Decorating
20 Graphic Art Ideas for the Personal Touch
This collection of cool and quirky graphic art pieces was taken from unique homes featured on Houzz
Sometimes a graphic pattern or a bold splash of colour is all you need to punch up a space. This collection of crafty homeowners used discarded materials – including the rubbish! – and often-overlooked spots like the side of the kitchen island to show off their creativity. If you’ve been looking for a way to put a personalised stamp on a space, get inspired by these 20 graphic DIY ideas.
2. High-scoring powder room floor
Katie Lo of Vancouver, Canada, injected a little fun into her powder room without making a huge commitment. She ordered Scrabble tiles from China and installed them on the floor herself. “I was met with a lot of questions and confusion from our project managers and trades, but in the end, everyone loved it,” she says. There are about 7,000 tiles on the floor, each individually laid by Lo.
The installation took two full days to complete. “I had the entire floor designed beforehand, and my husband and I came up with approximately 60 words that are hidden in the floor,” she says. The words include cities they’ve lived in, family members’ names and inside jokes. The tiles are attached to a plywood base with polyurethane construction adhesive, and the floor is sealed with five coats of water-based clear sealant.
Katie Lo of Vancouver, Canada, injected a little fun into her powder room without making a huge commitment. She ordered Scrabble tiles from China and installed them on the floor herself. “I was met with a lot of questions and confusion from our project managers and trades, but in the end, everyone loved it,” she says. There are about 7,000 tiles on the floor, each individually laid by Lo.
The installation took two full days to complete. “I had the entire floor designed beforehand, and my husband and I came up with approximately 60 words that are hidden in the floor,” she says. The words include cities they’ve lived in, family members’ names and inside jokes. The tiles are attached to a plywood base with polyurethane construction adhesive, and the floor is sealed with five coats of water-based clear sealant.
3. Turning trash to treasure
This laundry room splashback in Adjungbilly, NSW, provides a colourful backdrop for Will Onus and Simone Viljoen when they fold clothes. Viljoen, a model and artist, took a photo of rubbish in a bin, edited it on Photoshop and applied interesting filters to the image. She then sent it off to DecoGlaze to have it digitally printed and set behind glass to complement their Ikea cabinetry.
Read more about this home with quirky charm
This laundry room splashback in Adjungbilly, NSW, provides a colourful backdrop for Will Onus and Simone Viljoen when they fold clothes. Viljoen, a model and artist, took a photo of rubbish in a bin, edited it on Photoshop and applied interesting filters to the image. She then sent it off to DecoGlaze to have it digitally printed and set behind glass to complement their Ikea cabinetry.
Read more about this home with quirky charm
4. Geometric appeal for a baker
For renter Abby Taylor of Washington, USA, quilt designs inspired her to make these two large geometric art pieces on plywood in her living room. “I’m obsessed with triangles, which is also reflected in my quilt designs,” she says. “I love how you can twist and turn them to create completely different feelings depending on their arrangement.”
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For renter Abby Taylor of Washington, USA, quilt designs inspired her to make these two large geometric art pieces on plywood in her living room. “I’m obsessed with triangles, which is also reflected in my quilt designs,” she says. “I love how you can twist and turn them to create completely different feelings depending on their arrangement.”
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5. Beautiful DIY blue hues
A punch of colour appears in the most unlikely of places in this creative open-concept home in Toronto, Canada: on the side of the kitchen island. Homeowner Timothy Mitanidis had his brother, a print shop owner, print a dreamlike image of blues, whites and greens on Lexan plastic. It provides the perfect jolt of contrast to the monochromatic, industrial-style space.
A punch of colour appears in the most unlikely of places in this creative open-concept home in Toronto, Canada: on the side of the kitchen island. Homeowner Timothy Mitanidis had his brother, a print shop owner, print a dreamlike image of blues, whites and greens on Lexan plastic. It provides the perfect jolt of contrast to the monochromatic, industrial-style space.
6. ‘Where We’ve Been’ art for two travel lovers
Bryan and Jen Danger of Portland, Oregon in the US, outlined a world map on the two walls above their sofa. “It reminds us of where we’ve been and where we’re going,” says Bryan, a designer. Orange pins mark many of the places the couple have visited. The trail down into Central America indicates a year-long van trip.
