Wall décor is what makes a room your room. Your wall décor defines the vibe of your apartment and is not something that you buy or create in haste. That being said, if you want to fill your living area with some things that reflect your life experiences and style without breaking the bank, you're going to need to learn a few things about budget wall décor.
Enjoy the expert tips laid out below and figure out how to find or create the budget wall décor that will give your apartment that bespoke look you've been looking for.
If you want to create a big impact on a small budget, head to your local art or craft store and buy an extra-large box canvas along with some acrylic paints in your favorite colors," explains Emily, an interior designer and blogger based out of the U.K.
“When you have some free time, you can start to get creative and create your own colorful piece of modern art."
This isn't a strictly individual pursuit. Emily recommends that you, “Get the whole family involved and experiment using different items to create lines and patterns on the canvas."
“Once it's dry, hang it on your wall, and you will have a unique piece of statement art for the price of a takeaway!"
If you're not the artsiest person in your family, try a more structured approach to creativity. Paint-by-numbers kits and adult coloring books are ideal for relaxation and great for display if you're proud of the outcome. Throw their affordability on top of all that and these structured art guides make for a fun activity and fantastic pieces of décor.
“My go-to fix for a dull wall that needs brightening up is most definitely imitation gold leaf," says Rachel from the interior design blog, Raspberry Flavoured Windows.
She goes on to explain, “Affordable and yet amazingly effective, gold leaf adds not only a touch of luxury and glamor to your home but it's easy to apply and enjoyable, too."
Rachel suggests that you, “Use it to create a feature wall or go bold with color blocking, either work. It's also a great way to frame your favorite pieces of art too."
Interior designer Michele Rose, of Designs by Michele Rose, offered an easy DIY project which creates a focal point, adds a splash of color and a wow factor to any room. Warning, this DIY décor tip will take a little more effort than applying a few command strips to a wall and attaching a framed poster from college.
“After hanging two wrought iron wall hangings on two dining room walls, I applied strips of painter's tape (specially designed to keep paint from seeping under the tape) directly to the walls in equal size rectangular shapes around the decorative items. I removed the wrought iron items and then used a putty knife to adhere the tape to the wall really well. I painted the background with a contrasting color and used bright white paint for the framework."
“Then, I carefully removed the tape while the paint was still wet to keep the lines nice and straight. Later, when the paint was dried, I rehung the two oversized metal tropical wall décor pieces back on the walls."
“Voilà! The two faux picture frames made a big impact, yet it only cost pennies on the dollar."
Another great way to make your walls pop without making your bank account drop is by displaying antique arched window frames on your wall. You can find these items at interior design boutiques and antique stores everywhere. This simple and elevated method to making your apartment walls more appealing takes almost no time and requires little to no DIY/crafting capability.
You know those books that have been in a box in the corner for five years? Well, those unread beauties are timeless wall displays just waiting to happen. From floating shelves to seamless built-ins to easy-to-assemble offerings from the big box stores, there's no shortage of methods to beautifully display books and eat up empty wall space.
Short on books? Most major cities and many towns hold used book fairs throughout the year. These provide a great opportunity to build your personal library without breaking the bank in the process.
“If you are on a budget and looking for ideas on wall décor, I have a simple way you can make your own wall décor for just a few dollars," explains Sherry Patchoski of The Crafty Decorator.
“First, find some thin cotton tea towels with pictures or sayings that will go with your home décor. Next, you will need art canvases in the sizes of your choice and some mod podge.
If you have a tough time tracking down supplies, Sherry notes that “Dollar Tree sells 8 by 10 canvases and you can find beautiful tea towels at Home Goods, Marshalls and Tjmaxx at a reasonable price."
“Then, mod podge your tea towel onto the canvas, staple to the back of the canvas and trim off the excess and you end up with beautiful wall décor for your home."
“Wall art can be super expensive, especially if you want to go big. So, the best option is always making it yourself," explains Hannah Michelle Lambert of the homey homies website.
“With a pack of popsicle sticks, a hot glue gun, and some paint in the color(s) of your choice, you can make a massive piece of honeycomb-style wall art that is sure to get people talking every time they walk in your house."
High quality wall art doesn't have to put you in debt. With just a few popsicle sticks, a hot glue gun and a creative mind, you can create an entirely new apartment vibe in no time!
Nicole from Stencil Studios shared a tip that has been popular amongst her clientele for some time.
Making reference to the photo above, she says, “Create this Mid-Century Modern Gold Wall Art for less than $10. All you need is a pack of bamboo skewers, wood glue and gold spray paint."
Find the full tutorial to help you create this piece for your home right here.
Macramé is one of those hobbies that experienced a strong resurgence in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Macramé is a fiber-based artform that involves weaving and tying strands of fabric into functional and/or aesthetically pleasing forms. These creations can take the form of plant holders, statement pieces and more.
The best thing about macramé is that the bar for entry is low. The patterns are as simple or intricate as the creator wants them. On top of that, it's a very meditative practice and could eventually come to serve as a method of calming down at the end of a long day.
Adding character to your apartment walls doesn't always require a hammer and nails, a pack of Command Strips or canvases. Adding a unique floor lamp to act as a statement piece can really elevate the look of your walls and improve the overall vibe in your apartment.
Your walls are the surfaces that set the design tone for your place. Whether you want a streamlined minimalist design or are more of a maximalist boho-type person, the only thing that matters is that your walls reflect the way you view and live life. If you can stay well under budget while equipping your place with pieces that make you happy, that's about as good as it gets.
Give any of the tips above a try and take your budget wall décor game to the next level today.