How to Make Wall Decor

Wall decor does not require a designer label or a professional artist's touch to transform your room. Making your own wall decor sets it apart from generic accessories that have no personal connection with you. Wall decor does more than beautify your surroundings. It can spark conversations, set a color or design theme for a room, brighten an overlooked space or accent other shapes, colors and textures in the room.

Things You'll Need

• Paint
• Paintbrush
• Canvas
• Frame
• Shadowbox
• Floating shelf
• Table easel
• Hanging hardware
• Hammer
• Nails
• Fabric
• Glue

Instructions

1. Beautify a room by making the wall itself the decor. You can do a simple accent wall in a brilliant hue such as lime green, poppy orange, sunshine yellow, periwinkle, cobalt or turquoise. You also might opt to use stencils or wall decals to add graphics to an accent wall. According to Martha Stewart, geometric designs can add modern edge, while more traditional patterns add classic style. Try a trim along the baseboards of ethnic motifs or paisley, or center your design on the wall and go with something bold, like a nature silhouette or a cityscape.

2. Add dimension with architectural elements. One of the more dramatic ways to create dramatic wall decor is to use lightweight plaster relief or wooden trim with raised or engraved designs. Try an ornate ceiling medallion, centered on your wall or over a fireplace mantel. Elaborate sconces can support a floating shelf or, if they have a wide enough top, can serve as pedestals for sculptures, candles or vases. Arches add drama over windows, door frames or fireplaces. These elements look heavy but actually do not weigh much; you should not need more than nails, glue or a thin coat of plaster to attach them to the wall.

3. Create artwork to adorn your walls. You can paint a shadowbox or an old desk drawer, line it with velvet and place an eye-catching tableau inside such as shells, coral and sea glass, souvenirs from world travels, a family photograph surrounded by cloth flowers or a collection of retro toys. Another simple way to add color and patterns to your wall is by covering a canvas with fabric that has an interesting pattern, stapling down the edges along the back and hanging it.

4. Protect your wall art to ensure its longevity. If you have a delicate print, framing it with archival materials and protective glass keeps it from fading or staining. Family heirlooms and antiques do better outside the path of direct sunlight. If you create a painting or collage, allow it to dry thoroughly and then add one or two layers of matte medium to protect the surface.

Tips & Warnings

• Emphasize your wall decor by propping it on a floating shelf, table easel or pedestal.

• Do not match the patterns in your wall decor exactly with the patterns on your upholstery or walls. Wall art should stand out from its surroundings.

References

• HGTV: Do-It-Yourself Decor
• Martha Stewart: Making a Mark