Great art needn't cost a fortune – these thrifty and creative ideas will have your home looking gallery-gorgeous without breaking the bank
Finding ‘that’ masterpiece for your home is not as daunting as you might think. It doesn’t have to be an artwork created by a master – it’s a work of art that you feel is a masterpiece. You do not have to know about fine art; you do not have to visit the most established art gallery; you do not have to spend a fortune; and you do not have to be an accomplished artist, stylist or photographer. ‘That’ masterpiece could be a painting, a sculpture, a series of photographs; an industrial installation, or a collection of craft work – it is highly personal and is something you respond to emotionally or connect with, bringing beauty or interest into your home.
Sometimes that masterpiece is right under your nose …
Armed with either a camera, your imagination, a good pair of walking shoes, a pencil and scissors, the desire to travel, or the passion for browsing craft and flea markets, you can find or create that masterpiece for your home. These ideas are sure to get your creative juices flowing.
Sometimes that masterpiece is right under your nose …
Armed with either a camera, your imagination, a good pair of walking shoes, a pencil and scissors, the desire to travel, or the passion for browsing craft and flea markets, you can find or create that masterpiece for your home. These ideas are sure to get your creative juices flowing.
Don’t cast away the scraps
Wallpaper scraps make a gentle and stylish art ensemble – they can be different designs but should be of a similar tone or colour throughout to hang together cohesively.
Here the theme is muted and neutral so the visual excitement is in the playful designs. This artwork works well in any room hung vertically or horizontally, as a mass hanging or just three.
Wallpaper scraps make a gentle and stylish art ensemble – they can be different designs but should be of a similar tone or colour throughout to hang together cohesively.
Here the theme is muted and neutral so the visual excitement is in the playful designs. This artwork works well in any room hung vertically or horizontally, as a mass hanging or just three.
Discover and support new artists
You don’t have to visit the most-talked about gallery for that feature painting – there are many pop-up galleries supporting new and emerging artists. Look out for art markets, festivals or open studios to discover a new artist who will be only too delighted to be ‘discovered’ by you.
You don’t have to visit the most-talked about gallery for that feature painting – there are many pop-up galleries supporting new and emerging artists. Look out for art markets, festivals or open studios to discover a new artist who will be only too delighted to be ‘discovered’ by you.
Browse for second-hand treats
Flea markets, auction houses or trash-and-treasure shops are full of glorious art surprises. Look out for old etchings, prints or photographs. Collect a variety of sizes and gilt frames and hang them salon-style, en masse for an elegant statement.
The key is that the artworks are of similar muted tones so that they hang together as a harmonious collection. This makes a space look established, one with a history to share.
Flea markets, auction houses or trash-and-treasure shops are full of glorious art surprises. Look out for old etchings, prints or photographs. Collect a variety of sizes and gilt frames and hang them salon-style, en masse for an elegant statement.
The key is that the artworks are of similar muted tones so that they hang together as a harmonious collection. This makes a space look established, one with a history to share.
Share the memories
Most of us have many megabytes of stored photographs. It’s time to make your digital memories more memorable.
A series of photographs adds maximum impact to a passage or hallway, and is a perfect art solution for those narrower spaces in your home. Pick out your favourite photographs and, in a simple image editor, give them the black-and-white treatment. Print out a selection of similar- sized ones – or crop to make them all identical in size. Visit a gift store for inexpensive white frames with wide white mount that will add weight to each photograph.
Hang the artworks 3-5cm apart, ensuring the surrounding spaces are equal – this allows for the collection to hang together as a whole. If you’re not confident with hanging, visit your local framer for a contact name or google ‘picture hanger’. The photos could be of your travels, of your children, family, in your home … the options are endless.
Most of us have many megabytes of stored photographs. It’s time to make your digital memories more memorable.
A series of photographs adds maximum impact to a passage or hallway, and is a perfect art solution for those narrower spaces in your home. Pick out your favourite photographs and, in a simple image editor, give them the black-and-white treatment. Print out a selection of similar- sized ones – or crop to make them all identical in size. Visit a gift store for inexpensive white frames with wide white mount that will add weight to each photograph.
Hang the artworks 3-5cm apart, ensuring the surrounding spaces are equal – this allows for the collection to hang together as a whole. If you’re not confident with hanging, visit your local framer for a contact name or google ‘picture hanger’. The photos could be of your travels, of your children, family, in your home … the options are endless.
Make an industrial art statement
Have your camera on-hand and visit an industrial area or part of town with old architecture. Look for a wall that is layered with multiple textures like this peeling paint and plaster. Take an image and then print onto a canvas and stretch or have it made into a wall decal.
Have your camera on-hand and visit an industrial area or part of town with old architecture. Look for a wall that is layered with multiple textures like this peeling paint and plaster. Take an image and then print onto a canvas and stretch or have it made into a wall decal.
Bring your travels home
Collecting items on one’s travels brings great joy – and choosing crafts that are handmade and indigenous to a country add a feeling of soul, authenticity, and natural warmth to a home.
African baskets are organic in nature so they don’t need to be hung symmetrically.
Collecting items on one’s travels brings great joy – and choosing crafts that are handmade and indigenous to a country add a feeling of soul, authenticity, and natural warmth to a home.
African baskets are organic in nature so they don’t need to be hung symmetrically.
Mirror your masterpiece
There’s no decorating rule that a masterpiece has to be a single element; and this masterpiece not only looks great but serves a practical function of reflecting light back into the room. Creating a collection means it is ever changing. What makes this work of art so eye-catching is that the frames are all different sizes and shapes, and of various materials and finishes.
Because they’re all white, they resemble a ‘whole.’ Get the look with old mirrors – source them in second-hand shops or have some made from recycled skirting boards or floorboards. Paint them up in gloss, matt, lime wash or milk paint. This artwork would also look great in another feature color for a room – black, dove grey, charcoal or turquoise, perhaps.
There’s no decorating rule that a masterpiece has to be a single element; and this masterpiece not only looks great but serves a practical function of reflecting light back into the room. Creating a collection means it is ever changing. What makes this work of art so eye-catching is that the frames are all different sizes and shapes, and of various materials and finishes.
Because they’re all white, they resemble a ‘whole.’ Get the look with old mirrors – source them in second-hand shops or have some made from recycled skirting boards or floorboards. Paint them up in gloss, matt, lime wash or milk paint. This artwork would also look great in another feature color for a room – black, dove grey, charcoal or turquoise, perhaps.
Art in animals
Of course, if you have children, their rooms are worthy of a masterpiece, too. Read their favorite animal stories with them to identify their most-loved creatures. Visit your local hardware or wallpaper outlet and ask for off-cuts. Practise your animal shape on scrap paper and then pencil it out in large on the wallpaper (lightly, so you can rub out any errors). Cut them out and paste them on the wall. You could have a few animals in the same wallpaper or chose a few different papers with the same color tones to add harmony to the room.
Of course, if you have children, their rooms are worthy of a masterpiece, too. Read their favorite animal stories with them to identify their most-loved creatures. Visit your local hardware or wallpaper outlet and ask for off-cuts. Practise your animal shape on scrap paper and then pencil it out in large on the wallpaper (lightly, so you can rub out any errors). Cut them out and paste them on the wall. You could have a few animals in the same wallpaper or chose a few different papers with the same color tones to add harmony to the room.