In our last office we found that hanging a mirror helped keep us organized. Not just because we noticed if we had something on our face, but also because we could write on it with a dry erase marker to keep track of our to do list (and could even use it to write a welcome message to our guests since that room slept our friends and family as well).
When we moved I missed that little organizational corner, so I started taping a comically small piece of paper on the wall with a list of things to do. And then it grew into two lists, one on each side of the large doorway. The left one was entitled: “Posts To Write” and the right one was “Projects To Do.” Since we have a giant 300+ list of things we want to do in this house (see just a fraction of them here), selecting the next ten-ish tasks that we want to tackle helps keep us focused (and enables us to hone in on which things should be prioritized and which supplies we’ll have to pick up). Plus after we do projects it’s surprisingly easy to forget to blog about them since we’re so excited to bounce along to the next one. So keeping track of what we’ve done that’s waiting to be written about keeps us sane (and keeps our lag time from “did it in real life” to “blogged about it” as short as possible).
But for some reason not having an erasable surface was seriously hurting our update frequency. See how “limb up the magnolia” is on the list when we I already did that weeks ago? Not good.
So I padded back into the playroom (which is full of baskets, bedding, and a ton of frames and mirrors – seriously it’s where stuff goes to die in our house) and grabbed two semi-similarly-sized mirrors and asked John to hang them up. Yes, I outsourced the labor on that one (my favorite excuse: I gotta nurse the baby – it’s the one thing John can’t do so it works like a charm). And it left me free to “supervise” from the big green sofa while John got his hang on.
The result? Two dry erase boards for keeping track of “Projects To Do” and “Posts To Write.” They’re not perfect, but they look a lot better than those rarely updated little notebook pages that were taped to the wall (look no dining chairs, I pushed them all against the wall for vacuuming under the table and never pushed them back – go Team Lazy):
That picture above is what they would look like if we ever did everything on our to do list. Amazing.
But here’s what they actually look like with all of the projects and posts on our list:
Oh and that’s the blue dry erase marker on the top of the mirror on the right (since it’s deep enough to store it there). Maybe someday we’ll hunt down more of a mirror twin for one or the other (for a more balanced look) but for now we’re just happy to work with what we have. The most important thing is that we can now take pleasure in crossing things off of our list again. That’s a universally fun activity right? Now picture doing it with a dry erase marker that glides like butter over whatever you just accomplished. There’s nothing better I tell ya.
meagan says
Have a chalk board one like that in our kitchen but mostly we end up not making to do lists and rather, ‘love you’ notes… which is sweet but far less productive :P
meagan, row house nest
Frances says
Just so everyone knows, there is now such a thing as a WASHABLE DRY ERASE MARKER! If you have kids with a whiteboard, you know this is a beautiful thing. They work better on whiteboards or glass than regular washable markers.
You can also buy washable white board wax crayons, which is an even better thing…no caps to lose, not quite so easy to draw on the sofa. They show up better on a colour than on white, though.
Both of these products wipe off easily with a dry cloth; plain water gets rid of any shadowing. Yippee.
YoungHouseLove says
So good to know once Clara gets big enough to want to join in on the list making fun!
xo,
s
Karen says
Pure. Genius. I love this idea. I just started a new job working from home and saw this awesome mirror in Target. I didn’t get it because I thought it would appear a bit vain if I hung a mirror over my desk but now I can write on that bad boy and decorate my space. Love your blog and your ideas!
Cate says
It’s way too balanced with the same thing on either side and very bland. Maybe two different shapes would have been better. I do like the suggestion of painting the frames, but I think the double mirrors in that location looks rather cold and uncomfortable. The energy of mirrors can be very tricky to work with. Also, if you’re planning on installing double French doors to your office, you’ll want to balance the reflective surfaces with warm colorful art on the wall.
Snickrsnack Katie says
That is so cute and ingenious!
almk42 says
I recognize that book on the shelf! “I Love you Through and Through.” It’s one of my son’s favorites. He makes me read it over and over.
Rhonda says
I love this idea! But I also noticed in the pics that your chairs are gone from the dining room…have they gone to be re-upolstered? That will be exciting to see!