Bryan and Jen Danger of Portland, Oregon in the US, outlined a world map on the two walls above their sofa. “It reminds us of where we’ve been and where we’re going,” says Bryan, a designer. Orange pins mark many of the places the couple have visited. The trail down into Central America indicates a year-long van trip.
7. DIY world travel planner
A world map painted by Austin, Texas homeowner Jason Kays in the US serves as a focal point in his home office. Kays and his partner, Bill Symon, are avid travellers and use pins and stickers on the map to mark the places they plan to visit together. The couple also created the storage unit below, using cinder blocks, wood and two Ikea storage pieces.
A world map painted by Austin, Texas homeowner Jason Kays in the US serves as a focal point in his home office. Kays and his partner, Bill Symon, are avid travellers and use pins and stickers on the map to mark the places they plan to visit together. The couple also created the storage unit below, using cinder blocks, wood and two Ikea storage pieces.
8. Painted pinboard
Katie Lo’s home office in Vancouver, Canada, features a creative installation of pinboards that she customised with white paint. The round cork accents are kitchen trivets from Ikea. The humble pinboard can be a stylish way to keep papers and other reminders organised. “The next big project on my list is a custom sliding barn door for the office,” Lo says.
Katie Lo’s home office in Vancouver, Canada, features a creative installation of pinboards that she customised with white paint. The round cork accents are kitchen trivets from Ikea. The humble pinboard can be a stylish way to keep papers and other reminders organised. “The next big project on my list is a custom sliding barn door for the office,” Lo says.
9. If walls could read
Camille Dickson made a striking accent wall using pages from books she had around her house in Texas, USA. “Two were old French study guides; the other two novels I got at Goodwill for about 50 cents each. I just used my stapler from school to tack the pages up there,” she says.
The Wm. Knabe & Co. piano was a gift from Dickson’s grandfather. “He gave it to our family when I was in third grade, and I took lessons all the way through high school,” she says. “I have many happy memories associated with it.”
Camille Dickson made a striking accent wall using pages from books she had around her house in Texas, USA. “Two were old French study guides; the other two novels I got at Goodwill for about 50 cents each. I just used my stapler from school to tack the pages up there,” she says.
The Wm. Knabe & Co. piano was a gift from Dickson’s grandfather. “He gave it to our family when I was in third grade, and I took lessons all the way through high school,” she says. “I have many happy memories associated with it.”
10. Custom art canvas and bedhead
Cody Derrick installed large framed whiteboards above the bed in his Utah, USA home, so he can change the art in the room whenever he wants by simply using dry-erase markers.
Derrick carefully designed each aspect of the room to make it an ideal sleeping space. “The bedroom was small and chopped up, with many different colours and odd shelving,” he says.
Since it’s the only bedroom in the house, he painted it all one colour, including the trim, to make it feel larger, and added dramatic floor-to-ceiling drapes. He designed the platform bed with an oversize perimeter; recessed storage cubbies are hidden under trapdoors in the top, “both for simplicity’s sake and to hide cords,” Derrick says. The art lights above the bed double as reading lights, with remote switches.
Cody Derrick installed large framed whiteboards above the bed in his Utah, USA home, so he can change the art in the room whenever he wants by simply using dry-erase markers.
Derrick carefully designed each aspect of the room to make it an ideal sleeping space. “The bedroom was small and chopped up, with many different colours and odd shelving,” he says.
Since it’s the only bedroom in the house, he painted it all one colour, including the trim, to make it feel larger, and added dramatic floor-to-ceiling drapes. He designed the platform bed with an oversize perimeter; recessed storage cubbies are hidden under trapdoors in the top, “both for simplicity’s sake and to hide cords,” Derrick says. The art lights above the bed double as reading lights, with remote switches.
11. Heartwarming cross-stitch paint mural
Jennifer Kinder, homeowner and mother of two in Austin, Texas, was inspired by a cross-stitch painting she saw on Etsy. She worked with her 10-year-old daughter, Eliza, to complete the typography project. “Eliza did much of the actual painting over my pencil sketch for her on the wall,” Kinder says. “It was fun to have her do some of it.”
