The Savvy Five: On the Wall
Don’t get your back up against the wall just because you need to inject a little life into a room (or get more organized because it’s the New Year and all). We have the SavvyFive for you this month, full of our favourite things to put on our walls:
Little Chipipi Wall Stickers
Good for: The budding designer (or the indecisive mom)
Why It Made the List: Kids love these sets of mom-designed and Australian made adhesive artwork because they are removable and repositional over and over again, allowing for all kinds of creative scenes. Moms love them because the designs are gorgeous and the stickers do not damage walls or leave any residue. (Available from www.raspberrykids.com, $79.99 includes approximately 40 stickers)
Mally Bibs Art Cards
Good for: A cost-effective way to add some zest to a child’s bedroom, the playroom or a bathroom
Why It Made the List: We’ve been fans of the MallyBibs leather appliqué designs for a long time now so we were excited to find a way to display them permanently. Pick up a set of three art cards and create your own custom art installation. We love the Bear/Bee/Bird combo but there are over 50 designs to choose from, from animals to sports, and you can even create your own custom design. The cards fit perfectly into IKEA Ribba frames. (Available from www.mallybibs.com, $6.95)
Hockey Stick Hooks
Good for: Inspiring little boys to keep their room neat (we’ve actually seen it first hand) or organizing the back hall
Why It Made the List: This fun and functional set of three hooks gives a whole new meaning to the hockey term ‘hooking’. Handmade in Vancouver by mom entrepreneur Jacqueline De’Ath, it’s sustainably made from 100% recycled formaldehyde-free MDF and finished with non-toxic adhesives and low VOC finishes. (Available at www.saplings.ca, $40)
2 Fish Kids My Week Calendar
Good for: Introducing children to the days of the week, seasons, weather, routines and special events
Why It Made the List: With the 2 Fish Kids magnetic calendar (developed by two Canadian mom entrepreneurs), you can make like a nursery school and take a look at the day of the week, the weather and the plans for the day with your child (OK, it’s for the fridge door, that’s kind of a wall, isn’t it?). Little Jack or Jill will enjoy showing off their new concept of time (or lack thereof) by adding the appropriate magnets to represent the weather, the planned activities of the day, and the Yesterday/Today/Tomorrow magnets are great for learning how to wait for a special occasion to arrive, like a visit from Grandma or a trip to the skating rink. (Available from 2FishKids.com, $19.99)
Not Neutral P3 Cork Board
Good for: Corralling all the bits of paper you need to refer to or the ones the kids won’t part with, while adding a touch of high design to the kitchen or a bedroom
Why It Made the List: With the utility of an old-school cork board and the design impact of a modern work of art, these wall panels can be used in groups or alone to create an organizing solution that also expresses your style. (Available from mom-run online homestore Modernkaribou.ca, $42)
Try one of these wall solutions to brighten up your winter. That’s something that’s not so off the wall.
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Tested by Denise S., Toronto |  |