Thanks for the great blog- I appreciate the ideas and the fun you put into it!
YoungHouseLove says
Check out the post for that info- it’s not as exciting as you’d think (although I wish they were getting reupholstered). Haha.
xo,
s
kristin says
I am watching Nate Berkus and your old house was just in it! He showed the collection of black and white pictures over the white couch in the yellow room as an example of well-executed family photo groupings -I am embarrassed at my reaction, which was to squeal and exclaim “Sherry! John! Young House Love! Oh My GOd!”. Anywho, this is like the virtual version of when your aunt sees you in the newspaper and calls your house to tell you. I saw you!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that’s too funny! We had no idea! Love me some Nate Berkie though.
xo,
s
Laura@JourneyChic says
This is so simple! Now I won’t feel bad buying mirrors I don’t need – I’ll just claim they’re dry erase boards! :)
Elisa says
I took inspiration from your last house and have a ‘to-do list mirror’ on my to-do list for the office. Hah.
Also, I think crossing stuff off lists releases endorphins. That’s probably not true but it surely feels like it. Yaaayy lists!!
Kristy says
Have you ever heard of idea paint.. amazing! Great for a kids area or office!
http://www.ideapaint.com/
YoungHouseLove says
So much fun! Love it.
xo,
s
Sandra says
I love the idea of this (ha ha pun “Ideapaint”), but it’s so expensive!! From the website on-line store: 50 sq ft project = $175. YIKES! At least that version of the paint is water-based.
YoungHouseLove says
Woah! That’s expensive! On pinterest I pinned a DIY tutorial for making your own colored chalkboard paint, so that could be fun!
xo,
s
karen @ our slo house says
What a great idea… dry erase on a mirror. Mirrors are so much prettier than the white dry erase boards.
Right now, I could use no less than 6 mirrors:
1) House projects
2) Baby shower plans
3) 4’s (super hero) birthday party plans
4) Blog posts to write
5) Organizing the 6 spring birthdays coming up + Easter
6) Items to buy for the new Airstream we just bought
*sigh* Why is Spring so crazy-busy??!
Kathy M says
I love crossing off items on a to-do list, so much in fact if my husband or I do a project that wasn’t originally on the list, we write it down and then immediately cross it off!
Ashley @ DesignBuildLove.co says
LOL! I LOVE it! I used this method all through college and it made my life sooooo much easier since I was balancing a full-time work schedule and school… come to think of it… I should do this again!!! The dry-erase went by the wayside when I got a blackberry years back, but lists are just so valuable!!! LOVE IT guys!
Zookling says
I am a crazy, crazy list-maker. Even worse than Sherry, probably. But it usually meant that I had about 12 lists going at any point in time. Enter RememberTheMilk.com. Changed my life. At work, at home, long term projects, grocery shopping. Everything in one place sortable by tags, times, and more. Set due dates or don’t. Note how long it will take and then sort by it. Have a free 20 minutes? What 20 minute tasks are on the to do list? Oh…those ones. I tag shopping items by where I buy them, so if I am going to target, I can pull up my “target” list. Etc. I know this sounds like an ad. It isn’t. But seriously, so flippin’ awesome. Even if you keep your mirrors of visibility purposes, you should totally look at it. You can assign tasks to each other and everything. Whew…end super long gush fest. Hope you love it like I do.
YoungHouseLove says
Woah- that does sound pretty fun.
xo,
s
Sarah says
Do you ever put things on your list that you’ve already done, just so you can cross them off right away?!? I’m totally guilty of that!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, sometimes. It just feels so good.
xo,
s
Amanda says
I read somewhere that you should do that. And put small things like “take a shower”, “eat breakfast” It makes you motivated to complete your daily tasks!
Nicole says
Great idea!! You and John are such a great inspiration for all generations!! I love reading your blog everyday, you always make me smile and have very creative ideas.
