Now that the dining room is painted, I am working on filling it with art and making it more me/us. The only wall that doesn’t have an opening or window is a pretty big one. Finding something to fill it that wasn’t expensive was proving difficult so I started thinking outside of the box and kept seeing rooms that used simple frames filled with fun patterns and colors. That was my starting point for the simple and cheap art project!
I first thought about using wallpaper samples like I’ve seen on various pictures across Pinterest but when I saw these cocktail napkins at Anthropologie, I knew they would be perfect! Conner has been asking for more color than just blue, green, grey and white so I figured he would like these as well. They are each a 10″ square and only $24 for a set of four – much cheaper than four art prints!
I saw these white wall frames from Target and knew they would be the ones. White frames look so sharp to me and the light color would help each picture stand out. The frames are 11×14″ with an 8×10″ opening in the mats. The perfect opening for each napkin!
Before attaching the napkins to the mats, I ironed them and removed the care labels so they wouldn’t create a dark spot on the pictures. I pulled each napkin tight and used six small pieces of tape on the back to secure them to the mats. It was fairly simple and quick – my favorite kind of art!
Here is a look at how they turned out – Love! It is a great punch of saturated color that definitely brightens up the space. It helps fill up this large wall and makes it feel more cozy in this room.
Now I’m on the hunt to find something fun to put above the buffet. I wanted to do a grouping of the John Derian plates but I think that would be too much with the frames above the chairs so now I’ve got to find the perfect somethin’-somethin’ to fill this part of the wall…and get our chairs recovered!
Have you tried any fun and cheap art lately? Let me know if you have done something similar or try this project, I would love to see it!
I got a new lamp from Target a couple months ago and I love the airy, lighter feel it gives. I tried to balance out the tallness of the left by layering a picture and some books on the right. I’m not 100% sold on this look yet but I like it for now – which is all that matters, right? 🙂
The silver frame was purchased at Target and I printed a picture I found on Pinterest (
Have you heard that you’re supposed to take off the dust covers on your books? I had too and finally did it…makes such a difference! The top book with the cool link design? Its 
I hope to collect all nine and hang them just like this in our dining room, above our buffet. Yesterday I found them 
The Steen Style 
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