Welcome to "Decorative Reusable Wall Calendar Sets," your comprehensive web resource for collecting and designing reusable calendar sets to decorate any room!
What is a "decorative reusable wall calendar set"?
A "decorative reusable wall calendar set" is a set of monthly calendars for any given year to decorate a wall. Each of the twelve months is an individual framed print. Instead of flipping the page every month in a spiral bound calendar, all twelve months of the year are displayed together on the wall as an artwork set.
For example:
1998 calendar set by Nikki Schumann (usuable for 2009) - see larger view
In the 11x14 size these calendar sets are commonly called "poster calendars." They're typically displayed in clear acrylic box frames.
All twelve artworks displayed together in the 11x14 inch poster size makes a very robust artistic statement. A set in the poster size will likely become a visual focal point for the kitchen.
See our "drwcs Collectors' Corner" section for links to the websites of calendar artists.
Most artists of this type of calendar also make their sets available in the 5x7 inch size. So they don't have to be poster sized.
And in fact if you create your own set, you can design them to fit any size frames you wish. (See our Design Your Own Calendar section.)
They're "Reusable" How?
Here is the key to this type of calendar:
The year is not displayed on them. Each month simply features the days of the week and dates for that month.
Therefore every calendar set becomes reusable in various years in the future.
We provide an easy-to-use guide for which previous years may be reused in the next fifteen years to come.
What About Leap Years?
For collections that are large enough, we offer a simple solution to the leap year problem.
And when the the above collectors' solution isn't workable, we provide the tools to design your own set for any year.
These Calendars Are Both Functional and Decorative. But Are There Any Other Reasons I Might Want Such a Calendar?
Yes. Why not start your own family tradition of displaying a poster sized calendar set every year? In the years to come, enjoy the fun of collecting calendar sets. You might even design your some of own! Eventually your collection will become a family heirloom.
How Much Wall Space Does a Poster Calendar Set Take Up?
The most familiar size for this type of calendar set is 11x14 inches. As a rule of thumb, the poster set will cover an area a little less than the total square footage of a standard doorway. See our "Guide For Wall Layout" section for area sizes by arrangement of rows and columns and spacing.
A set in the 5x7 size covers a wall area about 2 feet by 2 feet.
If you're willing to take on a creative project you can create your own sets for any frame size you like. See our "Design Your Own Calendar" section.
Where Might I Display Such a Calendar Set?
The kitchen is an excellent location for a poster calendar set. A foyer or entry hall might also work well for the poster size.
Smaller sized sets can look very smart in a home office or den. The smaller dimension sets can look more stylish in standard picture frames.
A child's room might be a great place, especially for a personally designed set that reflects the child's interests. In fact, designing a set could be a great creative project for you and your child.
Ultimately, which room you choose to display a reusable wall calendar set is entirely up to your sense of design.
Won't Mounting Them Be a Hassle?
No, not at all. There are dependable mounting products available today that you can simply press on and peal off. And we provide a guide to laying out the calendar sets that makes it easy for you.
Are 11x14 Poster Calendar Sets Collectable?
Yes, poster calendar sets from past years are very scarce. And there are people interested in building collections by particular artists. Fortunately, the demand does not seem to be so great that prices are high.
Some better known artists who have made 11x14 calendar sets for many years are Nikki Schumann, Kate Libby, and Diane Bradley. At Decorative Reusable Wall Calendar Sets we try to link every artist that is currently making, or has ever made, 11x14 calendar sets.
Sets from past years are very hard to come by! Collectors have to regularly search for them on EBay, Amazon.com, Craig's List, etc.
There is really no telling whether poster calendar sets will appreciate in financial value. But in our view the sets are collectable for purely sentimental and aesthetic reasons. We believe their greatest value will always be the warmth and life these they bring to the home, the focal point they can give to a kitchen, and the overall pleasure that they bring.
Don't worry if you don't already own any collections from previous years. Collectors who start collecting from the present year onward will be able to reuse each year's sets again in future years. Over the years you can assemble a large collection.
In the years to come, sets that get reused will carry memories of years past. A collection built over a lifetime makes a wonderful family heirloom.
I Can Create My Own Calendar Set?
Yes indeed. Decorative Reusable Wall Calendar Sets provides a user-friendly tutorial on how to design your own calendar sets.
