haven’t finalized a solution for preventing pieces from falling if windows are opened in breezy weather. Options we’re considering are backing pieces on mat board, using removable sticky tack, or experimenting with magnets or velcro — nothing too permanent, since we love the easy interchangeability of this display. We’ll report back if we adopt a particular method.
Thank you again to everyone who mailed postcards — we’re saving and rotating them so even if you don’t see yours in these photos, it will be enjoyed. If you’d like to add to the collection, our PO Box is: PO Box 36665, Richmond, VA 23235.
We’re curious to hear how you display collections in your own spaces, whether three-dimensional items or flat pieces like postcards. Any gallery-inspired walls or themed shelves you love? Share your ideas and inspiration — we’re always on the lookout for creative ways to show collections.
