It can be very expensive to purchase art or printed canvases to decorate your home. Decorating on a limited budget can make wall décor a serious challenge. Sometimes we leave walls blank, hang things we don’t like or hang pictures that just don’t work in a room to fill the space. There is NO NEED to do this! It is possible to create beautiful and budget-friendly art to decorate your home. You can create your own DIY Art.
As someone who has very limited artistic skills (ok I admit it, I can barely draw a stick person), if I can make my art you can too. Don’t be afraid to go outside of your comfort zone and try to make your artwork.
DIY Wall Art:
Art has a different meaning to different people. Defining “what is art” is close to impossible as it is open to personal interpretation. Art can be almost anything. People want to be surrounded by things that are not only beautiful but have personal meaning and bring them happiness when they look at them. Anything you find beautiful or meaningful can be art. Your home should be the sanctuary that brings you happiness, a sense of peace, and relaxation. Your home should be filled with art and treasures that you love. Ask yourself what brings you joy to look at? What type of art speaks to you when you are shopping? What style of art will match with your interior design taste?
Being thrifty when decorating means that you have to step outside of the typical definition of art. It is not only the hand-painted masterpieces by famous artists, or the canvases or framed items in the home section of a department store. Art is limitless, it can be unique, it can be unusual….beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. DIY Art is the way to achieve décor on a budget.
Frames for DIY Art
Frames for DIY Art can be expensive. Purchasing new (especially when looking for a larger size frame) can be outside of many people’s budgets. There is no need to purchase new frames or canvas if you are looking to save. Thrift stores, garage sales, on online selling platforms (FB marketplace or eBay) can be great places to find old frames/ canvases to transform. You don’t have to pay anything close to retail prices. I usually only pay a couple of dollars for a frame unless it is exceptional.
When thrifting for frames, focus on the size and shape of the frame you need and you can transform the rest. A coat of paint can quickly change a frame to match your décor. Adding a matting can add elegance or make smaller art fit in a larger frame. In addition, wooden frames can be sanded and stained to match any room. Try to imagine the frame you are interested in in a different color. Try to imagine if the frame shape and size fit into the theme of your room. I usually have a size and shape in mind before I start to shop. I use painter’s tape on my wall to create the size of art I am looking for in that space (then measure it), so I have an idea of what size/ shape will work before I shop. Taking a tape measure to the store is always a good idea (I keep one in my purse) to check if a frame will work for the wall.
Visit our Top 10 Thrifting Tips -How to Thrift to Save Money for additional thrifting information.
Steps to Transform a Frame:
- Remove glass and picture from the frame if possible (if not tape off the glass or cover the image)
- Give the frame a good cleaning with a damp soapy rag to ensure that you remove any dust and dirt, then let dry
- Sand if needed (I usually sand wooden frames) and wipe away any remaining dust
- Paint frame to match décor.
I typically use Rustoleum spray paint for many of my projects like this (it is easier than dealing with brush marks, fast and I always have it on hand). Just ensure you have a drop cloth under the frame and are in a well-ventilated space. Outside or in the garage is ideal.
Wood stain can also be used to stain wooden frames (I tend to use Minwax for many of my projects) - Let paint or stain dry completely
- Voila! you have a frame at a fraction of the price
- Insert your DIY Art
Add a High End Look By Adding Matting To the Frame
Adding Matting to a a frame piece of art adds importance, visual focus and adds to the high end appeal of the art. As you view it it brings substance to the content as well as as bringing cohesion to a room or collection of frames if the matting match each other. Matting a piece or art also allows you to use a much larger frame and use a larger amount of wall space. If the piece is smaller and you want it to fill a larger space then a significant matting border will allow you to fill the wall with a larger frame.
Now, What to Put in the Frame?
Let’s use the image below as an example
Is it wallpaper?
Is it a background for a computer screen?
Is is wrapping paper?
Is is material?
Is it is a painting on canvas?
The simple answer is that it could be any of the above!!!! A good pattern can be used in multiple ways. If you like the look of something with a pattern think of ways in which you can use it creatively around your home.
