Easy easel upgrade

Last April, my kids got the Ikea easel for the birthday. They love it, but I found one major problem with it. It's a 2 sided easel (chalkboard on one side, white board on the other) but there's only a tray on the chalkboard side. We also have the giant roll of paper on the whiteboard side but I found it just wasn't being used. I figured that was because I had put that side against the wall, since there was no tray sticking out. 

Recently, we rearranged the playroom so the easel is now in a place that they can use both sides, but they still weren't. Now it's because there aren't crayons right there so if they want to draw on it, they have to go across the room and then come back. Not gonna happen!

So this morning, I had a stroke of brilliance. I'd seen on Pinterest, a bath toy storage idea using a rod and baskets, so off Keegan and I went to the dollar store. We needed to get out of the house anyway with 2 snow days in a row! I picked up a curtain rod, some shower curtain hooks, and some baskets. 

Originally, I tried using the brackets the rod came with for mounting on the wall but I found it set the bar back too far so I grabbed some zip ties and that was exactly what I needed. 

Before: 

(Stock photo from ikea)

After:

I have to say, I'm really pleased with how easy it was! And for under $5!