By Nikki Phipps
Enhance and enliven your home or office with your own unique wall art. There are countless ways to create artwork. All that’s required is a little imagination.
Take your favorite pictures, magazine cutouts, postcards from family vacations, menus, greeting cards, etc. to create a collage. This usually works best if you choose a theme. For instance, my mother has a huge collection of pigs, so many in fact she had to create a ‘pig room.’ On one wall, she put together a beautiful collage filled with all of her pig pictures, including those that my siblings and I drew for her when we were kids. This is not only a great way to show off your favorite collectibles but it can also liven up dull areas, turning them into attractive assets of the home. This is also a great way to showcase your children’s artwork over the years. Create three-dimensional artwork with mementos such as old photographs, family heirlooms, or even interesting yard-sale finds. With only a few items, you can create an elaborate display. Simply attach a frame (without glass) to the wall. Use small nails to hang objects such as keys or jewelry inside the frame. Use double-backed mounting tape for hanging other items such as pictures and pieces of fabric.
For the home office, attach 12-inch corkboard squares to the wall around your desk (keeping it at eye level) using a suitable adhesive. Add some decorative wallpaper border along the top and bottom. You now have a functional, yet appealing, bulletin board for placing all your important reminders and other relevant items. Corkboard can also be used in the older kids’ room. For a more decorative look, paint them with brilliant colors. Kids can then add their favorite pictures, notes, and artwork to the wall neatly and easily. For younger children, consider using chalkboard slate or washable paint to create artful borders that they can actually draw on and wipe clean. Alternatively, you can try using ready-to-color borders as well.
Decoupage is not just for small objects or furniture. Try it on the wall with decorative prints from catalogs, old books, and magazines. Use matching wallpaper border to complement your chosen prints. Test out your design by taping it to the wall. Once you find something you like, apply them to the wall with wallpaper paste or decoupage adhesive using a small sponge. If you’re not into the whole glue thing, why not use decorative tacks instead. Add decorative frames around your prints if desired. You can also accent them with fancy trims using a hot-glue gun. With prints, you can do almost anything. For instance, group them together to create an interesting focal point or use them as borders for an entire room.
Another idea for creating interesting wall art is by using various crates or even old drawers. Arrange them in rows and stack them up. For tall stacks, you may need to secure them to the wall studs with bolts or screws. Once you have created your new ‘wall’, fill it in with artwork, books, photos, plants, etc.