Easy But Cute Upcycled Home Decor
The pandemic has us all reaching for our phones and seeking out fun things to do while stuck at home. Pinterest and Tiktok have been one of the best things to boost our 2020 creative productivity. We’ve sat home and stared at the walls of our house so long we’ve started ripping the decor off the walls because we hate it. Is it out of style? Probably not, but everyone's just sat home long enough to hate the interior design of our homes. The magic of the internet has shown us some really awesome home decor DIYs, and even better, they're upcycled!
Here are some super creative, super fun ways to decorate your walls:
1. Painted Records
In recent years, it's become trendy to buy records? Does everyone have a record player? No, of course not, but hey, it’s trendy. There's a multitude of things you can do to records to make them trendy. You can nail them to the wall in perfect lines or you can paint them. There are even clock pieces sold so you can make your records into a clock.
2. Newspaper Wallpaper
This became trendy on Tiktok. People were taking newspapers and hanging them up on the wall. Many left it as a temporary backdrop for at-home photo shoots. It makes interesting wall decor and even allows for further embellishment as it can be drawn on. It might even be a great way to release some stress.
3. Spotify Codes
This summer proved productive in the crafting department and Tiktok fed a great deal of it. There was this trend where people were drawing the Spotify code to a song onto a piece of glass and gluing a picture above it, hanging the piece on the wall. There was also a fun trend where people were drawing out the codes to all their favorite songs and adding them to a wall, making it a playlist of great but randomized songs.
4. Books
There's a lot that can be done to and with books to make them into the fun decor. If you have books you want to get rid of or feel like buying some books to craft with, book folding is a great way to spice up an old book. You can fold the pages into any shape you please. You can also use old books as shelves on a wall by adding a platform piece and screwing it to the wall. Some people have even stacked books and added a glass top to make a cute table.
5. Photo Wall
Also known as the VSCO wall, people have been printing out pictures that fit certain aesthetics or pictures of their friends to add to a wall in a pretty manner. Some online shops will even pick out pictures for you just so you can follow a certain look- such as a Harry Potter wall or a pink wall.
6. Corks
Did you drink a lot of wine over quarantine? There’s plenty you can do with corks. You can glue them into a picture frame and make a cute DIY cork board. You can hollow them out and add a magnet and make cute mini planters for the fridge. You can glue them to a piece of wood and cut it out in the shape of a letter to hang on a wall.
7. Picture Frames
Picture frame walls have become a great way to break up a wall that was once bland. You simply take old frames and paint them the same color as the wall, this gives the wall a little bit of texture. You can also turn frames into chalkboards by painting the glass piece with chalkboard paint. Another option is to add hooks to an empty frame and hang your necklaces from it. Old frames are typically super cheap and an easy find at any thrift shop.
8. Cassettes
Cassettes are in the weird point where they're too old to be used but too new to be “vintage”. You can use them to create some cool artwork. Cassettes can be glued together and painted on relatively easily. They make for some cool textured paintings. Not good at painting? You can use them as a cool border for a room by using command strips to attach them to the wall.
9. Shadow Boxes
Shadow boxes are a fun and easy way to showcase your stuff. You can put stuff inside them and on top of them to display your knickknacks. If you can't find one, you can easily make one from pieces of wood.
No Artistic Talent?
If you can't DIY or don't have the time but still want some fun room decor, you still have plenty of options. You can order from online vendors, like Etsy or Facebook Marketplace. Plenty of other people have tons of fun homemade decorations you can add to your home to break it up a little. You can even buy off a friend who makes stuff.
Upcycled home decor is both super fun and good for the environment. Every piece is very unique and makes your house super quaint. You can always decorate it!
Opinions and Perspectives
Created themed areas using different projects. Each room tells its own story now.
Mixing different textures from these projects creates such interesting walls.
Love how affordable these projects are. Creativity doesn't have to be expensive.
Can't believe how professional the frame wall looks with just a coat of paint.
Used vintage music sheets for my Spotify code backgrounds. Adds another layer of meaning.
The newspaper wall became a time capsule of 2020. Kind of meaningful now.
The shadow boxes are perfect for my small space. Vertical storage that looks intentional!
Combined several ideas into one feature wall. It's eclectic but works somehow.
