DAVID HILLEGAS
Almost every home has a “what should I put there?” spot. Here are a dozen ideas to help you answer that question. Give your walls something to talk about with these super clever and creative how-tos that incorporate collections, paint, wallpaper scraps, books, and even bundt pans!
1. Oversize Quilt Square
A large-scale piece of painted plywood lends graphic punch to any space. First, cut a piece of plywood to desired size (ours is four feet square). Draw a quilt block (here, Twin Star–style) on the wood with pencil, using a ruler or painter’s tape for straight lines, then paint with acrylic paint. Nail strips of 1/2-inch trim along the edges to finish. Lean or hang on the wall.
DAVID HILLEGAS
2. Basket Art
A bevy of baskets brings ample texture to a room. Using nails, hang a larger basket in the middle, then surround with smaller baskets in a circular or starburst pattern.
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3. Spoon Display
Wooden spoons come in many sizes, shapes, and colors, making them the perfect ombre kitchen art. To assemble, cut a piece of plywood to the desired size and paint. Lay spoons in a light-to-dark pattern on the wood, and use a pencil to mark a spot on both sides of each spoon, typically just below the bowl. Remove spoons, and drill holes at markings. Working with one spoon at a time, loop fine-gauge wire over the handle and through the holes; twist together wire ends behind the wood to secure. Repeat until complete, then hang.
DAVID HILLEGAS
4. Clipboard Frames
When it comes to gallery walls, frames can get expensive. For this arrangement, simply clip prints to vintage clipboards. Thread a piece of leather jewelry cord under the clip, knot it at the top, and hang with a pushpin.
DAVID HILLEGAS
5. Trip Mementos
Memorialize a vacation, hiking excursion, rowing adventure, or road trip by outlining the route traversed with ribbon or twine on a new or vintage map. Hold both options in place on the map with hot-glue.
DAVID HILLEGAS
6. Nature Silhouettes
Start by collecting leaves and thin-stemmed branches. Lay them on 11-by-14-inch canvas boards. Use a round foam stencil brush to paint around the leaves with acrylic paint, covering the canvas. Remove leaves, and allow boards to dry. Use white paint for any touch-ups. Frame as desired.
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7. Chalk Wall Calendar
Keep everyone in the loop with an entryway wall calendar. Use painter’s tape (we used a 1/2-inch-wide roll) to tape off a 35-square grid to desired size, as well as two rectangles, as shown. Paint with acrylic chalkboard paint (we used Behr’s Interior Chalk Decorative Paint). Once dry, remove tape, and touch up any rough edges. Tie a length of twine around a piece of chalk, knot end, and hang on wall with a pushpin.
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8. String Art
Gussy up the laundry room or a kids’ bath with appropriate words like “wash” or “splash.” Start by cutting out letters from craft paper. Mark nail holes with a pencil on the wall using the letters as a guide. Hammer copper nails into the wall, and wrap nails with lengths of assorted-colored thick yarn.
DAVID HILLEGAS
9. Baking Display
A collection of colorful vintage Bundt pans in assorted shapes lends retro flair to a kitchen or pantry wall. Bonus: You can take ’em down and use them as needed.
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10. Salvaged Window Tic-Tac-Toe
Hang a vintage or new nine-pane window frame. Add galvanized X’s and O’s, and let the games begin.
DAVID HILLEGAS
11. Bold Wallpaper Blooms
Transform wallpaper remnants into floating flowers. Trace and cut out 8 to 12 (depending on sizes) petals on backs of wallpaper remnants. Pinch together one end of each petal, and secure with hot-glue. Once dry, glue petals together in a circle. Secure to wall with pushpins.
Get the step-by-step how-to: How to Make Wallpaper Flowers
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12. Lively Library
Arrange books in a fun, slightly haphazard pattern, putting heavy-duty nails or staples through the back covers to secure. For extra texture, hold some pages open with string or fishing line.
Charlyne Mattox is Food and Crafts Director for Country Living.