Have a beautiful weekend. Give Clara and burger a kiss for
me!! :)
susan says
Clever, very clever. Can’t wait to put up a mirror somewhere in my home to use for lists. Perhaps I could write facts to memorize for the kids test on my bathroom mirror….susan
Devon @ Green House, Good Life says
I had a standard-issue full-length mirror in my dorm room in college (Sweet Briar, by the way — near Lynchburg, VA), and my roommate and I used to use it as a dry erase board. We would write notes and try to draw self-portraits (which you’d think would be easy because you could just trace your reflection, but it’s not), and one time we made lists of all the boys we’d kissed. Ah, college….
LauraC says
Hey, my parents just got that pull-toy alligator thing-y for Jonathan for his first birthday (Sunday)! I love it!!! (It’ll take him a bit to learn to use it; so far he’s mostly interested in the flashy plastic truck that my sister got him.) And I’ve been looking for some awesome toy-holding baskets (with lids) like you have on that shelf; checked your source list and saw they are from Michaels. Thank you!!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s too funny! Clara loves her gator!! Best toy ever.
xo,
s
Jacci in Ohio says
Hey, guys! I love the functionality and have done this on our large bathroom mirrors before, too (although the miror image of the words kind of messes with my head). Aesthetically, though? I’m not sure. Maybe a fine, black marker would be better? We keep our to do list on our chalkboard kitchen door. I’m all for you guys doing a chalkboard project – less of an officey, utilitarian feel.
But how great is it that you scored two similar white mirrors out of stuff you already had? :)
You two are fun.
Shannon Hoving says
Crossing things off the list IS oh-so-satisfying. Sometimes I even put things I’ve already done on the list, just so I can have something to cross off.
Juli-uh says
OMG! I used to do this all the time with my mirror in HS!
Kim Falls says
I use to do the same thing when I was college to keep track of when papers were due and exams. Had it all there on the dorm room mirror. It was a great reminder but I still procrastinated!
carrie says
Tip: If you ever need to use one board for more that one purpose, you can grid off sections and list headings using a wet erase marker and then write all your notes with a dry erase marker, that way if you dry erase the whole board your grid lines and headings don’t disappear (but they are also not there permanently). We use this for the board in our kitchen which has a section for our grocery list, to do list, and love notes. It definitely helps to keep us organized, and have a little fun too, and we can always change it up down the line if we need to.
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh very smart indeed. I’ve never even heard of wet erase marker. I must be living under a rock!
xo,
s
Lindy says
Such a fun idea! I love the white and the miss-matched frames! Oh and I’m a frequent participant on team lazy as well! Hey at least you vacuumed! I rarely get that much done! haha!
Ashley says
Nothing to do with mirrors but I just have to say that it’s great that you’re nursing Clara. I don’t think that society gives enough credit to all of the nursing moms out there! It’s hard work, what’s best for baby isn’t always the easiest but that’s the story with anything parenting related. :)
S. Elizabeth says
where are the chairs?
YoungHouseLove says
Check out the post for that info (I was feeling lazy, haha).
xo,
s
mribaro says
It’s probably a personal preference, but I write my to-do lists with a pencil, and once a task is done I strike a line accross it – I get a great gratification from seeing how many are crossed over (my accomplishments!) and how many are still readable and to-do. Also, they’re written on a post-it paper, which is stuck to our refrigirator. That way I can easily take the shopping/to-do list with me when I go out.
Jenn(ifer) @ heim-elich says
I can’t wait to have a mirror dry erase board once our house gets done…
I just thought of your “Sometimes I go crazy” post – maybe you could add trim to the smaller mirror to get it to the same size (that would make it look balanced without looking to matchy matchy)…
YoungHouseLove says
That’s actually a brilliant idea. Love it! It’ll be completely different looking but around the same size for less of a lopsided effect when you look at them straight on.
xo,
s
Jenn(ifer) @ heim-elich says
It’s a work with what you’ve got idea ;)
alison says
Great to see you carry this over to the new house. It’s such a simple way to stay organized – and you can’t lose it! I always lose paper lists.
Kim says
Hi Sherry & John,
Sorry this doesn’t have to do with mirrors or to-do lists, but I was wondering where you got the ivory rug with the textured links on the floor in the picture. I love it and am looking for something just like it for my living room. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Kim
YoungHouseLove says
That was from the Pottery Barn outlet over a year ago, so maybe try ebay?
xo,
s
Heather B says
Love your idea! I didn’t know that dry erase markers would work on a mirror. Now I have another idea to “steal” from you :) Thanks for creativity and honesty!
paige @ MODCAPECOD says
I actually do this, but on my bathroom mirror. That way I can’t hide and see it first thing while brushing my teeth!