If you have a frame where you are looking to update the contents, think…. what could I put in it? Many people only think of the traditional picture, but there are so many other possibilities.
Material:
A nice piece of material can be framed. A beautiful wallpaper framed can make very interesting art. Once you put a frame around it, it transforms from the previous state to become an artwork.
Wallpaper
As mentioned above wallpaper can be an easy way to create a piece of artwork. There are really interesting patterns and images on today’s wallpaper. It can also be inexpensive to purchase. There are many places online that offer small rolls for great prices, as well as looking for thrift or second-hand options. Many times you can find a partially used roll at thrift stores or online, people usually have extra leftovers when wallpapering a room, and finding a partially used roll may make this an affordable option.
In addition to being an affordable option to frame wallpaper, it means less work that wallpapering an entire room. You can add the look of the wallpaper to your room with out changing the walls or taking the time to apply it. If you decide you don’t like it anymore or get tired of the pattern it is far simpler to change out the wallpaper in a frame than it is to wallpaper an entire room!
Create Your Masterpiece
You don’t need to be a master artist to create your art. Grab some paint, some markers, or a pencil, and try getting creative. Pick colors you like, shapes you like, and just give it a whirl. You may be surprised with yourself at what you are capable of. You may even discover a budding artist lurks inside you that is waiting to emerge. Again, remind yourself that art doesn’t have to be perfect. It is as much about the process and enjoying what you are doing.
It can be very therapeutic and relaxing to create pieces of art. Many find it an enjoyable way to release their artistic side and see where the process takes you. Perfection isn’t the goal, it is about the journey of finding your creative side.
Thrift Store Art
Artwork is plentiful at most thrift stores. It is always amazing to see what people donate. I have found many beautiful originals at thrift stores, as well as canvases and prints. Many thrift stores have stacks of art outside of the frames. This is where I tend to find amazing pieces. People don’t often take the time to look through artwork that is not already in a frame. Make sure to look thoroughly through the art section, you never know what treasures are there.
Posters/ Cards/ Newspapers
Many printed forms of media can be used as art. It usually is very inexpensive to purchase and can be beautiful. Looking through papers at thrift stores is a great way to find posters, old advertisements, cards and al kinds of cool items that when framed can be displayed as art.
Create a Collage
Most of us have photographs in albums and boxes that we do not display. Many of our best memories are captured in photos. A collage is a great way to take small pictures and make a large piece of art. You can either create a collage of a specific event or many different events. I have created large family collages for my parents of our childhoods, and pictures as a family through the years. It is a great way to capture the emotion of the pictures and time-lapse. Being surrounded by images that spark joy in you is a great way to personalize your home.
Collections of Frames/ Gallery Wall
It can be difficult to figure out what to do with smaller frames of artwork. They don’t look quite right proportionally on a large wall when they are hung alone. When you take a grouping of frames and add them to a wall it can become a focal point and an art gallery. It can be an eclectic mix of frames and art or it can be a bit more cohesive (same color palette or same types of frames). No matter which may you want to style your gallery, you can lay out the frame sizes in painter’s tape on the wall before hanging. This allows you to visually see the placement of the frames, change spacing and make changes before hanging them. How to Create a Gallery Wall (realsimple.com)
Memorabilia/ Shadow Box
Creating a Memory box type of frame is a great way to utilize items in your home that have significance. Many of us have documents or small items in our homes that are important to us. Adding these items to a frame can put these special items on display for all to see. I have used this idea to frame significant items from the birth of my children as ll as from my own childhood.
Giftwrap or Gift Bags
Don’t underestimate the beauty in giftwrap and gift bags. If you have been given beautiful gift bags that you loved and it seems a shame to put in a drawer, you can frame it. I have done this for seasonal decor in my own home. I have framed cute quotes and holiday images from gift bags to use in my holiday decorating. It is a cheap but fun way to change your décor for each season/holiday.
