Affordable Wall Art That Isn’t Boring: A Home Decorating Guide
Photos By Christa Tippmann Unless Noted
Let’s face it: blank walls can feel intimidating.
I know you’ve been staring at that expanse of prime decorating real estate for awhile and since you can’t decide what to do… you’ve done nothing.
You know a small picture isn’t going to cut it, but have you seen the cost of large wall art lately?!? And the thought of buying something from a big box store (the same one 3 of your friends also have) doesn’t feel like a good fit either. What’s a girl to do?
Well I have some good news for you. You don’t need a hefty budget to transform your walls into something special that makes your house feel like a home.
I know a few tricks… and I’m about to share some designer favorite ways to add a little interest to your walls. This guide explores creative and affordable ways to introduce warmth, personality, and soul into your home using budget-friendly art (maybe even some things you already have lying around your house!).
This post is perfect for those who want to add personality to their space without breaking the bank. If you’re sick of staring at boring blank walls- read on!
Affordable Wall Art Option # 1
Mementos
Let’s begin with one of the quickest ways to make your home feel intimate and personal. Include decor that has personal significance for you. Mementos can be anything! Here are a few examples:
- Family Photos
- Travel Photos/Images of Significant Places
- Stickers
- Ticket Stubs
- Handwritten Letters/Recipes/Notes
- Playbills
- Significant Album Covers
- Awards and Certificates
- Kids’ Art
The great thing about displaying mementos is that every time you see that item you will most likely smile as you remember a special time of life and the memories you made. What’s better to surround yourself with than that?
How I Personally Use Mementos In My Home Styling
When we travel, I’m always on the lookout for souvenirs that can become art. Tiny trinkets tend to just get shoved into a drawer, but if you can hang it on the wall somewhere you’re much more likely to see it and enjoy it in the long term.
In our house we started collecting a sticker everywhere we go. When we return home from travelling, it goes on our garage fridge. When I go to grab a pound of frozen hamburger on a boring Tuesday, I am met with a cheerful, colorful reminder of how blessed we’ve been and all the happy times our family has spent travelling together.
I also:
- Hang a small pennant flag in my son’s room for every baseball stadium we visit.
- Purchase handmade art from markets and street vendors to add to my gallery wall (read more about that in a minute).
- Save cool hotel keys and tack them to my office pinboard.
Truly, anything that reminds you of a special person or place can become art if you use your imagination!
Affordable Wall Art Tip # 1: Make It Black And White!
If you have a large collection of mementos displayed in one place, consider making them more cohesive by focusing on a chic black and white scheme.
- Source free or inexpensive high-resolution images online (with proper licensing!). Canva has some great free options!
- Use photo editing software (available on most digital printing services) to convert family photos to black and white before printing.
- Scan kids art using a printer scanner or an app like CamScanner (not sponsored, just love and use this app a lot!) and apply a black and white filter to the photo of the art if the colors of the art you’d like to display don’t match your home’s color palette.
Affordable Wall Art Tip # 2: Frame It!
Framing your mementos makes them seem more cohesive and intentional, especially when displayed as part of a grouping.
- Vintage frames add character. Find old frames at flea markets and repurpose!
- Classic black or wood frames are timeless. See the black and white photos below? They’ve been in those frames in our house for over 15 years and still look fresh.
- Large gallery mats can increase the size of smaller items/photos and elevate the look of your art. You can purchase these premade or take them to a local framing or craft store to create a custom size mat as big as you want!
Affordable Wall Art Option # 2
Murals
A mural can dramatically change a room’s feel. You don’t need to be a professional artist; consider using stencils, a projector (ask if any friends have one you can borrow!), or even a freehand design!
This is a fun and easy DIY project that packs a huge design punch. For a truly budget-friendly approach, get creative with paint you already own (it probably already matches the colors in your home). You usually only need about a pint of paint for a small mural.
Affordable Wall Art Tip # 3: DIY a wall mural design on Canva.
- Use free graphic design templates (I like to look at the LOGO templates on Canva for murals) to create a design for your mural. Choose something simple.
- Next, project the digital image from a phone or computer onto the wall.
- Finally, trace the projected image lightly with pencil. Paint the outlines with a small paintbrush and fill in with a larger one. DONE!
Affordable Wall Art Option # 3
Gallery Wall
Gallery walls are a fantastic way to showcase a collection of smaller, collected pieces. Mix and match frames (again, thrift stores are your friend!), black and white photos, colourful prints, postcards, small paintings, the sky is the limit!
