Easy and Inexpensive Artwork
DIY Wall Decor on a Budget
Have you been looking for a unique way to style up your walls but find the cookie cutter artwork available at your local store a bit boring, not to mention costly? This project allows you to customize your art to your personal tastes and is easily interchangeable.
Materials You will Need
- Heavy duty stapler
- Art canvases in various sizes
- Fabric
- Scissors
- Tape measure
- Staple remover
Selecting Your Canvas
First you will need to decide how much space you have for artwork. You don’t want to overcrowd your wall so be sure to take measurements before you purchase your materials. You’ll find countless sizes of blank canvases in the art department, often on sale. Select the number of canvases you need, making sure that once grouped they won‘t exceed the available space. Be certain to purchase the box style canvases with wood frames. Go ahead and mix square and rectangular shapes. You‘ll be creating a cohesive look with the fabric. You may want to skip the round canvases until you get the hang of the technique.
Choosing the Fabric
To find your fabric, take a stroll through your local fabric store, thrift shop or even the hobby store where you purchased the canvases. Look for colors that match your current décor. Don’t be afraid to mix and match patterns, depending on the look you are going for. Bold flower prints work with stripes and even plaids. As long as each fabric has a unifying color they will compliment each other. For a modern look choose black and white fabrics with bold hints of color. Experiment with texture as well. Mix velvet with cotton, silk, or corduroy. The sky is the limit. Be sure to purchase enough fabric to cover each canvas with at least 4-5 inches of extra fabric on all sides.
Putting Your Materials to Work
- Measure your canvases and decide which fabrics will cover each. Cut the coordinating fabric 2 inches larger than the canvases. This extra material will be stretched and stapled to the wood frame on the back of the canvases.
- Lay your fabric print side down on a flat surface and place the first canvas face down and centered over the fabric.
- Grip the edge of fabric closest to you and pull it taut over the canvas. Pulling tight, staple each end into the wood frame, and two more near the center, making sure there are no gaps or loose pieces. It may take some trial and error to get the fabric smooth. If you notice any wrinkles, just remove the staple and try again.
- Grip the fabric at the opposite end of the canvas and wrap accordingly. You may want to stand the canvas upright with the front facing you to make sure you have the fabric pulled tight, leaving no wrinkles. Think of it as wrapping a present, you’re looking for a snug fit.
- Continue to pull taut and staple each remaining side as noted in step 3. When wrapping the last two sides, you will be folding the fabric over itself. If you keep it nice and tight there shouldn’t be any lumps or loose fabric.
- Review your work. Feel free to remove staples and adjust the material as necessary until you achieve a clean look. Use the scissors to cut away any excess fabric on the back, but make sure you don’t cut too close to the staples or the fabric may tear or pull loose from the staples.
- Once you have your canvases covered, lay them out on the floor in different arrangements until you find one you like. Use the hanging method of your choice to install your artwork.
This is an easy, inexpensive and custom artwork project that can be altered to match your changing décor with just a quick trip to the fabric store.
DIY Artwork
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