Kaycee says
I have been a Post-it girl but you just gave me an idea. But I have always been frustrated by how small the papers are. That piece of notebook paper is not even presentable.
You just gave me a great idea that is so doable!
I can “train” my family to leave sweet nothings on it too…
Thanks!
Michelle Lynne says
I use dry erase on mirrors also – but more as love notes to my hubs above his bathroom sink. He loves waking up and padding in to wash his face, only to see sweet nothings staring back at him….
laxsupermom says
Love this! I’m a huge list maker, and I love the idea of it being more of a decor choice. Thanks for sharing.
Suzanne says
ZGallerie’s ad on your site is showing that luscious green collection – and your dining table in showing in a picture right across from it…I just want to click and drag over to your room!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, me too! I wish I could reach into the computer and grab things!
xo,
s
Julia says
You could also use some Ikea frames with fabric behind the glass (real big ones) for decorative pop and the to-do list. Since I know ya’ll have lots of gorgeous fabric. :o)
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that’s really fun too!
xo,
s
Jenna says
I use dry erase markers for SO many things. I use them at work mainly but use them to label tons of stuff. Anything that’s plastic/glass can be labeled with an expo super easily. And then, once you’re over the label…just wipe it off!
Love the mirror idea though. I might have to steal it.
Karla @ {TheClassyWoman} says
I’m such a to-do list kind of gal. I’m usually writing it out on scraps of paper but I do have a nice round mirror in my office/guest room that would be perfect for this as I see it right before walking out the office door. I’m going to grab one today and start using it, yay it will be multi-purpose now! :)
Karla @ {TheClassyWoman} says
grab ‘one’ was supposed to be grab a ‘dry erase marker’. LOL.
Kristiana says
Hope you guys are ok and survived the tornados!!!
YoungHouseLove says
We’re a-ok! Thanks for checking. Haha.
xo,
s
audrey says
So this is unrelated to the post, but I had a question about your guys’ use of organic products. I know you use Dr Bronner’s soap, but I’ve found it to be a little pricey. Is there any reason in particular that you chose it over…for example, Method? I love Method products and have always been curious as to why you guys dony use it. Sorry if this is too wacky or personal! I’m just innately curious. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Dr. Bronner’s is just even more green (it’s 100% plant based and organic as well as a Fair Trade member so they’re generally pretty amazing to the planet and for babies and dogs, etc). Plus it’s meant to be watered down (so a little goes a long way). We can usually get by with a $10 bottle for about half a year, and we use it for everything from hand washing and house cleaning to Burger baths- so that’s not bad when a year of washing yourself and the dog and the house for $20. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
David Shearn says
Now I can’t say ‘oh I forgot’ – making me do more work here guys!
Harinee says
I just read about the tornados in VA, NC, etc. Hope you and your families are doing ok.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much! Luckily they didn’t really effect our area, but our hearts go out to those dealing with damage!
xo,
s
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
You guys are awesome! My great DIY inspirations :)
Karen says
I love this idea! I’ve enjoyed your blog so much! I’m 48 and should have figured some of this out right now, but alas, no. My husband (ironically) is a self-employed handyman so apparently we suffer from “Cobbler’s Syndrome” around here. I’ve recommended your blog all over the place and know that several of my friends are reading it because they keep mentioning something you’ve posted. :)
Nicole says
awesome idea sherry! I like that it’s on the wall, instead of burried somewhere in the bottom of my purse….or, on the back of a receipt, that usually gets jammed in my “makeup” pocket in my purse, that later gets a goop of lipgloss and gets stuck together…and i always have to say “SO, what was it that i was supposed to do this weekend?”. I like this idea for the kitchen also, that way, i can write down things i need from the supermarket…and by the end of the week i don’t have to guess. :)
laurenjanelle says
Such a smart idea. real dry erase boards would look silly in that beautiful home of yours so mirrors are such a great solution. Looks great.