meaningful art for the home

A sweet gal named Leslie wrote in recently, and asked this:

I love the idea of meaningful art in the home. I’m ready to enrich our home with some great pieces and I am all about the DIY part of that. Lately I’m seeing too much either super trendy stuff (which feels like just for the sake of throwing something on the walls) or too much stuff that looks kind of well, tacky and all the same. Maybe it’s just not my style. I love the art I see on the walls in your home and I was wondering if you might give me some ideas. What are your favorite ideas you follow when choosing art for your walls?

That’s actually a great question, Leslie. And it’s a topic we’re pretty passionate about.

We were actually kind of frustrated when we were first married, at the limited options out there. Things were either mass produced, or high dollar and limiting to what we could afford on our just-married budget. What’s that saying about embracing limitations? Because there was this lightbulb moment… Wouldn’t I create our own art anyway? And looking back today, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

The thing about our home, is that everything you see on our walls has either been altered by us in some way, or it’s by us. I think that’s one of the things we love the most about our walls, because we’ve had a hand in creating it. So it reflects us. We always say that if you take the time to create something, you leave a stamp on it, a piece of you behind. If it ultimately it becomes a token of who you are, how can you not help but love it?

But don’t misunderstand us. We don’t think that everyone should have original oil paintings in their home. We believe that some of the simplest ways to add some character are through some of our favorite art projects of the past we’re going to show you today, along with some of our fondest elements to consider.

So without further ado: A few of our favorite tips – meaningful art for the home

1. Sentimental Memories

One of our favorite elements has been this little instagram frame. Formal family photos are great, but some of our favorite memories captured in, well, an instant are right here on our wall. Our kids love looking at them, remembering sweet things we’ve done together. It’s a great conversation piece. Bonus: they can be switched out easily, too.

Or a simple fix like the little cork board installment you can find in our home {with more photo ideas} here. 

A favorite song from your wedding day or special event  is always a safe bet. We simply blew this one up, and built a frame to showcase it in a fun way.

Or a sweet symbol for your space in a simple way, from numbers to ampersands and everything in between. You may have seen them before, but not used like this.

A special number is a great way to spruce up an ordinary wall. And it’s super affordable to grab some fabric, wood and a string for a customized, one of  a kind look.

2. Reflect your style

It can easily show your sense of humor and…

Your flair for the dramatic,

Reflect a little of your culture… 

Showcase your favorite movie,

{How to build a custom frame for a “vintage” movie poster}

or book…

Or share some of your history. – It can be something as simple as your great grandparents’ giant framed marriage certificate envelope {that’s a mouthful}…

or these fun ticket downloads, personalized to stand for something in your family.

3. Personalize it

Leave your name in unexpected places…

In unexpected ways that can feel special…  with something as simple as a “vintage pendant”

4. Let them create

And those fun pieces… they’re not just for the walls.

From pinch pots,

To hexagon magnets,

And just showcasing their creations in a fun way…

It’s an easy way to bring character to those walls, that are unique to your home. Great frames that showcase some of your favorite little artists’ creations, are some of the best ways to bring in genuine, unique creations.

5. Functional 

Maximize your space with functional pieces.

I guess you could also include the photos above in this, but these fun geometric patterns also double as a functional piece of wall art in the form of a dry erase board.

Another {framed} version here for our school room, doubles as a pretty piece of art when it’s not in use

And our map isn’t just a pretty piece of art for our school room. It’s educational, with ways to label, and share where we’ve traveled.

Interactive pieces for the entire family.

6. You don’t have to be über creative

That’s the best part. Because you can take your favorite quotes, 

And flip an old frame,

And use any of our freebies to create some beautiful pieces for your home.

the possibilities are kinda endless.

We hope this helps get those creative juices flowing with some ideas for meaningful art for your home! Enjoy creating, Leslie!

Pssstttt… Speaking of art… stay tuned for a book giveaway tomorrow!