Make your own wall coverings, groupings, or artwork by gathering and showcasing vintage finds and collectibles.
Metal LP cover frames are just the right size and depth for framing graceful vintage handkerchiefs. Frame a series of them in a symmetrical grid for high-impact artwork.
Old plates, platters, and decorative trivets some with glued-in mirrored shapes, make unexpectedly compelling wall decor. The white silhouettes look particularly chic hanging against the leaf-pattern wallpaper.
Hang a framed collection of vintage flash cards in an entry, grouped along a stairwell, or down a hallway.
The possibilities for interesting combinations of flash cards are endless. Have fun pairing up phrases or creating quotes and switch them out from time to time or with the seasons.
To create a gallery effect on the wall and bring more color to the corner, add an asymmetrical arrangement of wallpaper artwork and a framed clock to the left of a larger, anchoring piece over a sofa.
Change up the artwork in seconds with a different pattern—or print a black and white photo right over the top of the patterned paper! A sheet of colorful Japanese wrapping paper or a piece of fabric in a geometric or floral pattern would do the job as well.
Shop for interesting picture frames at yard sales, flea markets, antique stores, thrift shops, and more. Empty frames are fine. Ugly inserts can be removed.
Go for shape, size and style, the rest can be fixed with a coat of paint and some sandpaper.
Frames-in-frames have an unfussy look. Try three of them in one shape, or
place a square within a rectangle, finished with a tiny oval or circle.
Whether you use a basket, tray or breadboard, hang one unexpected item. You can paint it or adorn it as you would the rest of your frames. A mirror works too.
Create a colorful grouping and add pattern to a large wall with pretty fabric scraps or quilting remnants. Stretch the fabrics on varied sizes of old wooden embroidery hoops, trim off the excess fabric, and secure on the interior of the inside hoop with double-sided tape.
Salvaged wood and old valve handles lend support to framed pictures over a headboard. Painted or left to its rustic glory, the wood plank brings texture to the wall while the valve handles, screwed from the back into the plank provide a sense of rhythm and a touch of color.
Framed photos (pretty postcards or patterned paper would work, too) dangle from tied ribbon that matches your palette.
An artwork can guide your entire room’s color scheme. This antique quilt not only fills the wall with color and pattern, it suggested a palette of green and red for the dining room and was the jumping off point for the tone-on-tone stenciled wall.
The faded blue notes provided another color cue for accents, while a solid sideboard in warm antiqued gold offers a spot for the eye to rest amid the many patterns.
The art of arranging relies on thoughtful placement. Old shutters support a textural trio of framed objects set in a triangle shape that directs attention to the crowning glory of the grouping: a vintage fedora.
Family heirlooms don’t need to be expensive, just meaningful. Here, inherited costume jewelry and a father’s favorite hat personalize a display created from old frames and architectural salvage.
Shutter Wall designed by blogger Laura Durrer at Oliveandlove.com
Here’s how to decorate an entire dining room wall with discarded shutters, as designed by blogger Laura Durrer at Oliveandlove.com:
- Collect shutters in different sizes.
- Come up with a color scheme. You can go neutral and monochrome or come up with a colorful palette.
- Clean all dust and grime off the shutters and remove the hardware. Split double shutters into two separate ones, which are easier to work with.
- Don’t sand in order to retain character.
- Paint the shutters. For a weathered look, dilute the paint with water and use a rag finish.
- Measure and cut slats of OSB plywood to create a support frame for the shutters on the wall. (OSB plywood is made to bear heavier loads.)
- Attach horizontal 4-6 inch slats a foot apart on the wall with support studs. Ensure they are strong enough to hold the weight of the shutters.
- Arrange and mount the shutters, like a jigsaw. You may need to trim some of them or hang others horizontally to cover the wall.
- Keep odd cuts of wood for filling in gaps when you’re done with the larger pieces.
© Caruth Studio