Affordable Wall Art Tip # 4: The key to creating a cohesive feel is to keep one element consistent. This could be a color palette, a frame color, or a theme (mine consists mostly of landscapes).
I am building the gallery wall shown below out over time. I started with what I had available to me, and now when I’m out thrifting I am on the lookout for any other landscape pieces that might fit. If I need to reframe something, I will. And then I’ll hang it on the perimeter of the grouping. I plan to keep collecting until the entire stair wall is full.
Affordable Wall Art Option # 4
Typography
I have always loved words on the printed page and as I have grown older I have realized that they can be even MORE powerful when incorporated into your home design.
I’m not talking about generic word art from big box stores. I’m talking about phrases that have personal meaning to you and align with the intentions you have for yourself. Displaying a favorite song lyric, a personal mantra, an important affirmation, or some other meaningful message is a great way to express yourself on the walls of your home.
Typography in decor can take many forms. It could be a mural, a framed poster, a postcard tacked onto the fridge, or even a custom metal or neon sign. It could be a collection of vintage typewriter keys or an old sign.
In general, I would steer clear of mass-produced word art (although there are some artists who do it well); this is more about making a unique personal statement so think about choosing something that is uniquely YOU (not something trendy).
Affordable Wall Art Option # 5
Thrifted Art
Thrift stores, flea markets, and antique shops are treasure troves of affordable art. You can often find unique paintings, prints, and framed pieces at incredibly low prices. Don’t be afraid to choose pieces that you love, even if they’re not perfect. A little touch-up or new, modern frame can transform an ordinary piece into a unique gem.
Affordable Wall Art Option # 6
Not-Art
My next tip is this: don’t limit yourself to flat art! Think in 3-D…
A vintage flag, a collection of hats, or a curated display of colourful scarves can be mounted on the wall to add texture and depth. This is a perfect way to display personal items while adding visual interest.
Affordable Wall Art Option # 7
Wall Shelves + Organizers
These don’t just add storage; they’re a design element in themselves!
Truly, a simple wall unit creates a focal point and allows you to display your favorite items like books, plants, or small decorative objects.
This is about showcasing what matters to you and keeping things nice and tidy while you’re at it!
Affordable Wall Art Option # 8
DIY Art
Even if you don’t consider yourself to be creative, there are lots of ways to play around with the supplies you have around your house to create DIY wall art!
Here are a few projects to try:
- Splatter old house paint on a canvas (you can even cover up old canvas art you’ve tired of).
- Place pressed flowers from the garden between the panes of a glass frame.
- Make a collage or pretty vision board and display as motivation/inspiration.
- Make your own digital art on CANVA, print it on canvas, and hang using a poster hanging kit.
- Check out this HGTV article for more fun ideas!
Affordable Wall Art Option # 9
Pinboards
A large pinboard or whiteboard is more than just a functional item; it’s a creative canvas. Use it to display inspirational quotes, travel memories, and photos. You can change it up regularly to reflect your mood and interests.
In the following video, I show you how I made my HUGE office pinboard using inexpensive foam insulation board from a home improvement store, a staple gun, and some clearance upholstery fabric from the craft store.
Affordable Wall Art Option # 10
Mirrors
Mirrors not only make a room feel larger and brighter, but they can also be beautiful design elements themselves.
Find affordable mirrors at thrift stores or home décor shops. This is one place where I would say DEFINITELY check out mass retailers like Target or HomeGoods- they usually have great mirrors at affordable prices.
They’re a great way to sneak in a little extra storage! Check out a similar version here.
Another easy way to fill up a large space is to cluster a group of 3 or 5 mirrors together. You can do a matching set, like this one or cluster mirrors with interesting textural frames for an affordable wall art solution with tons of personality.
time to start your own collection of affordable wall art!
Hopefully this article has given you a fresh perspective and opened up your mind to a few new ways to approach decorating your walls. All of these affordable wall art ideas are flexible and so easy to tailor to your unique lifestyle, tastes and budget.
Which idea was your favorite? I’d love to hear from you or see any pictures of your own wall art displays.
If you found this article to be helpful, you might like to learn more about my Easy 5-Step Decorating System . It’s a simple, repeatable framework that you can follow to approach just about any home decor or organizing project in your home. No more wondering, “Where should I start?”
Thank you so much for reading!
xoxo,
