Darcy Smith of Huntsville, Texas, was tired of tripping over the bits and pieces from board games belonging to her two kids, Courtney, age 9, and Dalton, 8. Taping up the torn boxes so the games could be stowed away seemed like a losing battle. So when the Smiths moved into their new home, the sight of bare walls -- and the thought of all those board games -- led Darcy to dream up a solution as good-looking as it is practical.

First, she tossed out the games' tattered packaging and stashed the playing pieces for each in a clear plastic pouch, which she piled in a handy container. Then, with the help of some double-sided Velcro, she transformed the boards into a wildly colorful display on the playroom walls. This oh-so-simple system for storing games reminds Courtney and Dalton to play together, and it has become a great source of fun for their friends. "All the kids take turns ripping them off the wall," says Darcy. "I think that's even more entertaining than the games themselves."

 
Project Pointers
• Before attaching Velcro to the wall, stick removable mounting squares to the backs of the game boards to help you find an arrangement you like. Once you do, mark the corners lightly with a pencil.
• Use 4 long pieces of best-quality adhesive-backed Velcro for each game board, placing the Velcro along the edges of the back of each board and the corresponding spots on the wall.