Wednesday, March 13, 2013

20 Minute Decor Update

Do you have 20 minutes to spare?  Then you have time to update the look of your room.  All you need is some existing frames, some mat board and some new art ready to hang.  You can find new art anywhere.  Maybe you have some postcards or greeting cards someone sent to you that you love.  Or do you have some photos that you have been meaning to frame?  I have even found some gorgeous art worthy wrapping paper that I have thought about framing.  Just start looking around and you'd be surprised what you might find.  




I have had these art prints that I got at a local budget retailer over 10 years ago.  I bought them when I had my very first apartment and was going with a bit of an Asian theme.  I loved them...at the time....but they just don't go with my current decor.  But I didn't have much of a budget or need to buy new artwork. 



I am one lucky lady that I have a very talented mother, who just happens to also be an artist.  She gave me these fabulous aviary pieces years ago (okay, now I'm embarrassed it took me so long - sorry Mom).  I have always loved them but just didn't end up doing anything with them.  I guess that is what happens when you have two young and demanding little girls.  

Then one day I thought, hmmm, you know, those frames hanging up in my bedroom are pretty attractive.  What if I just swapped out the artwork? 



My bedding set has a bird theme to it so the bird paintings from my Mom were just perfect!  

So I headed on down to Aaron Brothers (local framing shop) to get the existing mat boards cut down, because I am cheap and didn't want to pay for new mat board.  Much to my disappointment, one of the employees told me that it really wouldn't work well to use the existing mat board because it would bow and crinkle when they tried to cut it down.   I didn't have any mat cutting tools so I needed them to do it for me.  The price they would charge me to try cutting down the mats would be the same as having them cut new mats for me.  Okay, sold.  So then I experimented with various mat colors that would accent the art but also give the room the serene, relaxing look I was going for.  So, I settled for a simple white mat. Sometimes simple is better.  




A few minutes later and voila, new original art for my bedroom!  I am so happy with the new look and even happier that I am reminded of my mom every time I see these beauties.  Because, after all, having art on your walls that you don't like is FOR THE BIRDS :)