Be Your Own Artist
Often times I have to fill a blank wall on a budget. The framing and art work itself can add up quickly, but by creating your own artwork you can save money and add something personal to your home. Creating artwork yourself is not as daunting as it sounds, and you don’t need to be an artist to do it. Not only will you have something one of a kind in your home, but you can also customize the art to make it any size you want. Check out the ideas below for artistic inspiration on how to add some life to your walls.
Design by St Frank
Design by Nick Olsen
Fabric: You can take a beautiful piece of fabric and frame it behind glass or have it stretched out around a wooden framed canvas. It’s a fantastic way to add a punch of personality to a space. It’s also a really great idea for a piece of fabric that is fragile or sentimental that you would like to display and preserve.
Wallpaper: Using the same concept as above, you can take a fun wallpaper pattern or texture and leave it framed or unframed. Another great idea is to cut the wallpaper into an interesting shape and then frame it as art. This is a fun way to display any unused material that’s been laying around the house.
Design by Andrew J Howard
Rugs or Tapestries: Hanging a rug or tapestry on the wall will cover a large blank wall nicely. I love the texture and dimension that this brings to a space. These can be heavy and easily sag on the wall if not hung properly. Taking proper measures with a long wooden rod at the top will help the rug hang straight across.
Design by Nandina Home + Design
Inspiration found here: Anthropologie
Kids Art: Who says that your children’s art can’t look professional? Make them feel special and frame a few pieces that mean a lot to them. Children’s art is best displayed on white matting with white frames or clear ones that make the art pop and give a gallery look to the space. Choose a frame that is versatile and easy to change out artwork as the years pass.
Tiles: Another fantastic material that will add dimension and variety to a room is tile. I just picked up a few colorful tiles from my trip to Portugal and I plan on grouping them in a frame. You can also hang each one on it’s own using a disc adhesive plate hanger, which will help to lay the tile flat on the wall.
When it comes time to framing art, you don’t have to spend a fortune. The best places to look for affordable frames and matting are local craft stores like AC Moore Arts and Crafts and Michaels. A favorite online resource I use is Framebridge.
It’s time to decorate your blank wall and make it something personal. Creating something unique is a fun activity that will help to complete your space without busting your budget.