How One Dodgy Wall Decal Led to Tiny Haven

Hi, I'm Laura — founder of Tiny Haven — and I’m so glad you’re here! Yes, that’s me in the pic above — on my honeymoon, childless, well rested, and very likely having slept in that day. Sigh.

Since you’ve just found us, I thought I’d share a little behind-the-scenes story of how Tiny Haven came to life and what makes us different.

Like many things in life, it started with a blank wall. A blank wall in my little ones nursery room. she was still young, which meant YAY I had complete design freedom (a rare and fleeting moment before the inevitable requests for Bluey or Gabby’s Dollhouse). I wanted to add something playful and calming to her space, without going overboard. Think: soft colours, sweet shapes, and nothing that would leave a mark — on the wall or the vibe. Just a simple way to add some life to her little space.

So I jumped online, found some "thatl do" decals that looked cute enough, and ordered them without doing much research. They arrived, went up, started to readjust one.... 

Big mistake.

The decal came off but then so did some of my paint. It was the classic “oh shit” moment, followed by "how do I hide this from hubby". So I did what any reasonable (and sleep deprived) person would do: covered it with a small picture frame and moved on. Well kinda. The wall was patched, but I couldn’t let it go. I was convinced there had to be a better way — something that didn’t destroy your walls, didn’t feel mass-produced, and actually suited modern, minimal kids’ spaces.

That night, with Netflix quietly playing in the background, I went down a deep rabbit hole. I started researching decal materials, learning about adhesives, fabrics, finishes — things I never thought I’d care about. I learned more in one night than I ever expected to about wall surfaces, adhesive types, and what makes a decal actually removable. Who knew there was so much science behind something that looks so simple?

Fun fact: Most cheap vinyl decals use strong adhesives that basically glue themselves to your paint over time — making them nearly impossible to remove without taking a good chunk of wall with them. Fabric decals, on the other hand, like ours, use a gentle, low-tack, water-based adhesive that’s far kinder to your walls and the planet. No peeling paint. No stress. - You are most welcome.

Anyway, The more I looked into it, the more I realised I didn’t just want cute designs. I wanted materials that were safe for walls, safe for kids, and safe for the environment too. 

I found a few options overseas, but they were either wayyyy out of my budget, shitty quality or the designs weren’t quite right. I also stumbled across those budget-friendly options (you know the ones), but the quality and sourcing didn’t sit well with me. And because I’ve always loved supporting local where I can, I really wanted to find something made in New Zealand. But there just wasn’t much out there.

Eventually, I gave up trying to find something that ticked all the boxes. So I took matters into my own hands — found a design I loved and started reaching out to local printers in Auckland with a long list of material must-haves. After a lot of back and forth (and a lot of test prints), I finally found a local printer who could bring it to life exactly how I’d imagined. Soon enough, my daughter had the sweetest ballerina decals up on her wall.

That was the lightbulb moment.
If I felt this excited to finally have something that was safe, removable, beautiful and locally made — surely other parents were out there looking for the same thing.

From there, it grew. I started sourcing eco-friendly, non-toxic fabric decals that were removable, reusable, and actually gentle on walls. I tested more materials (seriously — so many samples), refined the process, and slowly built a collection I was genuinely proud to use in our home.

Some of the designs I’ve created myself (have you seen how cute those daisies are?!), and others I’ve sourced thoughtfully and brought to life with the same level of care. What makes me really proud is that everything you see on tinyhaven.co.nz — from design to printing to packing — is all done right here in beautiful New Zealand.

I’m genuinely so passionate about this product. I believe in it because I’ve seen the difference it makes — not just in how a room looks, but in how simple, safe, and stress-free it can be for families.

What we focus on at Tiny Haven:

– Removable wall decals that won’t damage your walls
– Eco-conscious materials, safe for kids and better for the planet
– Simple, calm designs that grow with your space
– Local, small-batch production — no mass-made shortcuts

So that’s how Tiny Haven was born. One bad purchase, a paint-peeling disaster, and a whole lot of late-night turned-to-weeks-to-months of Googling later.  What’s here now is the result of all that: products I trust, use in my own home, and genuinely love. You just get to enjoy the fun part — choosing the ones you love and bringing your little ones walls to life.

If you’ve made it this far — I salute you. Honestly, gold star for sticking with me.
As a little thank you, here’s a 15% off code just for you: YAY15
Use it at the checkout and treat your little one to something lovely.

If you’re curious to see what we’re creating, want to follow along, or just want to say hi — we’d love to have you in our little community. Follow us here.