You’re undoubtedly excited about moving into your first apartment or house, but a majority of your time and money was probably spent on planning and completing the physical move. Now that you’re all moved in, you can get to some more creative stuff - like buying artwork (or supplies to make artwork) to fill up your blank walls.
Read on for some tips on purchasing or even making artwork to start giving your new home a personal touch.
Buying artwork to fit your budget
After a long and strenuous move, you may not have a lot of money at your disposal to invest in a high-end art collection for your home. More often than not, a lot of painting reproductions (famous or not) are overpriced. A small 8" x 10" painting of a pretty flower by a no-name artist can run anywhere from $30 to $50 in furniture or home décor stores - sometimes even more depending on the materials used to produce it.
If floral prints, inspirational quotes, photo prints or abstract art are some of the things you’re into, there are a few alternative routes you can take instead of sinking unnecessary money into higher-end furniture store items.
- Check discount home goods stores first. Many times, you can find local stores like Marshalls that have overstock of mass-produced canvas or photo prints that will be marked down. You should keep checking back as the seasons change, too, because many of those items will be offered at additional discounts. Clearance shelves at craft and hobby stores are also a good option to get some ready-made décor if you don’t have a ton of time to invest in any projects.
- Scope out yard sales. Of course, this could take time to find that perfect (and economical) piece or art you are looking for, but as you have just experienced, people who are moving sometimes desperately need to get rid of a lot of their belongings. You, on the other hand, can turn their trash into your treasure and find a great black and white photo print or a vintage painting for your living room for only a few dollars.
- Call or go to consignment stores. Although many consignment stores carry mostly used clothing and accessories, some also accept household goods. This will vary based on your location, but it doesn’t hurt to call a few and see if they have received any wall décor items. If so, you could come away with some beautiful sconces or picture frames for a fraction of retail price.
Get creative
You may not be artistically inclined to produce full masterpieces, but you can piece together various items you find to create something beautiful. It may take a little time for your vision to come together, but when it does, you’ll be happy you made the effort. Here are a few suggestions:
- Found an old dingy picture frame at a yard sale? Add a little elbow grease to remove the rust. Next, figure out what you’d like to frame. Into black and white photography? Everyone can be a photographer these days with a smart phone - you can download a photo editing app and get good quality prints done at your local copy store. Frame the print, and now you have an elegant wall piece for your dining room.
- There are photo-to-canvas websites popping up everywhere. All you have to do is upload your favorite photo from your computer, do a little bit of editing on easy-to-use-software, and you can order a canvas for your bedroom or living room - choose from a variety of sizes, finishes and prices. You should also be on the look out for online coupons for these websites, especially the ones just starting out - they need your business!
- Got a garden? Cut a few of your favorite flowers and press them between the pages of an old book for a few days to let them dry out. Once they are flat and dry, you can frame them and adorn your walls with a nice, DIY floral motif.
- If you are decent with paint (or even if you’re not), you can try to go full-on Jackson Pollock. Get a blank canvas, a few different color paints and brushes, and head outside (this is ideal, but you can go anywhere you don’t mind getting paint splattered all over). Dip your brushes or palette knives into the paint and have fun flinging the paint at the canvas. Once you’ve created the pattern you want, let it dry and have it framed to add a crisp border around your newly-made artwork.
- If you have a glass top coffee table that has a place to hold items underneath, you can collect small trinkets to place under the glass to create a themed scene (e.g. nautical trinkets and sand). Even if your table doesn’t have glass, a few coats of varnish can embed some eye-catching "art" right into your table.
In terms of DIY projects, your options are endless, especially if you have an artistic eye. But even if you don’t, you can search the internet for some inspiration before beginning any projects. Think outside the box and purchase items you wouldn’t necessarily think could be "art" - old skeleton keys, coat hooks, buttons, bottle caps, wine corks, etc. Chances are, you’ll be able to find a way to turn these items into some kind of small mural, for example. With a little time and an open mind, you’ll have your new home decorated in no time!