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Decorating on a budget – Five Alternatives to Generic Artwork

Five Budget Alternatives to Generic Art

Art is a great way to add instant character to your home – it’s something that can really make or break a room when it comes to interior design. So often I see homes with art that is generic and has only been bought to fill a space on the wall, which can really cheapen the overall look of your room. Instead, art can be used to reflect your personality, your life, and the way you want your home to feel. Art also doesn’t have to be super pricey; you can often find beautiful prints and special items to display for next to nothing, it’s all about getting creative!

I’ve put together my top 5 ideas for finding artwork on a budget to help make your home feel a little more personal and a little less like a page from the Ikea catalogue.

1. Vintage Posters

Art is a really great way to tell your story and reflect your personality. Have a think about your hobbies and how you like to spend your time. Do you love to travel? Why not frame some vintage travel posters from a memorable location. You can find some beautiful ones at King and McGaw and Travel Posters Online for a great price.

2. Food and Recipes

Budget Art Alternatives - Apartment Therapy - Framed Family Recipe
Image Source: Apartment Therapy

If you like cooking or making cocktails (or even just drinking them…) then recipes make great artwork. Hang it in the kitchen or rest it on a shelf next to a stack of glasses and greenery for a styled look. Desenio is an amazing online store for reasonably priced prints. You should also check out Aberdeen-based illustrator Juniper Press for some lovely botanical prints which would look gorgeous in a kitchen.

Another option is to frame a hand-written family recipe, like the one above. This is a lovely sentimental touch in any home and would also make a great gift for loved ones.

3. Your Favourite Music

Do you have a song that reminds you of a special time? Or an album that you love to listen to on repeat? Turn the album cover into a work of art by framing it! This makes for some great decoration, particularly in a music room and look great grouped together, like in the image above. You can find frames to fit LP covers at Habitat for a great price.

4. A Gallery of Family Photos

Budget Art Alternatives - Within the Groove - Gallery Wall BW Photos
Image Source: Within The Groove

A gallery wall of your own family photos is a great way to add a personal touch to any room. Go big and group together, like in the image above, to make a great impact in any space. For a gallery wall, keep a similar theme running through all the pictures for a well-coordinated look, be it a similar colour palette in the photos, or the same frames grouped together.

5. Celebrate your Hobbies

Budget Art Alternatives - The House For Home - Lego Posters
Image Source: The House For Home

What do you love to do in your spare time? Whether it’s spending time outdoors and hillwalking, building Lego, or even watching Friends repeats, you can easily reflect your hobbies and the things you love to do in the artwork around your home. Etsy is great for finding fun prints, as is Not On The High Street.

So what do you think? Do you have any other ideas for personal artwork on a budget? Let me know in the comments below!

Sarah x

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