We run into the best and simplest ideas time and again. They always make us take a second look. What they have in common is their simplicity, their elegance and the way they can take junk, add it to chaos and form something riveting...still. Take the idea of using frames on your wall, as seen in PaperNStitch's photos from the Apartment Therapy LA Group Pool...
Using Empty Frames: A Classic Idea That Still Works
Walk around LA, browse your local flea market, rummage through someone's garage and chances are you'll find an empty frame or two or three. Yeah, you could go through the trouble of getting glass fit, finding just the right piece of art to go with it, blah blah blah or you could just put it up on the wall, framing something, framing nothing as the spirit moves you. It's the frames that become the art. It's simple, it's inexpensive and it always works. Need a focal point in a room and don't have a lot of cash to work with, try it. Alternate idea: once you have all the frames hung, paint them to match your wall colour or paint them all a strong contrasting colour.
For more of PaperNStitch's (aka Danielle's) simple but elegant home, click here
Share your photos with us on Apartment Therapy LA's Group Pool
[image: PaperNStitch, from the Apartment Therapy LA Group Pool]
Comments (12)
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Please stop encouraging people to decorate by hanging rectangles. It is really not nearly so intelligent nor mysterious as some people seem to believe. Stop the insanity, Apartment Therapy- cease dispensing such horrid and irresponsible advice as suggesting that hanging rectangles is a refined art form utilised by persons with superior intellect living in elegant spaces.
view verano's profile
I loathe this idea. I just think it looks junky, or like you don't know what to put in the frame. sorry, thumbs down.
view my little apartment's profile
If you do it right, it looks fabulous. Someone needs to get a little less snoody and a little more creative...
view hillaryanne22's profile
I'm not snooty, this just isn't creative. it's hanging empty frames and filling them with junk. the only time I've actually liked this idea for a cheap DIY is when it was used to frame coat hooks.
http://mylittleapartment.blogspot.com/2009/06/shes-crafty.html
still...it just looks...college-y.
view my little apartment's profile
Wow, so much anger. These are better than many other empty frame set-ups I've seen.
Emily
view Emily Sneds's profile
Yeah, people are getting just as fired up about empty picture frames as they do about art on the floor and using old drawers as shelving.
It's a cute idea, I probably would never do it because I'm too safe but I agree with Hillary Anne that if you do it right, it would probably look ab-fab.
view clampers's profile
I think the images posted look really nice.
view Hollie's profile
I'm almost scared to post this... but I love the empty frame look! And it doesn't have to be rectangles!
For me it's been an interesting collection to scout for at junk markets, and a very inexpensive way to completely fill a blank wall.
I'd love your feedback:
http://shockthebourgeois.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-shockingly-domestic-life.html
view shockthebourgeois's profile
"A classic idea that still works"
...for some but not for others. I'm on the "other" team.
view Seaside's profile
I like the red paint, which personalizes this a lot. Thanks for this great glimpse into a real person's home.
And people, if you don't like the idea, try to be a little nicer about it. This is someone's house, not a magazine spread.
view Cheryl's profile
Hmmm. Well, if it's comments you're looking for, I'll just say "not for me."
view mirandabee's profile
I have too much art for empty frames! Still a collection of small, elaborate frames, painted in the same color, can add some interest to a wall, if that's a look one likes.
view dianalily's profile