Brilliant IKEA Hacks for Big Blank Walls
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Finding affordable art that you actually like is one of the hardest parts of furnishing a home. And once you finally find the pieces, you realize that frames cost even more than the art itself (yikes!). As per usual, IKEA (combined with brilliant bloggers around the web) saves the day with wall decor DIYs and art-hanging hacks that are totally within budget. You can kiss those blank walls buh-bye.
IKEA Hackers turned $3 metal AGLOT shelves into a giant structure for colorful stitched patterns. Find some inspiration in this collection of cool cross-stitch installations.
You already know that IKEA is the go-to for affordable side tables and bookcases, but did you also know it’s one of our favorite sources for fabric? The stylists at Livet Hemma turned a length of their NATTGLIM fabric into an abstract wall hanging that looks many times more expensive than the total cost of the project.
A new way to play with the LATTJO hula hoop: Use it as a frame for a whimsical wall hanging. Visit Livet Hemma for the supplies needed to assemble the one above.
If you’re in the mood for some paint slinging, Raising Hill‘s Jackson Pollack-inspired splatter painting project doubles as art therapy. And the unexpected canvas underneath? A STAVE mirror, lightly sanded so the paint will adhere.
A painted wall mural hides a set of IVAR cabinets in plain sight. If you don’t trust your prowess with a paintbrush, Domino recommends covering the cabinets with graphic wallpaper (like these awesome animal-print designs).
One of the easiest ways to transform photo prints or cheap posters into art worthy of your wall is to suspend them from BUMERANG pants hangers, as Ladies & Gentlemen Studio did above. At a buck each, these trouser clips build the most affordable gallery wall around.
The honeycomb arrangement of HONEFOSS hexagonal mirrors ($30 for 10 pieces) are impressive in their own right, but homeowner Sara took the design one step further by laser engraving them with words and phrases. To imitate the look without investing in a machine, follow The Every Day Project‘s guide to etching these pretty mirrors.
For a wall accent you can switch up on a whim, throw down 5 bucks for the MALA drawing paper roll and hang it (with either a dispenser or even with just twine). The blank canvas is yours to fill with hand-lettered messages, that evening’s menu, or simple sketches.
In the studio of graphic designer Lindsay Stetson Thompson, featured on Eva Black Design, a couple DIGNITET curtain wires transform a hodgepodge of photos, color swatches and typography into a laid-back riff on the gallery wall.
Re-edited from a post originally published 1.30.17