5 Tips for Creating an Inexpensive Gallery Wall

Social media is great. Obviously, we’re big fans. But it can be hard to constantly be inundated with the best of the best via our various social feeds. Who else has a Pinterest board [let’s be real, boardSSSS] of “home inspo”? Or watches HGTV and dreams about flipping houses and/or living in that perfectly [albeit possibly overly-shiplapped] home? OKAY, NOW WHO DOES NOT HAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO ACHIEVE THESE #GOALLLLLSSSS? Or maybe you do but just still want to be somewhat practical and save a $$$ or two now and again? COOL. This is for all of you.

We’re big fans of decorating on a budget and wanted to share five tips for creating an inexpensive gallery wall. We’ll soon be sharing HOW to create a gallery wall, but let’s start with the art.

1. Shop discount retailers. Home Goods, Nordstrom Rack, Hobby Lobby, Marshall’s, etc. The key to successful shopping here is going frequently. If you’re not into that, then don’t worry, there are four more tips. But seriously, they are constantly refreshing things and you never know what you’re going to find. When you DO find something you love, buy it and start a little collection. Don’t go there looking to fill a specific void in your home. Shop here to find pieces you can build around (ex: find a perfect large canvas here, and order specific size prints from elsewhere). You get the idea. You can also check your local thrift stores for unique and inexpensive art (although this is traditionally more successful for frames… more on that later).

2. Order digital downloads and have them printed. Instead of paying for an artist’s work, a frame, and the physical print of that work, you can buy very inexpensive digital downloads from Etsy and have them printed via your favorite print shop. Target, Snapfish, Shutterfly, etc. are all very reasonable. While the prints are usually not as high-quality as they would be if printed by the artist, they still look great and can be significantly less expensive. Oh, and make sure to have them printed matte, not glossy.

3. Buy frames from thrift stores, Michals or IKEA. Or, go frameless! Use washi tape, binder clips, or DIY your own poster hangers. Stop by your local thrift stores and look for frames that you can use as-is or with a little coat of paint. If you’re looking for more ornate frames, secondhand is definitely the way to go, as they’ll be significantly cheaper than buying new. For clean lines, or if you want frames that match, IKEA and Michaels frames are usually very, very reasonable.

4. Create your own art. A white canvas with a black painted squiggle? ART! Honestly, it’s not hard. If you’re not blessed with the fine art skills (I’m not), you can always make a collage, design a digital piece or even trace something using a light box.

5. Think outside the box. A framed greeting card, an old magazine ad, your favorite record – these can all be used as art. A collage of coasters from your favorite bars? I don’t know, but I guarantee if you look around you can find something. Plus, the more unique things you can put on your wall, the better, IMO!

BY THE WAY: Target, Urban Outfitters, IKEA, Society6, Minted and Etsy are some of the other places we like to find relatively inexpensive art.

Let us know what you thought of this list, and if you have any tips of your own!

cheers, the blonde party