Make Your Bare Walls Disappear with This 20-Minute Exercise
Apartment Therapy’s January Cure is a free 20-day program all about loving on your home and preparing yourself and your space for the new year. Sign up now to get daily lessons sent straight to your inbox!
Nothing makes a house feel like a home quite like hanging up artwork. It simultaneously does two things to liven up your space.
First, it covers up a bare wall — removing a bit of that “just moved in” energy that makes some rooms feel cold. At the same time, that artwork adds a bit of you to the room as well — lovingly chosen art reflects who you are and what you personally find to be beautiful.
So let’s hang some art! Today’s assignment is open-ended, because everyone has different realities. You might have artwork waiting to be hung up — rolled up posters or a small stack of prints — and you just need the nudge to get it done. Or maybe you’ll benefit more from the reminder that there’s artwork everywhere, if you’re willing to look, just waiting to be pulled out from some drawer or closet or cranny and given the place of honor it deserves.
Let’s get started!
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Day 11: Find and frame some art.
Find something you’d like to display in your home, then take whatever steps you need to get it framed and hung.
The art you choose is totally up to you — the only qualification is that it should be something that will make you happy. It can be a piece you’ve had and loved for a while, but you’ve been dragging your feet when it comes to the part where you actually get it on the wall. Or it can be something you choose specifically for this assignment — whether that’s a new print you ring up online, or a treasured thing (menu, ticket stub, scarf) that you decide you’d like to frame and display. The important part is that you should love it and really want to use it to add some warmth, beauty and individuality to your space.
Once you’ve found your art, the next part is to take whatever steps you need to frame it, if you want to. Measure your piece. If you already have a frame that fits, or can find one locally and quickly, that’s great. If you prefer to have it custom framed, that’s great too — send it out or make the order today. (If you’re OK with acrylic instead of glass, I’ve found Frame it Easy to be fast and affordable.)
The last thing I’d like you to do today is a bit intangible, but just as important: Make a commitment today that once your artwork is framed and ready, you’ll hang it up right away. This assignment is all about surrounding yourself with things that make you happy, and make your four walls feel like home.
If your art is something like a pennant or wall hanging (or you already have it framed, or you prefer not to frame it), you get to skip the framing step and just get it up on the wall today. How’s that for immediate gratification?
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More Ways to Participate in the January Cure:
- Sign up for email updates
- Visit the 2022 January Cure page and catch up on assignments
- Download the January Cure calendar
- Join the Apartment Therapy Cure Facebook group