We renovated our home a few years ago and just like when you move into a brand new home, it’s a little scary putting that first nail in the unblemished wall. I struggled not only with the nail holes, but with the worry that what I hung up wouldn’t be good enough or I wouldn’t like it. Yes, the background is fantastic, but it wasn’t personal. Call it fear. Call it self-doubt. Call it what you will. The reality is I was so worried about making a mistake, I did nothing.
But hosting a birthday party is a great way to get a kick in the behind and now I have a new outlook! I’ve spent about a week adding those personal touches and feeling good about it. I shopped my basement and I shopped my local stores and now, this girl is on fire (as is my wallet). I’ve put my fear aside and put nail holes in the walls (and subsequently, patched a few) and love the result.
This wall stands at the top of my stairs on the 2nd floor of my house and is visible from the front door. It all started with this blue frame. I picked up for less than half of it’s marked price. It was pretty beat up but the frame itself was interesting and virtually unscathed. I brought it home and went to work removing everything in the middle, relocated the hangers on the back and it now serves as art on its own accord, rather than a frame for something else.
Many of the items I added to this wall were already owned by me. I picked up a few items, on sale, at Hobby Lobby (orange frame, white framed picture, wire heart and wooden arrow) and I cut some small paper flags from my stash and sewed them into a bunting for an added and inexpensive pop of color as well as some dimension. This was a perfect place to showcase some of my favorite photos of the kids, too.
I love the pops of color in an otherwise, grey palette.
When I asked my college boy what he thought about it, he replied “Looks pretty girly”.
Good thing I’m a girl.
I like how you used different textures and shapes, not just photos. Very inspirational! I just moved into a new house so I have blank walls I need to cover. I’m going to look for more unusual “conversational” pieces like that frame and wooden arrow you have. 🙂
Great! Have fun with it! I always gather more pieces than I will actually hang so I have options.
This turned out so cute! I always get nervous to put the first nail in the wall too 🙂
Thank you! I figure that nail holes are easy to patch so I may as well just go for it!
I love other people’s collage walls, but when I try to do my own, I never like them! I think I am pretty impatient when it comes to design. It takes me so long to decide on my choices and find just the right things that sometimes I just quit before I even get started. I think I’m pretty afraid to mess things up! Your wall looks great!
Thanks so much! I’m a procrastinator but once I found a piece that inspired me it came together quickly!
Wow, you make it look so simple! I always have such a hard time decorating and putting pieces together. Definitely going to share this with a friend!
Thank you. It’s so much fun!
Love your wall. I like seeing what people come up with.
Thank you. It’s fun once you get started!
I’ve attempted this many times and have failed miserably. I love how this turned out.
Thank you!
I love this! I have a lot of old picture frames that I was trying to figure out what to do with them.
I bet the frames alone would make a fun collage wall!
Love how you incorporated the color orange into this lovely ensemble. Looks fabulous! Such beautiful family photos too!