Decorating Diva: Stylish back-to-school essentials

Product picks

Chalkboard office accessories

We fell immediately in love with these fun desk accessories with a painted chalkboard surface (CB2, $4.50 - $40). Normally we'd frown upon scrawling notes or doodling on your belongings, but not this time. Choose from a pencil cup, file box and magazine holder, all asking for a few fun pictures. One piece of chalk included, wipes clean with a dry cloth.

Glass magnetic board

Dry-erase boards can be a big help for busy students and a great way to remember everything from birthdays (don't want to forget Mom's again!) to homework reminders (presentation on Tuesday). But why opt for standard white when you can put up something colorful? This magnetic board in blue is a great way to spice up a student's room (Crate & Barrel, $25). They also come in pale green and bright orange; includes mounting hardware and a marker.

Cube organizer

Stylish storage is a must, and this compact storage unit is just the right size for a student (Target, $40). We especially love that you can add some personality to this piece by purchasing fabric drawers ($6) in a variety of colors (we're partial to the blue). Adding color turns this organizer into a decorative as well as functional item.

Hang-it-all rack

Fun, colorful and practical, we're sure you'll love this eye-catching, multi-colored Eames wall rack (Room & Board, $199) as much as your kids. Sturdy enough to hold coats and backpacks, this well-made piece can also be used for towels, hats, mitts and anything else you'd rather not see lying on the floor.

Task lamp

Talk about multi-tasking -- this cool lamp does it all. It has a built-in iPod dock and speakers, plus compartments for your pens, pencils and other student must-haves (PB Teen, $60). We love the sleek design and the fact this unique lamp offers so much bang for your buck.

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