Let me show you what I’ve found to put on the boards that help me so much.
First, there’s these classic magnetic bulldog clips. Nothing new here, right? But they’re helpful. And you might recognize that baby.
Then there’s these hooks. They’re not made with old-school magnets, they’re made of the new tiny super-strong ones. They can hold up to 12 lbs, the package says. I don’t doubt it. The heaviest thing I’ve put on them are my fabric scissors. Well, I also use one elsewhere to hold two point and shoot cameras by their wrist straps. No sliding.
These little pushpin shaped magnets came from a chain store. $5 for 12. Also quite strong, though not strong enough for the heavy scissors. For the lighter scissors, no problemo.
These pencil cups used to be sold at Ikea but aren’t anymore. Bummer. The good news is that you can find similar ones typically made to go on your fridge, or, if you’re ready to DIY, use vintage tins and E6000 to glue some of the super strong magnets to the back. Lots of options for making your own version.
I like to use the neodymium magnets all by their little selves to hold up papers. But adding a binder clip works well too. The middle of a binder clip is metal as are the wire-y parts, so for groups of things I want to keep together but still grab easily, I use those. (Note– you probably already know this, but I’ll say it anyway. Those super small magnets are super dangerous around small kids. They’re not toys. Believe me, I keep an eye on my kids when they get anywhere near this wall. For lots of reasons.)
I have another of the boards in my sewing area. I don’t know about you, but when I look at my sewing gear, a whole lot of it is metal. I put the presser feet that aren’t in use, scissors, needles, bodkins, serger tweezers and my bias tape makers all up where they’re easy to grab and easy to put away. Hooks hold notions and supplies that are on-deck, so to speak, for the projects I’m working on. Clips hold pattern pieces and keep them grouped. More magnetic cups hold air-erase pens, fabric markers, a tracing wheel and other scissors. Another magnetic cafe curtain rod to hold hem tape, ribbon and trim. Here’s the presser foot family reunited:
And the bias tape making family at rest:
I’ve been meaning to blog about the wall since I first put the panels up, but when Natasha was over the other day I realized that it would be a double-win if it made me clear out some of the clutter that I wasn’t actively using in order to take a few pictures.
Last but not least, you may be thinking “yeah, Susan, that’s awesome, but the nearest Ikea is 4,272 miles from here”. WAIT! I have an idea for you too. Try a shelf panel from one of these. I don’t have that kind in particular, but a while back I decided I needed a skinny panel for one particular wall in my kitchen. I went to the hardware store and found a single panel. If you can’t find them as singles, maybe you can salvage steel shelving to use the panels on a wall? Here’s mine. There’re just those little holes at the top and bottom that are visible, and they don’t bother me. If they don’t work for you, or if the color of the finish isn’t your thing, there’s always contact paper, spray paint, fabric, ribbon, dimmer light bulbs, etc.
So finally I’ve shared my wall with the world. If you want to see how it really looks any other day, you’ll have to come over. Call first, though, so that I can give you the directions that take you by my favorite takeout place on the way. I’ve been too busy rearranging my wall to cook much.
Wait, so the board itself is a giant magnet? That’s so cool!
Oh, no. I think I need to update the header photo. The boards are metal. And there are lots of magnets on it. Off to update–
If it’s not magnetic, what’s your nifty trick for getting your presser feet and bias tape makers to stick? That would help me keep track of mine!
The board is metal, and the presser feet are metal– and in-between are those little neodymium magnets you see in the photos of the binder clip and the X-acto knife. One for each presser foot. Having them all together and easy to grab and put back is faaaantastic!
Genius, thanks!
What a great way to get everything off the desk! Awesomeness :)
Another idea for those of us who don’t have a nearby Ikea: My husband works in a shop and has access to sheet metal. I had him cut a piece to the size I wanted and then used spray adhesive to cover it with fabric from my stash. It’s pretty heavy so I just leaned it against the wall behind my sewing machine and it works great. I also use small metal tins with magnets glued on the bottom and I store my safety pins in them and stick them to the board.
I never thought about storing my presser feet up there though. Thanks for another wonderful idea, as always!
Just bought a desk for my children to do their homework on and was looking for something to go over the desk to hold their calendars, invitations, etc. and the magnet boards are PERFECT! Are these the Spontan boards that are on the Ikea website?
My crafting skills are extremely limited so please have pity on me and forgive my next question. Can you paint over these boards? I thought about maybe using it as a chalkboard as well or at least give the area some color since our desk is white and our wall is very light too.
Thank you for sharing such a great idea. Your newest fan!
Hahaha!
Yes, these are Ikea boards. I think they also come in grey.
You can find spray paint made specifically for metal at most hardware stores. I’m just not sure how it would hold up with use by little ones. I’d worry about paint scratching or flaking.
What I might do is use chalkboard contact paper. Or a contact paper print you love. It’s not necessarily the most elegant solution, but it’s practical. And if you don’t like it later you can probably get the sticky stuff off with Goo Gone and try something else.
I kind of dig white on white on white, though. Because whatever you put on it is then the star of the show. And I love kid artwork shows! But, then, a few of my friends make fun of me over how much white I’ve put into my house since I moved here. So… not everybody’s thing.
Susan
Thanks Susan for all of this great information! I think we will leave the boards alone and maybe accessorize with colorful magnets. I can always paint the one wall and maybe the chairs if I still need a little color in my life. I can see my husband cringing now heehee…
You are the best!
Ann
So so clever! I already went to Ikea and bought three after our last playdate. Now I just need to actually hang them…sighhh
AWESOME! Now I need to consider how I can use this in my craft/sewing room.
Tank you so much it’s so simply clever !!!
I will create something like that for my stuff, I’m just having my private “atelier” in almost one week
I look forward to re-create that “hanging solution” !!!
Your idea will travel … my sewing workshop is in south of France, in Provence.
Vive les blogs ;o)
I think this also might work–paint a very smooth wooden board with magnetic paint. Then you can paint over it in any color you want–maybe even paint a design.
I saw a Pinterest post the other day and they had painted an old cookie sheet and put it on the wall to use with magnets. There are just too many ideas out there!
What was the name of the small store you got the push-pin magnets from?
Chain store – not small store. :) Pretty sure it was Wal-mart.