Decorating
11 Ways to Personalise Your Home With Customised Products
From personalised wallpaper and shower screens to customised doors and mosaics, bespoke creations are the new art
Have you ever imagined the perfect artwork for your home but struggled to find one that came close to what you pictured? If you answer with a resounding ‘Yes!’, you’re not alone. Custom artworks for the home have existed for aeons, since we decorated our caves and, partly due to a clever combination of form and function, they’re experiencing a comeback… but not just in the form of traditional wall art.
The front door is at the base of an 8-metre-high panel that has been treated the same way, with the photograph of the site and nearby suburbs extending upwards over an impressive scale.
With some creative thinking, a high-resolution image, and help from the pros, you can replicate this idea inside or out. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Take a Virtual Tour of Forest Lodge ECO House
With some creative thinking, a high-resolution image, and help from the pros, you can replicate this idea inside or out. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Take a Virtual Tour of Forest Lodge ECO House
2. Personalised wallpaper
If framing your photos is not enough, why not blow them up into artworks instead? Howden Homes engaged The Wall Sticker Company in Melbourne to transform a cherished family photo into customised wallpaper to decorate the living room in their Victorian homestead.
Tip: Wall stickers are cut to size and made from vinyl so they do not peel off or shrink but are removable, which is good news for renters who want to jazz up a wall without getting their landlords off side.
If framing your photos is not enough, why not blow them up into artworks instead? Howden Homes engaged The Wall Sticker Company in Melbourne to transform a cherished family photo into customised wallpaper to decorate the living room in their Victorian homestead.
Tip: Wall stickers are cut to size and made from vinyl so they do not peel off or shrink but are removable, which is good news for renters who want to jazz up a wall without getting their landlords off side.
Customised wallpaper, or murals, can be printed from quality photographs or images with high resolution, such as this tranquil landscape of a jetty at sunset from insideout. Based in Newcastle and Geelong, insideout has more than 22 million stock images to choose from, if you wanted slightly less personalised but equally customised wallpaper.
Tip: Have you been flirting with the idea of papering your walls but are hesitant to cover the entire area? Consider using wall decals instead to create customised decorations on a smaller scale.
Tip: Have you been flirting with the idea of papering your walls but are hesitant to cover the entire area? Consider using wall decals instead to create customised decorations on a smaller scale.
3. Bespoke murals
If you know you’ll own your home for many moons to come, you could consider livening up the space with a mural. In this Melbourne home by McKimm Residential Design, artist Lucas Grogan was commissioned to paint a wall mural inside and out in his signature bright blue and white.
If you know you’ll own your home for many moons to come, you could consider livening up the space with a mural. In this Melbourne home by McKimm Residential Design, artist Lucas Grogan was commissioned to paint a wall mural inside and out in his signature bright blue and white.
The result is as bold as the architecture – the optical illusion commands the eye and the circular outline complements the round window seen from the street.
Tip: Remember Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel? There’s no need to restrict murals to your walls. Traditionally, ceilings were also adorned – the sky’s the limit.
Tip: Remember Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel? There’s no need to restrict murals to your walls. Traditionally, ceilings were also adorned – the sky’s the limit.
4. Custom-painted pots
If you like the idea of personalised paintings but are renting your home or feel reluctant to take a paintbrush to your walls, consider commissioning customised planters to suit your decor.
Pretty as well as practical, potted plants are experiencing a surge in popularity in interiors. Pots are portable too, so you’ll be able to enjoy these functional works of art no matter how many times you move house.
Our 10 Hottest Indoor Plants
If you like the idea of personalised paintings but are renting your home or feel reluctant to take a paintbrush to your walls, consider commissioning customised planters to suit your decor.
Pretty as well as practical, potted plants are experiencing a surge in popularity in interiors. Pots are portable too, so you’ll be able to enjoy these functional works of art no matter how many times you move house.
Our 10 Hottest Indoor Plants
5. Laser-cut privacy screens
This Hamptons Beach House by Aamodt/Plumb Architects in the USA is clad with custom cut metal screens to allow the New York-based family to experience privacy despite being closely flanked by neighbours on either side.
As well as providing separation, the screens offer shelter from strong winds and storms, though their true artistry is revealed as the sun moves across the site and the perforations cast exquisite and ever-changing light play and shadows, blurring the line between being practical architectural elements and pretty works of art.
This Hamptons Beach House by Aamodt/Plumb Architects in the USA is clad with custom cut metal screens to allow the New York-based family to experience privacy despite being closely flanked by neighbours on either side.
As well as providing separation, the screens offer shelter from strong winds and storms, though their true artistry is revealed as the sun moves across the site and the perforations cast exquisite and ever-changing light play and shadows, blurring the line between being practical architectural elements and pretty works of art.
Privacy screens such as these can be personalised with almost any pattern, illustration, image or even text, using a variety of methods. Laser cutting is the most common technique, and you can also customise materials other than sheet metal for indoor and outdoor use.
6. Backlit and metal artworks
Similar to privacy screens, custom-cut panels can be decorated with your choice of graphics and backlit to form dramatic illuminated artworks by night. Based in Melbourne, Entanglements specialises in metal art such as this wall-mounted piece, but they don’t just stop there.
Similar to privacy screens, custom-cut panels can be decorated with your choice of graphics and backlit to form dramatic illuminated artworks by night. Based in Melbourne, Entanglements specialises in metal art such as this wall-mounted piece, but they don’t just stop there.
Laser-cut pergolas such as this one, which also features backlit metal panels, can provide shade from the baking Australian sun during summer months, while custom-made metal sculptures can add interest to unadorned alfresco areas.
