Parents: Stop Saying “Don’t Draw on the Walls”

Do you have a little Picasso at home who can’t wait to paint and color at every opportunity (even if it’s on the walls)?

Before you end up scrubbing crayon marks day and night, check out how to give your kids a space to create to their heart’s content.

Now you can stifle the urge to lock away the paint and brushes. Instead, keep them out in the open where your kids can grab them whenever inspiration strikes.

Thanks to a dedicated art space, your little artist can do their thing worry-free.

These kids’ art wall hacks are simple, and they deliver long-term fun. Children can draw, paint, and let their imaginations run free with easy-to-reach paper and supplies that make it art time anytime.

What You’ll Need for Your Designated Art Wall

1 IKEA MALA art roll paper holder
1 IKEA MALA paper roll
1 IKEA NEREBY wall shelf
3 IKEA NEREBY containers
4 L-brackets
Basics — screw gun, drill, tape measure

Create a Cute Art Wall for Kids

Here’s how Inna Karn @inna.karnafel sets up a quick art wall that’s fun for kids of all ages (and grown-ups, too)!

1. Assemble and Mount the MALA Roll Holder

Put together the MALA paper roll holder following IKEA instructions, but leave off the bottom. Measure how high up you want the roll to go, and mount the holder onto the wall using two L-brackets on each side. Make sure to use anchors appropriate for your wall if you’re not able to screw directly into wall studs.

2. Install the Paper and Supplies

Place the MALA paper roll into the holder. Decide where you want to hang the NEREBY shelf and install it according to IKEA’s recommendations. Attach the 3 NEREBY containers or similar storage solutions.

Do Your Kids Get Free Rein of the Art Wall?

Now, some commenters mentioned that the wall behind the paper is likely to end up a mess. That’s probably true, but you need to decide if it’s a dealbreaker for you or if you just need to put a few precautions in place.

Inna suggested placing a piece of cardboard behind the paper for protection if that’s something that concerns you. Alternatively, she mentions using a magnetic board so that when your kids aren’t painting, they can play with magnetic shapes, letters, etc.

What would you do on the wall behind, if anything?

I think if you’re prepared to devote an entire wall to this hack, you could use dry-erase paint or chalkboard paint.

Simply let the kids go to town and end up with some interesting wall art. The paper roll could be for when they want to create portable masterpieces.

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Art Wall, Take Two!

IKEA MALA paper roll on a pink wall. Paper roll is held up by curtain brackets to create an art wall for kids to draw and paint — Photo Credit Mike C

Mike C. wanted to replace their MALA easel with something that would save floor space. They decided to use the RIBBA picture ledge and some curtain brackets to come up with this art wall hack. The RIBBA is no longer available, but you can substitute the MOSSLANDA for a similar result.

One More Kid’s Art Wall Idea

Kraft paper roll on a pink wall. Paper roll is held up by curtain brackets to create an art wall for kids or adults to draw and paint — Photo Credit Marisa Simeone

This art space hack gives you a cool, quick way to make art, keep notes, or write your grocery list in style. Marisa Simeone cut down the rod from the RÄCKA curtain set and put a roll of Kraft paper on it for an instant imagination station. It cost less than $15 and only took about 30 minutes from start to finish.