3 budget friendly ways to bring more art into your home

I recently posted a little video about how I treat the outside of my fridge like a scrapbook and the internet deemed it a great idea. To me, this was just another random little thing I do, but I realized to others maybe they grew up in a "clean fridge household" and either weren't allowed to put stuff on their fridge or hadn't seen it done in a way they themselves like (fridges with stuff on it definitely can be messy, but if done mindfully it can look really lovely, at least IMO). As the likes came rolling in I was so curious why people loved it this much. Then I realized the obvious, it's free! Its attainable, it's doable, it's personal. I think people are really over seeing these rare lavish lifestyles online and like to see like spaces that could be their own home too (most of us, myself included, are not living in countryside villas so I understand this feeling as well, I'm in the same boat lol; although I do love seeing the occasional villa, why not live vicariously and enjoy a mini online escape, right?). With all that said, I thought I'd round up a few other ideas that I've implemented over time that live within the same "affordable art" category; starting with the one that prompted this blog post:

1. Treat your fridge like a scrapbook:

   I like to start fresh every year, but you can really start whenever! You can either gather up mementos from the last couple months, or can start to gather as you go from here on out. When I say mementos I mean things like movie ticket stubs, a beautiful note/card from a friend or loved one, maybe print out a few photos from recent events (or from your past that you just want to see every day), if you have a photo strip from a photo booth those are always fun to add. You can get really creative and save a receipt from a fun restaurant outing (write a mini memory about why it was special on the receipt); if you go on a road trip buy a postcard from a local shop and add it to the fridge to spark memories from the trip; maybe you have a beautiful piece of ribbon from a gift and haven't known what to do with it but want to save it, tie it into a bow and use a fun magnet to tack it up. Speaking of magnets, you know those fun stickers that people use in scrapbooks? I feel like magnets are the sticker equivalent of scrapbooking a fridge. I have gathered my magnets over many years; some my mom made, some I made, some are ceramic, some are little buttons, some are shells, some are wine corks, some are bottle caps, some were gifts, some are little clips, and I think thats all part of the fun too. You can find some really cute magnets on Etsy and local shops, but you can also make your own! Get a hot glue gun, some blank magnets, and anything can become a cute magnet! Invite some friends over and make a day of it, or turn on a good audio book and just zone out for a couple hours.
   

2. Print your photos:

   The lost art of printing our photos is coming back my friends. I feel like there were a few years that we got so caught up in digital that we all forgot we can PRINT our photos. Go through your phone/camera and pick out a few photos that bring you joy and get them printed in various sizes to frame and layer up on your mantle/bookshelf/wall. You can print fairly cheaply at Walgreens (I like to print photos I know I'm going to frame in Matte, this way there's no double glare), and you can use the Honey App extension for extra discount at checkout.
   

3. Art doesn't have to be expensive:

   I think a lot of people see artwork as either really expensive, or they just have to get it from Home Goods and have the same damn art as every other house on the street. This is not the case my friends! Here are a few ideas to bring some unique art into your home without it costing you an arm and a leg:

   1. Make it! It doesn't have to be perfect, doesn't even have to be good, just have fun with it! If it's really bad just call it abstract lol

   2. I know some people will roll their eyes at that first one and say "Rose that's sweet, but I want my art to look good," ok ok this one is for you! There are so many artists on Etsy that sell downloadable digital artwork for a very reasonable price (under $10). The download usually comes in various sizes, so you can choose what size suits your needs. After you download it you can print it at Walgreens and you can use the Honey App extension for extra discount at checkout (or a similar option near you, sometimes libraries have poster printers available for public use for free).

   3. When it comes to framing the art it can get expensive, however if you check your local thrift shops for frames you can save a ton of money and find a unique mix of frames that are likely going to be made better than the cheap stuff at big box stores. Just make sure to give them a good clean before taking them inside your home!

   4. Thrifting art can also be a great way to not only find unique pieces (sometimes quite valuable), but also they typically come pre-framed. Checking local estate sales is also a great idea for finding some nice art.

   5. If you love the masterpieces, you can find many of those works of art free for download (for private home use) via creative commons/open access on various sites like The Met, National Gallery of Art, and more. From there you can get them printed and framed! & yes, this is legal! lol

I hope some of these ideas were useful! If you end up using any of them, please share a photo with me via DM's or tag me if you post it. Creating a home can feel overwhelming, but try to slow down and have fun with it. Remember it doesn't all have to be "done" (I don't think a home is ever truly "done") quickly, creating a true home takes time and hopefully you can enjoy the process.

Thanks for being here,

Rose