Tip: If you’re keen to join heavy metal fans and commission artworks in outside areas, be aware that many metals rust. These patinas are often prized for their beauty, but it’s good to expect wear with age.
See more spaces designed for art lovers
Tip: If you’re keen to join heavy metal fans and commission artworks in outside areas, be aware that many metals rust. These patinas are often prized for their beauty, but it’s good to expect wear with age.
See more spaces designed for art lovers
7. Printed-glass splashbacks
Moving from metal to glass, kitchen splashbacks come in countless options so it makes sense that you should be able to customise them with artwork of your choice. The glass splashback in this Toowoomba kitchen was printed by Raw Inkk using a photograph of a rainforest and waterfall. The company specialises in large-format UV-cured printing that can be applied to surfaces such as glass, acrylic and wood, meaning you can revamp your shower screen too.
Moving from metal to glass, kitchen splashbacks come in countless options so it makes sense that you should be able to customise them with artwork of your choice. The glass splashback in this Toowoomba kitchen was printed by Raw Inkk using a photograph of a rainforest and waterfall. The company specialises in large-format UV-cured printing that can be applied to surfaces such as glass, acrylic and wood, meaning you can revamp your shower screen too.
8. Customised shower screens
On that note, there’s no reason why your humble shower screen can’t benefit from a facelift too. Customised films similar to the kitchen splashback can be adhered to glass shower screens, though if you are after a more three-dimensional effect, take inspiration from this Californian shower door. Glass is a highly workable material that can be frosted, stained, sand blasted, etched and treated in many other ways for smooth or richly textured finishes.
Tip: Keen to customise your shower screen? Aim to have any three-dimensional decorations on the outside of the glass to make the interior easy to clean.
On that note, there’s no reason why your humble shower screen can’t benefit from a facelift too. Customised films similar to the kitchen splashback can be adhered to glass shower screens, though if you are after a more three-dimensional effect, take inspiration from this Californian shower door. Glass is a highly workable material that can be frosted, stained, sand blasted, etched and treated in many other ways for smooth or richly textured finishes.
Tip: Keen to customise your shower screen? Aim to have any three-dimensional decorations on the outside of the glass to make the interior easy to clean.
This illustration of cherry blossoms and branches was sand blasted, etched and carved into the glass shower screen. As well as personalising glass with your chosen artwork, treating shower screens also enhances privacy as it creates a frosted effect.
9. Artistic window films
Not every window frames a picture-perfect outlook, and to enhance our privacy we sometimes find ourselves in the position of wanting to let the light in but block the view out. Enter window films, which are translucent coatings adhered to existing glass windows or screens. Films can be personalised and cut to specified sizes to fit most panes, as with this design by Sydney-based Frost & Co Window Film.
Not every window frames a picture-perfect outlook, and to enhance our privacy we sometimes find ourselves in the position of wanting to let the light in but block the view out. Enter window films, which are translucent coatings adhered to existing glass windows or screens. Films can be personalised and cut to specified sizes to fit most panes, as with this design by Sydney-based Frost & Co Window Film.
10. Bespoke mosaic art
Mosaics have been used to decorate our homes for tens of thousands of years, but these days they are usually relegated to the kitchen splashback or bathroom walls. If you are keen to restore this artistic medium to its former glory, consider featuring a mosaic in a living area. These richly textured pieces are often literally glittering with detail and boast a versatility that sees them suited to walls and floors.
La Falena (The Moth) is from a collection of handcrafted creations by Mosaic Republic, which designs and installs both small-scale pieces such as wall-mounted artworks, and large-scale commissions including entire floors.
Mosaics have been used to decorate our homes for tens of thousands of years, but these days they are usually relegated to the kitchen splashback or bathroom walls. If you are keen to restore this artistic medium to its former glory, consider featuring a mosaic in a living area. These richly textured pieces are often literally glittering with detail and boast a versatility that sees them suited to walls and floors.
La Falena (The Moth) is from a collection of handcrafted creations by Mosaic Republic, which designs and installs both small-scale pieces such as wall-mounted artworks, and large-scale commissions including entire floors.
11. Commissioned wall art
And if you’re after a custom-made painting – the most traditional of artistic mediums – many companies and creatives take commissions for one-off or limited edition pieces, such as Drift by Megan Marks from Escape Artwork. Drift measures a commanding one metre in diameter and is part of an abstract series of circular artworks in fluid, inky tones.
See how the pink, aqua, black and white tones in the round wall art match the colours in the cushions, throw and sofa? One of the benefits of personalised art is the ability to match it to your interior.
Tell us
Do you have customised art at home, or are you yearning for a particular piece? Post a pic and join the conversation in the Comments below.
More
Browse more contemporary living rooms
And if you’re after a custom-made painting – the most traditional of artistic mediums – many companies and creatives take commissions for one-off or limited edition pieces, such as Drift by Megan Marks from Escape Artwork. Drift measures a commanding one metre in diameter and is part of an abstract series of circular artworks in fluid, inky tones.
See how the pink, aqua, black and white tones in the round wall art match the colours in the cushions, throw and sofa? One of the benefits of personalised art is the ability to match it to your interior.
Tell us
Do you have customised art at home, or are you yearning for a particular piece? Post a pic and join the conversation in the Comments below.
More
Browse more contemporary living rooms
The front door in this Sydney terrace has been artistically customised to depict district views of the site and its surrounding suburbs. Known as Forest Lodge ECO House, it is the creation of owner-builder Chris Knierim’s Designer Construction Group and Code Green.
Knierim sourced an image of Sydney’s Inner West, which was then embossed into the surface of the front door by Axolotl. The result is an aerial map featuring local streets, buildings, landmarks and waterways. As a finishing touch, the handle points north.