Cheap ’n’ Cheerful
Fine art and framing can be expensive and while I’m not encouraging hoarding behaviour, a few things, in addition to books and house plants, can go a long way to adding colour and personality to your home at low cost.
It is possible to find nice decor at big box home stores, but decorating exclusively with the mass produced goods from those places will make your house or apartment look like an impersonal hotel or show home rather than your home. Take your time and think about your style. Be discerning. Don’t acquire stuff just because it’s cheap or free. Curate and edit. And above all, have fun!
Where:
local artist and student shows*
antique and collectible shops
second-hand book shops
consignment shops
thrift stores
garage sales
the curb (no joke)
What:
family photos and letters
family heirlooms
quilts, embroidery, or other crafts and textiles
diplomas and awards
travel photos, maps, and memorabilia
posters from a favourite artist, movie, play, or travel destination
book illustrations and reproductions
greeting cards
calendars
sheet music
LP jackets
advertisements
cartoons
Here are a few ideas to inspire you.
a piece of heirloom china, silverware, or clothing can be mounted in a frame or shadow box from Ikea, Michaels, or a dollar store
pretty china plates can be displayed with a plate hanger or small tabletop stand
hang posters with a kit that includes rods and cording
your local art store can cut a multi-opening mat for the frame of your choice if you have a grouping of small related items to frame
Below: a Rain Goose linen tea towel ($17) gets a frame
I used a 50 x 70 cm Ribba frame from Ikea ($20), and had a local art store trim ($5) the mat that came with the frame to fit the design on the tea towel
the tea towel slumped the first time I put the frame together so I bought a piece of Bristol board ($1), cut it to the size of the mat, and added a strip of spiky velcro ($2) across the top to support the fabric (or I could have starched it)
the mat goes against the glass and the ironed tea towel is carefully positioned, then the Bristol board with velcro are laid on top and the velcro gently pressed into the fabric, followed by the backing board
I nailed toothed hanging hardware ($3 a pack) to the top edge
tea towel, frame, mat trimming, Bristol board, velcro, hanging hardware—total cost $48 and tax, not bad for a large piece that adds a big splash of colour to my kitchen
*This post is really just an excuse to plug the annual student art show at H.B. Beal Secondary School in London, Ontario on June 17, 18, and 19, where you can find paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, and ceramics at reasonable prices. Support talented young artists!