My next project is to organize my to-do lists. Or rather, my to-do folder. I've gotten into a habit of frantically scribbling tasks and reminders on Post-It Notes and sticking them around the house. I often find them on the bottom of my boots or stuck to the underside of my laptop. In an effort to get -- or appear -- more together about my to-dos, I gathered all the sticky notes I could find and put them into a file folder. Unfortunately, I am not so good at remembering to open the folder, let alone accomplish what's calling to me from inside the folder.
And then I had a brilliant idea of how to get this organized once and for (and in under an hour) -- a white board! A cute, styley white board with pink markers! Over my desk! Where I cannot ignore it!
Just when I thought I'd simply and smartly solved the Post-It clutter conundrum, a friend told me my dry-erase dreams were very outdated. How could that be?
One little board? Oh, no. My life is bigger than that. She said I needed to paint the wall by my desk with dry-erase paint instead.
I do believe I gasped out loud when I saw the paint -- this kind made by Ideapaint -- that can be applied to any smooth surface. The company claims its products won't peel, stain, or yellow over time, is durable, and can be removed simply by painting over it. (Be warned: it's very cool, but it's not cheap, friends.)
They also say that any kind of dry-erase markers can be used on it and that they will erase easily. Did I mention it comes in pretty, soothing colors?
Ideapaint's arguments for slathering it over a wall in your house are convincing. They say it will help you keep your family organized and will set the stage for creative drawing, murals, notes, and stories. This will encourage your family to step away from the television set and spend time together.
They also say it works brilliantly in offices, conference rooms, and schools. Perhaps the best argument, however, is that it is safe and an environmentally friendly counter to all of the white boards piled up in landfills.
I have to be honest, I can't argue with any of that.
My only issues are that I rent my condo and my landlord would not be happy about me turning my office nook or son's room into a giant doodle den. And that leads me to my other concern. I wonder how many kids who live in a house with a dry-erase painted wall have spread their artistry and love notes to other rooms where the walls do not wipe clean so easily? Are you asking for trouble by inviting people to graffiti on the walls of your home?
I like to think my child is smarter than that. Still, the concern for flagrant wall writing is there. Also, painting my wall would definitely take more than an hour. And repainting it when I move out would take another few cussing-filled hours on top of that.
So I will opt out of the dry-erase wall dream. But I do love it. I love the idea of it a lot.
Would you use dry-erase paint to get yourself organized at home or at work? Is this brilliant or just more clean-up?
