From the moment we painted that brick wall in our sunroom, a fresh canvas emerged, sparking an immediate desire to adorn it with art. After a whirlwind of travel, navigating six flights in just four days, we finally found the precious time to tackle this exciting project. It’s truly remarkable how a room instantly transforms, feeling more “lived in” and complete, the moment artwork graces its walls. We understand the hesitation, the tendency to delay hanging art, but after nearly seven years of dedicated home improvement, this small yet impactful step never ceases to astound us with the profound difference it makes in a space.
In keeping with the overarching design philosophy for this sunroom, our goal has been to minimize expenditure, primarily utilizing existing pieces we already own. This strategic approach allows us to save diligently for future investments in other areas of our home. Currently, our savings are earmarked for tackling Clara’s furniture-less “big girl” room, a guest bathroom that remains untouched, and comprehensive makeovers for both our front porch and carport. Therefore, exercising financial restraint in the sunroom’s decor is a sensible decision, especially given the various piles of art awaiting their permanent home, currently cluttering our spare room. This budget-conscious method not only aligns with our larger financial goals but also challenges our creativity to make the most of what we already possess.
This commitment to utilizing what we had readily available is precisely how our charming, eclectic, and intentionally asymmetrical art arrangement came into being. We firmly believed these pieces would contribute far more aesthetic value displayed on the wall than relegated to a forgotten pile on the playroom floor. While the wooden side table on the right currently appears a tad weighty – even with the addition of complementary wooden art on the left side of the wall to aid in visual balance – we have exciting plans in motion to integrate it more harmoniously into the overall design further down the line. We encourage you to stay tuned for future updates as we continue to refine this evolving space.
Crafting an Eclectic Gallery Wall: A Playful and Intuitive Approach
Our approach to creating this gallery wall was decidedly organic and playful. We gathered a diverse assortment of frames and art-sized objects we had around the house and engaged in a dynamic process of arrangement. The goal was to find a grouping that felt inherently balanced, not just among the art pieces themselves but also in relation to the existing furniture in the room. A subtle nod to the sunroom’s sloped ceiling was also a consideration, adding another layer of thoughtful design to the arrangement. We were particularly fortunate to discover pieces whose colors seamlessly tied into the existing palette of our throw pillows, while also incorporating some darker elements to introduce essential visual weight and depth into the room. The overall aesthetic we aimed for was distinctly eclectic – a deliberate departure from anything overly coordinated or “matchy-matchy.” We embraced the beauty of imperfection and the charm of collected treasures.
Our Intuitive Hanging Method: A Visual Guide
For those curious about the practicalities of hanging such an arrangement, we’ve put together an animated GIF to visually illustrate the sequence in which each piece found its spot on the wall. Our method was refreshingly low-tech: after securing each item, we’d simply step back, hold the next piece in place, shimmy it around until we were satisfied with its positioning, and then proceed to hang it. This intuitive, trial-and-error process allowed us to achieve the casual and eclectic outcome we desired.
The beauty of aiming for a casual and eclectic display is that it often liberates you from the need for precise, methodical measurements. The good news for aspiring gallery wall creators is that you don’t always need to resort to complex mathematical calculations to successfully arrange a collection of frames on your wall. While a completely balanced grid, like the one over our sofa, typically demands meticulous planning, our sunroom project proved that sometimes, an organic approach yields the most authentic results. For those interested in creating similar animated graphics, a helpful Photoshop tutorial can guide you through the process. And regarding the challenging light and shadows prevalent in our sunroom, our professional technique involves… using a giant poster of our local magazine cover – a thoughtful gift received after a Richmond tour event – as a makeshift light diffuser. Truly, sometimes you just have to work with what you’ve got, right?
Unveiling Our Unique Art Collection: Stories Behind Each Piece
The Right Side: A Tale of Two Maps (and Future Evolution)
The items adorning the right side of our sunroom wall are both distinctive maps. One is a vibrant North America map, repurposed from a calendar we’ve cherished for some time, always with the intention of transforming it into art. The second is a vintage map of Richmond, a piece with a rich history, having resided in various spots from the guest room of our first home to the kitchen in our current one. While I personally find the current arrangement a little too overtly “Hey, look! This is the side with the maps!”, these were undeniably our best options from our existing collection, particularly because the colors in the top map harmonize beautifully with the room’s palette. We are, however, completely open to letting this eclectic frame wall evolve over time. This hopefully means it won’t remain a “maps-only zone” indefinitely, and we promise to keep you updated on any future swaps and changes.
The Left Side: Embracing the Unexpected
The left side of the wall presents an intriguing, rather unconventional mix of items – pieces I honestly never envisioned hanging together. Yet, against all odds, it somehow resonates with both of us. Consider it a deliberate step outside our usual comfort zone of pristine white frames. The prominent brown piece on the far left is actually a doily stretcher, a unique find we stumbled upon at a thrift store this past summer for a mere $4. It immediately captivated our attention due to its generous size, compelling geometric pattern, and, let’s be honest, its unbeatable price. We’re thrilled to have finally found the perfect spot for it, especially as it subtly begins to visually balance the wooden end table positioned on the opposite side of the wall.
