21 Creative Things to Frame for Wall Art
Tired of staring at the same generic prints and stock photos? Your walls are a canvas for your life story, and what you choose to display should be as unique as you are. While I love a good family photo, thinking outside the box (or rather, inside the frame) can transform your home into a deeply personal and stylish sanctuary.DIY Wall Art
So, what can you put in a picture frame besides pictures?
In my experience decorating countless spaces, the most impactful wall art comes from framing unexpected, sentimental items. It’s affordable, deeply meaningful, and a guaranteed conversation starter. Let’s unlock that potential.
Key Takeaways: Quick Ideas for Unique Framed Art
- Go Personal: Frame sentimental items like old family recipes, concert tickets, or a child’s first drawing to tell a story.
- Embrace Texture: Use shadow boxes to frame 3D objects like vintage keys, jewelry, or natural elements like seashells.
- Think Fabric: Frame beautiful textiles such as vintage scarves, quilt squares, or even a piece of a beloved baby blanket.
- Preserve Nature: Pressed flowers, leaves, and elegant feathers make for stunning, organic wall art.
- Don’t Break the Bank: You can create incredible art using found objects, paper ephemera, and budget-friendly frames from thrift stores.
Why Frame the Unexpected?
Anyone can buy a poster, but framing something personal infuses your home with character and soul. It’s a visual representation of your memories, passions, and journeys.
- It Tells Your Story: A framed ticket stub from a first date tells a far more interesting story than a mass-produced “Live, Laugh, Love” sign.
- It’s One-of-a-Kind: Nobody else in the world will have the exact same piece of art.
- It’s Sustainable & Budget-Friendly: You’re giving new life to items you already own or can find for next to nothing.
Ready for some inspiration? Here are some of my favorite creative things to frame for wall art.
Category 1: Framing Sentimental & Personal Treasures(DIY Wall Art )
These items are packed with memories and are perfect for creating art that feels like home.
- Handwritten Family Recipes: That faded, sauce-splattered recipe card for Grandma’s lasagna? Frame it. It’s a beautiful tribute to your heritage.
- Children’s Artwork: Elevate your little one’s masterpiece from the fridge door to the gallery wall. Choose your favorite piece and give it a proper frame—it instantly looks like modern art.
- Tickets & Stubs: Frame concert tickets, airline boarding passes, or movie stubs from a meaningful event.
- Old Letters or Postcards: The elegant script from a bygone era is beautiful in itself. Frame a letter from an ancestor or a postcard from a memorable trip.
- A Meaningful Piece of Clothing: Frame a baby’s first shoe, a small piece from a wedding veil, or a patch from an old sports jersey.
Alt Text: A colorful vintage paisley scarf elegantly displayed in a simple gold frame as unique wall art.
Category 2: Framing Textiles & Fabrics(DIY Wall Art )
Fabric adds incredible texture and color to a wall. What I’ve found works best is using a shadow box or ensuring the fabric is pulled taut and secured to an acid-free backing board.
- Vintage Scarves: Silk scarves often have incredible patterns and colors. They look especially stunning in a large matted frame.
- Quilt Squares or Fabric Swatches: Have a favorite pattern? Frame a single quilt square or a collection of complementary fabric swatches.
- Ornate Doilies or Lace: For a touch of vintage, cottage-core charm, frame delicate lacework against a dark background like navy or charcoal to make the details pop.
- Embroidered Pieces: Frame your own needlepoint work or a vintage piece you found at a thrift store.
- Global Textiles: A small piece of Japanese kimono fabric, African mudcloth, or an Indian block print can make a worldly statement.
Category 3: Framing Natural & Found Objects(DIY Wall Art )
Bring the outdoors in! For 3D items like these, a shadow box frame is your best friend. It provides the depth needed to display objects without squishing them.
- Pressed Flowers & Leaves: A timeless classic. Pressing botanicals from your garden or a special bouquet is an easy DIY project. [Link to: How to Create the Perfect Gallery Wall in 5 Easy Steps]
- Feathers: A single, dramatic feather (like from a peacock or turkey) or a collection of smaller ones looks incredibly chic.
- Seashells, Sea Glass, or Unique Stones: Arrange your beachcombing finds into a beautiful mosaic inside a shadow box.
- Skeleton Keys: A collection of antique keys has a wonderfully mysterious and historic feel.
- A Watch or Piece of Jewelry: Frame a grandparent’s old pocket watch or a beautiful brooch you no longer wear.
Product Suggestion: A set of simple, deep shadow box frames like [these on Amazon] are incredibly versatile for framing everything from seashells to your baby’s first shoes.
Alt Text: A triptych of framed natural objects: a pressed maple leaf, beach stones, and a feather, creating organic DIY wall art.
Category 4: Framing Paper Ephemera & Collectibles(DIY Wall Art )
Think beyond posters. Paper goods offer a world of framing possibilities.
- Vintage Maps: A map of your hometown, a favorite travel destination, or a fantasy land adds a touch of adventure.
- Sheet Music: The first page of your wedding song or a favorite classical piece is both personal and graphically beautiful.
- Antique Book Pages: Frame a page from a damaged antique book, especially one with a lovely illustration or a meaningful passage.
- Playing Cards or Tarot Cards: A single, beautifully illustrated tarot card or a royal flush from a vintage deck of cards can be a quirky, cool art piece.
- Postage Stamps: A curated collection of colorful stamps from around the world makes for a graphic and interesting display.
- Blueprints or Architectural Drawings: These have a sophisticated, industrial feel that works well in modern or minimalist decor.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How do you frame a 3D object like a key or piece of jewelry? A: The best tool for this is a shadow box frame. These frames have a space between the glass and the backing. You can attach the object to the backing using clear acid-free glue, small pins, or wire to secure it in place.
Q: What is the cheapest way to frame something? A: The most budget-friendly option is to thrift your frames! Visit local thrift stores, flea markets, and garage sales. You can often find high-quality frames for a few dollars. If it’s the wrong color, a can of spray paint can easily customize it to your decor.
Q: Can I frame fabric without it wrinkling? A: Yes! The key is to secure it properly. First, iron the fabric carefully. Then, stretch it taut around a piece of acid-free foam board or mat board, securing it on the back with archival tape or pins before placing it in the frame. For a no-fuss option, many professional framers can do this for you.
Q: What can I put in a large empty frame to make a statement? A: A large frame is perfect for a big piece of beautifully patterned wallpaper, a vintage map, or a large piece of stunning fabric like a silk scarf. For a more minimalist look, you could even frame a single, large pressed leaf, like from a Monstera plant.
Conclusion: Your Walls, Your Story
The best wall art is a reflection of you. By looking beyond traditional prints and photos, you can create a home that is filled with meaning, memories, and personal style. You don’t need a huge budget—just a little creativity and a willingness to see the artistic potential in the objects you already own and love.