Never thought old cassettes could look so artistic. They catch the light beautifully.
The cork board project was perfect for using up my quarantine wine cork collection.
Anyone else's walls become a complete creative explosion during lockdown?
Used old sheet music instead of newspaper. Creates a similar effect but more musical!
My shadow boxes tell the story of different trips I've taken. Such great memories.
Made a massive mistake with the newspaper wall but turned it into an abstract art piece instead.
These ideas work well together. My gallery wall mixes frames, records, and Spotify codes.
Book folding is actually quite meditative once you get into the rhythm of it.
The newspaper wall is perfect for my writing room. Feels like being surrounded by stories.
Started small with one shadow box and now I'm addicted to creating themed displays.
The painted records work best with acrylic paint and a good sealant, in my experience.
My Spotify code wall tells the story of my life through music. It's become quite meaningful.
Anyone else's family think they've gone crazy with all these DIY projects?
The picture frame wall took longer than expected but was worth every minute.
These projects really helped me connect with my creative side during isolation.
I'm surprised how modern the cassette art looks when done right. Mine's monochrome and quite striking.
Created a Harry Potter themed photo wall. The aesthetic planning was half the fun!
The newspaper wall is definitely polarizing. My partner hated it at first but now loves it.
My cork letter turned out crooked but somehow that makes it more charming.
Using old books as shelves works great if you use proper wall anchors. Mine have held up for months.
Started with one painted record and now my whole wall is covered. It's addictive!
The Spotify code trend is so clever! It's like having an interactive art gallery.
Never thought of painting frames the same color as walls. It's subtle but adds such nice dimension.
These ideas are perfect for apartment dwellers. Most can be removed without damaging walls.
Found some vintage newspapers in my grandparents' attic. Planning to frame sections for wall art.
The shadow box display transformed my collectibles from clutter to conversation pieces.
Tried the cassette art but couldn't get the paint to stick well. Any suggestions?
I combined the photo wall with Spotify codes idea. Each picture has its own song. My teenagers think it's cool.
The book folding art is actually easier than it looks. Started with simple patterns and worked my way up.
Made a cork board from wine corks and it's both functional and decorative. Win-win!
Anyone else notice how these ideas align perfectly with the current sustainability movement? Love it!
The painted records look amazing in person! I've done three so far and they're conversation starters.
I appreciate how budget-friendly these ideas are. Been wanting to refresh my space without breaking the bank.
My local thrift store has tons of old frames. Going to try that chalkboard conversion idea this weekend.
These DIY projects saved my sanity during lockdown. The newspaper wall was particularly therapeutic to create.
Working on the Spotify code project now. Any tips for getting the lines straight on the glass?
I worry these trends will look dated really quickly. Remember when everyone was doing mason jar everything?
The cork letter idea is fantastic! Made one for my kitchen and it adds such a personal touch.
Has anyone tried combining multiple ideas? I'm thinking of doing a mixed media wall with records and Spotify codes.
Picture frame walls are timeless. I painted mine dark blue against a white wall and it looks stunning.
The cassette art speaks to my soul! Found a box of old ones in my parents' basement. Now I know what to do with them.
I'm concerned about the book shelves idea. How do you ensure they're sturdy enough to hold weight?
Just finished my photo wall yesterday! Pro tip: use a level to keep everything straight. Learned that the hard way.
The shadow box idea is brilliant! I've been looking for ways to display my travel souvenirs.
These are great sustainable options! I'm tired of buying mass-produced decor that everyone else has.
Book folding seems interesting but I can't bring myself to fold actual books. It feels wrong somehow.
The cork ideas are perfect for me. I've collected so many wine corks during lockdown, might as well put them to good use!
Actually, I've done the newspaper wall and the ink doesn't rub off if you seal it properly. My room looks like an artistic statement piece now!
Not sure about the newspaper wall idea. Wouldn't it make the room look messy? Plus, what about the ink rubbing off?
I tried the Spotify code art and it turned out amazing! My friends always scan them when they visit and discover new music.
The newspaper wall trend is genius! I did it in my home office and it creates such an interesting backdrop for video calls.
Love these creative ideas! I've been wanting to try the painted records project. Has anyone here actually done it?