Children’s Artwork
Kids’ drawings are also great for framing, it brings focus to their art in a special way (not to mention it makes them proud to be prominently displayed in your home). Adding a frame can take a picture from being just a school project to a true work of art. If you have children you will have no shortage of masterpieces in your home. Updating the art periodically to new creations to freshen things up. With the change in seasons, you can coordinate with other holiday decorations. There never seems to be a shortage of art brought home from school and you can use them around your home for a personal touch.
As you can see from the list above the options are endless. Look at what you have, think about what is important to you, think about what would bring you joy to look at. It s your home, and you get to decide what artwork is special.
Canvas DIY Art
There are certain places in a house where you may prefer to hang a simple canvas instead of framed. artwork. If you have been shopping for them recently you know that they are expensive. Thrift shopping for these will drastically reduce your costs, you would be amazed at what you can find. You can even have found ready to hang pieces where you only needed to put a nail in the wall and you are done!
Other times it is harder to find exactly what you are looking for. This is where you need to start to get creative. Look for canvases that are the shape/size that you want (check carefully to ensure there are not any dents or rips) and plan to transform the actual image. What is on the canvas currently doesn’t matter. If the canvas is the right shape/structure and you have your paints ready at home the existing image is irrelevant.
Ways to Transform a Canvas:
- Decoupage Images/Patterns Over the Original (I use Mod Podge for my projects).
Materials can vary from print images, wallpaper, wrapping paper, craft paper, or material. I just work with what I have and make my unique design. You can plan to make it a statement piece, or make it match the colors in your room. The sky is the limit when it comes to adding patterns and shapes to the canvas. - Paint the Canvas
This is where you have to be a bit braver and just give it a try…
– You can prime a canvas with white primer to have something plain to start (or you can paint it the base color(s) you would like in your painting.
– Look online for inspiration (I tend to like abstract art but find something you like the look of, I would suggest not overly detailed to start with). Look at the shapes it contains, look at the colors. Try to practice drawing it on paper, and decide the paint colors you will use.
– Keep a stash of acrylic paints in your craft supply area and a variety of brush sizes (usually inexpensive at a dollar store)
– Next step is to mix the paints to colors you want
– Get creative and GO FOR IT!
– You can use many things other than the standard brush to apply the paint to your canvas. Depending on the look you are going for, you can use a sponge, a putty knife, a feather, a roller…. think about the shapes and effects you are looking for . Be creative in how you can achieve them. Practicing on scrap paper is a great way to test before applying the technique to your canvas.
Remember art can be anything. Art is one of those things that doesn’t have to be perfect. DIY Art is not a science, it is an adventure. Take your time and try different things. Try different size brushes, try other materials like using a sponge, cloth, or a spatula to add texture, try dripping paint on the canvas… there is no limit to what you can do! Also if you don’t like what you have done so far, you can always paint over what you have done to start again! Be brave and just give it a try!
Working in stages is the approach that works for me, paint a bit, step away for a few minutes and then look at it again with a fresh perspective. Sometimes the paintings I like the most in my home were the fastest and in many situations less tends to be more (at least when it comes to my limited artistic skills). when in doubt take a moment to walk away and come back to the project to look at it with a fresh perspective.
If you find that you have extraordinary skills in this area for may even consider looking at selling some of your work. See Ways to Make Extra Money for additional details on side income opportunities.
3. Add a Wooden Frame to Canvas
Adding a wooden border to a canvas can bring emphasis and focus to the piece of art. You can purchase inexpensive wood trim/ molding from home improvement stores and create a simple frame and adhere with strong glue or finishing nails. Painting and staining the wood can also help the canvas match other art frames in your room or the furniture to bring an overall feel of a cohesive design.
In Summary:
I have done DIY Art in many rooms in my home and it has turned out well. I am NOT artistic so I tend to do abstract paintings (as those are what I gravitate to when shopping for my art that I love) Of course, like most people, I am my own worse critic and find fault in all of my DIY paintings. Others have commented on my art and that they love it, asking who the artist is. With a little giggle, I say” it is by a little-known local artist”…. Then I get a bigger laugh and a sense of satisfaction when I tell them I did the painting myself!