Adjacent to the doily stretcher are two exquisite pieces of painterly art. One is a charming watercolor print, and the other is an actual painting on a wooden canvas. The bottom print was a heartfelt gift from a reader we met during one of our book tour stops. She mentioned it reminded her of us (it’s by Sally at sadlyharmless.com), and we absolutely adore it. Clara, especially, finds it endlessly intriguing, captivated by the beard, the sharks, and the boat – in that precise order, a testament to her unique fascination with beards! The top item in this arrangement is an truly amazing painting of Burger, our beloved pet, skillfully created by the husband of another reader we encountered on our book tour. Sherry couldn’t stop gushing about Joe’s immense talent! The resemblance is uncanny, isn’t it? He perfectly captured Burger’s soulful “give-me-your-cheeseburger” eyes.
All these artworks were carefully hung during the evening hours, which unfortunately meant the lighting was too dim to capture the process in detail. Below is our single attempt at documenting the nighttime operation, offering a glimpse into our dedicated efforts.
Mastering the Brick Wall: A Practical Guide to Hanging Art
For those curious about the specific technique we employ for hanging art on a brick wall, here’s the tried-and-true method that consistently yields excellent results for us:
- Begin by using a masonry bit, which can be purchased separately for your drill, to create a hole in the brick that is sized precisely for a plastic anchor. Whenever possible, drilling into the mortar is often an easier alternative.
- Gently hammer a plastic anchor into the newly drilled hole, ensuring it fits snugly and securely.
- Finally, screw a screw into the anchor. Tighten it firmly so it’s held strongly in place, but remember to leave approximately half an inch of the screw exposed. This protruding portion will serve as the perfect hook for either a picture hook or the picture wire attached to the back of your frame.
This method provides an impressively strong hold, robust enough to support virtually any picture frame, including some rather heavy mirrors I’ve successfully hung using this very approach. And for any concerns about removing unwanted holes in the future – drilling into brick might sound quite permanent or irreversible, right? – we’ve actually had great success with patching holes in painted brick or mortar. So, rest assured, it’s not irreversible at all! Simply use the back of a hammer to carefully yank out the anchor, then fill the hole with paintable caulk. Once dry, a quick coat of paint will seamlessly blend the repair, making it virtually undetectable thanks to the inherently craggy and uneven texture of painted brick.
Simpler Solutions: The Bike Prints and Future Plans
What proved to be significantly less involved than meticulously hanging frames on brick were these two delightful prints. They are prints I had coveted for quite some time and have finally found a temporary home for. Please disregard the table and chairs positioned beneath them for now – they are simply items we’ve owned forever, occupying that space until we identify a more substantial and balanced piece of furniture for the spot. We envision a piece with integrated storage would be far more functional, especially since we already have ample seating with the daybed and egg chair, rendering additional chairs somewhat superfluous. You know we’ll keep you thoroughly updated on our progress!
As for the bike prints themselves, they are currently held in place with nothing more than masking tape. This temporary measure allowed us to experiment with their placement and ensure we liked the visual impact. However, I fully intend to construct some simple, custom-designed wood frames for them in the very near future. Unless, of course, you’re all genuinely charmed by the raw, taped-up aesthetic. Just kidding, of course!
The Grand Reveal: A Sunroom Transformed
We wouldn’t be surprised if some of these elements shift around a bit in the future, or even get replaced entirely – yes, I’m looking at you, map wall! – but for now, this represents a monumental step in making this sunroom feel genuinely lived-in. What’s even more satisfying is that we’ve achieved this transformation by purchasing nothing but paint so far. All the furniture and art pieces are items we already owned; they might not be permanent fixtures, but they certainly serve their purpose beautifully for the time being. Here’s the refreshing new “with-art” perspective of our sunroom, as viewed from the adjacent living room:
It’s incredibly gratifying to sit on the sofa now and look through that large slider, finally seeing what genuinely resembles a finished room. The addition of art to the walls marks a huge leap towards transitioning what was once an old storage zone into a truly inviting and “real-ish” looking space. It’s hard to believe that after over two years of living here, we’re only just beginning to tackle the sunroom! What projects are currently occupying your attention? Which rooms do you typically prioritize when starting a home renovation? Do you, like us, focus on the living room, dining room, bedrooms, and kitchen within the first couple of years? And which spaces inevitably end up at the very back of the renovation queue? For us, it seems our guest bathroom, the playroom that inadvertently became a storage room, and our front porch and carport are holding steady towards the end of our list as we venture into year three of home ownership. We’d love to hear about your own home improvement journeys and priorities!
Psst- We finally (FINALLY!) wrote about Sherry’s mom’s pre-Christmas visit over on Young House Life. Here ya go.