Decorating
10 Artful Gallery Ideas That'll Wake Up Your Walls
Bring life to a plain wall with an eye-catching display of unexpected additions and personal collections
Looking to freshen up your walls? Why not try something new, like swapping out plain artwork mats for colourful ones or hanging floor tiles or a giant knot as art? Here you’ll find 10 creative ways to transform your walls.
2. Colourful mats
Love your artwork but want to give it a fresh look? Try swapping out the plain white mats for something colourful. Pale blue is classic and will add springtime freshness to your winter scheme.
Love your artwork but want to give it a fresh look? Try swapping out the plain white mats for something colourful. Pale blue is classic and will add springtime freshness to your winter scheme.
3. Painted frames
If you want to fill up a wall on a tight budget and don’t mind a morning with a paint can, this could be right up your alley. Collect old frames at yard sales and paint them to match. Hung on the wall without glass here, they make a unique display for small 3D objects.
If you want to fill up a wall on a tight budget and don’t mind a morning with a paint can, this could be right up your alley. Collect old frames at yard sales and paint them to match. Hung on the wall without glass here, they make a unique display for small 3D objects.
4. Colourful plate display
Update the classic plate display by mixing in a few brightly-coloured pieces with traditional blue and white. Using different shapes, sizes and colours will make for a more dynamic display. Test out your arrangement on the floor and snap a picture of it before you start hanging.
Update the classic plate display by mixing in a few brightly-coloured pieces with traditional blue and white. Using different shapes, sizes and colours will make for a more dynamic display. Test out your arrangement on the floor and snap a picture of it before you start hanging.
5. Mirror collection
Picture shelves can be used for more than pictures – why not use them for mirrors instead? A bunch of little mirrors can be much more affordable than one huge mirror, and they’ll look charming and personal.
Picture shelves can be used for more than pictures – why not use them for mirrors instead? A bunch of little mirrors can be much more affordable than one huge mirror, and they’ll look charming and personal.
6. Floor tiles as art
There are some amazing floor tiles out there. Why not hang a few as art? Check a tile store or stone quarry, or hunt down some vintage tin ceiling tiles (they come in the most beautiful patterns).
There are some amazing floor tiles out there. Why not hang a few as art? Check a tile store or stone quarry, or hunt down some vintage tin ceiling tiles (they come in the most beautiful patterns).
7. Vintage book illustration letters
These are actually the work of a pro crafter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try it at home. Pick up some plain cardboard or papier-mâché letter forms at the craft store, and gather a stack of old children’s books – this is the perfect way to use a beautiful old book that is too damaged to read. Carefully trace around each letter onto a book page, then cut out the letter with a craft knife. Use spray adhesive or decoupage to attach the illustrations to the letter forms.
These are actually the work of a pro crafter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try it at home. Pick up some plain cardboard or papier-mâché letter forms at the craft store, and gather a stack of old children’s books – this is the perfect way to use a beautiful old book that is too damaged to read. Carefully trace around each letter onto a book page, then cut out the letter with a craft knife. Use spray adhesive or decoupage to attach the illustrations to the letter forms.
8. “Invisible” book shelves
You can find these ready made, or you can craft your own version using vintage books with interesting covers. The basic idea is to attach a bracket to a hardback book. When you stack other books on top of it, the shelf itself becomes part of the stack.
You can find these ready made, or you can craft your own version using vintage books with interesting covers. The basic idea is to attach a bracket to a hardback book. When you stack other books on top of it, the shelf itself becomes part of the stack.
9. Classroom maps
Old-fashioned pull-down classroom maps add a studious note to a room. Try one in the home office, study or dining room. Just don’t expect to use a vintage map as a teaching tool … they can be quite outdated!
Old-fashioned pull-down classroom maps add a studious note to a room. Try one in the home office, study or dining room. Just don’t expect to use a vintage map as a teaching tool … they can be quite outdated!
10. Knot as art
Who would have thought an old, crusty rope could make an interesting piece of wall art? Consult a knot-making book to learn a fancy knot or just play around until you are pleased with the shape, and hang the result on your wall.
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU…
Are you a fan of an unusual gallery display? Perhaps you prefer classic and traditional galleries? Let us know below and as always, share your DIY shots with us below.
Who would have thought an old, crusty rope could make an interesting piece of wall art? Consult a knot-making book to learn a fancy knot or just play around until you are pleased with the shape, and hang the result on your wall.
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU…
Are you a fan of an unusual gallery display? Perhaps you prefer classic and traditional galleries? Let us know below and as always, share your DIY shots with us below.
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Who needs frames? For a quick and easy solution, head to the office supplies store and pick up a box of bulldog clips. Once you attach them to the wall, you can simply clip in the art and swap it out on a whim.