The Finishing Touch: Creative Wall Displays
Renovation Blueprint is all about the journey—but we also cover that special chapter after you complete your big renovation! I’m so excited to announce the launch of our newest series: The Finishing Touch. This series celebrates the next stage of your renovation—the after-glow-up if you will.
At the end of every project, together with our amazing clients and renovation teams, we bask in the gorgeousness of the spaces we have worked hard to transform together. This is also the time when we begin planning how to layer in finishing touches that make the space feel special and complete. Our goal is to identify objects and art that will represent the client’s personality and add joy to their home. This is the fun stuff, the cherry on top!
This installment is all about creative wall displays. I will walk you through my process of helping our clients figure out that special something for their walls—and share some tips for how to get the look!
Step One: Identify your inspiration
Choosing art is a personal journey and one we really enjoy working through with our clients.
Before choosing your wall displays, ask yourself these questions:
How do you want the art to make you feel?
Will this piece of art be a reflection of your personal story? For example, a gallery wall of artful photographs representing places you have traveled? Or an artist's story that evokes emotions in you that represent how you want the art to make you feel?
Does the feeling you hope to experience when you look at the art match the feeling of the room where it will be installed?
Pro Tip: Art can affect mood in a big way! The art should match the mood of the space where it lives. If you have just wrapped up your dream primary bathroom, complete with a soaking tub for the ultimate relaxation zone, you may want to consider a soothing piece of artwork rather than something loud and energetic.
Step Two: Choose your real estate
Now that you have your inspiration ready, the next step is to determine where your creative wall display will live in your space. Do you have a large blank wall that is begging for a big art installation? Maybe you have a smaller-scale wall that would benefit from a thoughtful piece.
Does your inspiration have you dreaming of a multi-frame installation or a single fabulous piece? Either way, you will want to get out the measuring tape to make sure that your vision will fit on your available real estate!
Pro Tip: We often use blue painter’s tape to map out our wall installations before we commit to a purchase. It is no fun getting the perfect piece of art only to discover it does not fit your wall!
Step Three: Determine your budget
It is time to talk about the budget! Do you have the budget to work with an art dealer and curate an heirloom-worthy art piece? Or are you more comfortable choosing wallet-friendly wall displays? This is why we brainstorm, mood board, and collect inspiration first! There are so many options at every budget level to accommodate the look, feel, and energy that you are striving for in your space.
Step Four: Make your selection!
You are inspired. You know where your art will live in your space. You’ve locked down your magic budget number. Now, the fun of finishing touches begins! Choosing your art can be overwhelming but also creatively cathartic. I am going to share some of my top resources and tips for choosing wall displays that sing to you! I recommend starting your wall display hunt on a time-tested favorite that my clients use all the time: Etsy.
Over the years, my team and I have connected with ultra-talented Etsy creators who have helped us deliver unique artwork to our clients. If you’re new to Etsy, here’s how it works.
Once you are on the Etsy site, you can search for anything via the search bar at the top of the screen. You can start with a broad search, like “photographs of New York City.” You can also be specific with your search and add details like “vintage black and white photographs of New York City architecture.” Once you find your dream wall display, Etsy also has options for frames—making it easy to get everything you need in one place.
Here are some of my favorite ways that my team has utilized Etsy creative solutions in our own client projects:
School of Salmon Swimming Upstream (custom artwork)
Etsy Shop: WoodlandMeadows
Vintage Tennis Racket Installation
Etsy Shop: Multiple
Wood Slice Wall Installation
Etsy Shop: ChuchHouseWoodworks
Another fantastic resource for wall displays is Minted. From digital prints to limited edition pieces, Minted carefully curates artwork from independent artists. The site offers art lovers the opportunity to find a special piece at budget-friendly price points.
If you are struggling with your selections because you just love it all, they offer a complimentary art styling service to help you choose the perfect piece for your space. You can check out that service here.
Pro Tip: Minted also offers custom framing for their pieces, making your art ready to hang upon arrival!
Finishing touch tips
After you’ve followed these four steps—getting inspired, choosing your real estate, determining a budget, and making your selection—your creative wall display will be well on its way to bringing on the wows! Here are a few additional *ahem* finishing touches to your finishing touch that you can do to complete your unique vision. Happy creating!
Mix things up with a gallery wall
In our studio, we are big fans of creating art installations that combine a variety of pieces into a gallery-style art display. This can be a great way to use some pieces you already own, plus a few new pieces to create something special that makes you smile every time you pass it. In the installation below, we collaborated with our tween clients to add a burst of joy to their hang-out space.
Find the right frames
When it comes to frames, you have options. You can visit your local frame store, where their experts will help you find the perfect frame and mat combo for your wall display. Custom frames can be made at any size.
If you are on a budget, be sure to let the framer know at the start of your process together so they can direct you to frames that will fall within your cost comfort zone. A custom shop can also provide specialty glass to protect your artwork from harmful UV rays and glare. Consider where your art is placed and determine if you should spend a little extra on specialty glass to protect your new piece.
When our clients are on a budget, we often look to some of our favorite retailers for ready-made solutions. Room and Board, CB2, and Pottery Barn are just a few retailers we look to for ready-made wall frames. When choosing ready-made frames, we evaluate the size and color of both the frame and mat. When reviewing the size, you will want to look at the overall size and the artwork size intended for the frame. When planning to use ready-made frames, we often choose the frame in tandem with the print. This ensures that we choose a print size that works with the selected frame.
Pro Tip: Some custom frame shops will cut UV and non-glare glass for your ready-made frames. We have also worked with custom shops to cut new mats for our ready-made frames. This is ideal if the perfect frame has a not-so-perfect mat color or the mat opening is not exactly a good fit for your print.
