Need easy, simple ideas to decorate your walls? Here’s one of the easiest. You can create this project in five minutes from start to finish.
I’m always trying to figure out what to put on my walls.
Especially if it’s cheap.
Mostly because I spend way too much money on my pillow budget and that doesn’t leave much left over for decorating my walls.
And in the inexpensive-only-takes-five-minutes-and-looks-like-you-ordered-something-from-a-high-end-store department…
….I have a solution.
Can I add a disclaimer?
If you are already doing this.
If this tip already occurred to you years ago.
If you’ve already figured this out and have it on your wall and read this post and think to yourself, “Really? Umm….KariAnne. Please girl. That is so 2009.”
Can we just pretend I’m brilliant?
Just for today.
And now.
The tip that really needs no introduction….
….here’s how to decorate your walls in five minutes.
It all started with this paintbrush.
It was sent it to me as a gift and I love it. And as much as I love painting with a brush with my name on it, I never could. It was too cute to have paint drips on it.
So I saved it.
I knew that one day I would figure out something to do with it.
And then?
I saw this.
This vintage chippy amazing frame.
And I knew that I knew that I KNEW.
It needed to get married to the paintbrush.
And now?
They are living together happily ever after in my laundry room.
I hung the paintbrush on the wall and then hung the frame around it.
And along the way?
Something amazing happened.
That paintbrush that was already cute?
IT GOT CUTER IN JUST FIVE MINUTES.
It took on a new life and transformed itself from a paintbrush…
….to art.
JUST BY ADDING A FRAME.
Isn’t it amazing how much something so simple and ordinary and everyday becomes so much more?
All because I elevated it and made it feel special and one-of-a-kind and extraordinary with the simple addition of a vintage, chippy, wood picture frame.
And that got me thinking.
What if this was a thing?
What else around the house could we add an inexpensive wood frame to and make it feel special?
So I made a list.
Here are some other things I thought of that you could frame in five minutes and create art:
- book pages
- license plates
- architectural pieces
- sports equipment
- fabric squares
- scrapbook paper
- smaller signs
- wood pieces
- branches
And the list goes on and on and on.
Take it from me.
There is probably something just sitting around your house at this very moment that you could create art from and decorate your walls in five minutes.
And these frames?
You can find them at yard sales and thrift stores and antique booths and your attic.
All you need is the frame. Not the glass. Not the matting. Not the back.
Just a simple wood frame and something ordinary that’s waiting for you to discover it.
Something ordinary.
That’s waiting for a little extraordinary to show up.
A little extraordinary.
Just like you. 🙂
Looking for some simple home decor inspiration? Here are some of my favorite pieces
How cute. I love the paintbrush with your name on it. I have a beautiful wood level with my name on it that was given to me when I was a lumber & hardware buyer for one of those big box stores. Love it.
You ARE brilliant!!!💕
Such a COOL idea!!!! And yes, I've seen it before but have not done this. I have tons of old frames in my attic. Freebie!!!! Thank you, as always, you brilliant creator, you! :)
So simple but looks right at home in your laundry room. you've got my wheel turning thx!
What a great idea. I am 92 years old and will "frame" my childhood roller skate key.may even add my small chain pocketbook I put my Indian head nickel in for Sunday School. Oh my my brain is whirling whirling..I could de-clutter my house in a week. Thank you so much KariAnne. Jere
Jere, how I love that you have your roller skate key! I think I have mine somewhere....I love that we are never too old to get excited about stuff. Or is it we grow old when we quit getting excited about stuff? Love your attitude!
I have a letter R (for our last name) with a frame I found on the curb as I drove out of the alley from Dairy Queen...I gave that baby a spray paint job, hung it around my R, and haven’t looked back since 2011!!
Cute paint brush and clever idea. I've actually got an empty antique oval frame and a piece of ornate ironwork...maybe a Victorian heating duct cover... hung inside a larger frame that I love and just can't make myself part with. Maybe one of these days I'll find a print to fit the large frame, but in the meantime this is a great way to not only store but display three things I love. As always, enjoy your posts!
I have actually done that before with a wreath, but this is far more brilliant and then you mentioned license plates and WOW! Now I actually won’t mind hanging my husbands important license plates on the wall because once they’re framed cutely they won’t look so college dorm retro. I’m so excited I can get that pile of license plates off my bedroom floor thank you.
I love that idea, and the fact that the paintbrush has your name in the font you use is awesome!!! And just for the record you are BRILLIANT!
I've been hoarding some cute frames and wasn't sure how I was going to use them. Thanks for the inspiration!
This is so cute and now you have really got my mind in a tizzie, i have thought of so many things, an old quilt square from my grandmother and etc. Thanks and have a great day.
Very clever, KariAnne! I may try this with a copper mold that I have hanging around.
My son, the illustrator, drew our puppy in his Elizabethan collar after surgery. This drawing was a birthday gift card to me and is cherished. The card deserves this Frame Treatment! Thanks for the inspiration, Karianne! I always enjoy your posts!
I have done this with plates in my dining room. I love the paintbrush idea and such a cute one at that!!
Love this, KariAnne! I just helped to move Nika and her fam into a larger home and we are brainstorming on decor. Forwarding this to her!
Love this! I am working on a project right now with our collection of license plates from OHIO and CO. My sister did this with her initial and it's so pretty and understated. I love that paintbrush! Happy Monday!
You are BEYOND brilliant! You rock it!!!!
Such a cute idea!
KariAnne, another amazingly brilliant idea from you! I have so many things I could frame, getting started now! Thanks for sharing another way to decorate my home!
Such a cute paintbrush! I confess, I have already tried your trick (what???? I'm ahead of you on a decorating technique????? First and only time!). When my son and I were re-doing his bedroom a few years ago, he had a 3D wooden cow model that he had made and wanted to hang on the wall--I added a simple wooden antique frame around it and voila! We both liked it!
Wow - you have started everyone's imagination today! Thanks for the tips!
You are just so darn cute and brilliant! This is a great idea and now I'm on the hunt for stuff to frame! thank you always girlfriend!
You are brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love it! ♥️ And what a way to inspire! 🥰
Whoa.....excellent idea and I happen to have a couple of really neat frames that are perfect! Love your paintbrush and it is even cuter now 💗.
This is PERFECT! We totally need to do this in our new house! Paige https://thehappyflammily.com
Love it, The paintbrush could be used to sweep up any spills from the powder laundry detergent, I'm sure it wouldn't damage it like paint would!
Well, that's a cute idea! And the best part will be scouring my own house to locate cool items to hang an old -rame around! Lord knows I have quite a number o- those old -rames! (Sorry about dashes, keyboard not printing the 5th letter in alphabet. Argh!) Thanks -or the reminder o- all the possibilities, KariAnne!
You are like seeing sunshine in the morning ...you just make me smile.
Ok, this could not be any cuter!! Although the dryer sheets in the jar are pretty cute as well. I'm copying you!!! xoxo
That’s beautiful! I’ve been looking for ideas for my laundry room Love the laundry sign! I have a framed license plate in my living room It was on my husband’s car for many years. Our son saved the plate, framed it and gave it as a Father’s Day gift a few years ago. It’s the initials of members of our family. R+T=RMJK My husband is a math teacher.
KariAnne,,, YOU are such a HOOT! Love seeing what you've come up with every day. Your laundry room is so nice... and your framed paint brush is classic. Thanks for your many unique ideas!
You are indeed clever!!!
I've seen this done before but I haven't actually done it yet so - YOU ARE BRILLIANT!!! I"m totally going to try it too. And PS - Now I need a paintbrush with my name on it. Now THAT is brilliant TOO.