Jennifer Kinder, homeowner and mother of two in Austin, Texas, was inspired by a cross-stitch painting she saw on Etsy. She worked with her 10-year-old daughter, Eliza, to complete the typography project. “Eliza did much of the actual painting over my pencil sketch for her on the wall,” Kinder says. “It was fun to have her do some of it.”
12. Repurposed art palettes
Painter Richard Murray’s live-work art studio in Oregon, USA, is marked by cathedral ceilings and a cavernous central work space. The living areas are open to the studio, separated by low walls that were constructed from Murray’s art palettes.
“I noticed while working that the palettes themselves possessed their own beauty. When they had a wonderful colour or pattern, I’d stop,” he says. “I thought I might use them one day as wainscoting for a dining room. Then when I came here, it became a railing.”
Painter Richard Murray’s live-work art studio in Oregon, USA, is marked by cathedral ceilings and a cavernous central work space. The living areas are open to the studio, separated by low walls that were constructed from Murray’s art palettes.
“I noticed while working that the palettes themselves possessed their own beauty. When they had a wonderful colour or pattern, I’d stop,” he says. “I thought I might use them one day as wainscoting for a dining room. Then when I came here, it became a railing.”
13. Winning wine crates
Canadian Jessica Schmid used a collection of deconstructed wooden wine boxes to decorate a kitchen wall in her family’s Vancouver home. “We have a friend who collects wine,” she says. “Some of those crates he has lugged around with him for over 25 years. When he saw I was collecting old wine crates, he gave me some really cool ones, like the 1982 Opus.”
Read more about this updated 1898 Victorian
Canadian Jessica Schmid used a collection of deconstructed wooden wine boxes to decorate a kitchen wall in her family’s Vancouver home. “We have a friend who collects wine,” she says. “Some of those crates he has lugged around with him for over 25 years. When he saw I was collecting old wine crates, he gave me some really cool ones, like the 1982 Opus.”
Read more about this updated 1898 Victorian
14. A different kind of oil lamp
Artists Buffy Cribbs and Bruce Morrow of Washington, USA, repurposed colourful olive oil cans into reading lights for their bedhead. “I love olive oil cans,” Cribbs says, citing their highly decorated, colourful designs. Cribbs also made their painted wood bedhead.
Artists Buffy Cribbs and Bruce Morrow of Washington, USA, repurposed colourful olive oil cans into reading lights for their bedhead. “I love olive oil cans,” Cribbs says, citing their highly decorated, colourful designs. Cribbs also made their painted wood bedhead.
15. Wallpaper-like coaster collection
Inspired by a trip to Ireland in 2005, Caroline and David Denis built a cosy bar in their basement in Montreal, Canada. The benchtop is made of wood salvaged during their renovation, and a graphic accent wall is decorated with beer coasters the couple collected over the years. David built the shelves and hung travel photos and other mementos on the walls.
Inspired by a trip to Ireland in 2005, Caroline and David Denis built a cosy bar in their basement in Montreal, Canada. The benchtop is made of wood salvaged during their renovation, and a graphic accent wall is decorated with beer coasters the couple collected over the years. David built the shelves and hung travel photos and other mementos on the walls.
16. Succulent seat
US landscape architect Chris Kukula had an old outdoor bench in her home in California, and the rusted metal slats on the seat made it unusable as seating. She gave it new life by planting chamomile and echeveria and turned it into an art piece.
US landscape architect Chris Kukula had an old outdoor bench in her home in California, and the rusted metal slats on the seat made it unusable as seating. She gave it new life by planting chamomile and echeveria and turned it into an art piece.
17. No material left behind
Jen and Bryan Danger tried to use as much reclaimed material as possible in their so-called accessory dwelling unit in Oregon, USA. The couple used screws to make the numbers on their house-design studio.
Jen and Bryan Danger tried to use as much reclaimed material as possible in their so-called accessory dwelling unit in Oregon, USA. The couple used screws to make the numbers on their house-design studio.
18. Please record a message
Harper and Jimmy Quill took an Austin, Texas farmhouse in rough shape and made it into a charming family home. Jimmy, a musician and record producer, built an analogue and digital recording studio that has also been used as a set for films and music videos on the property, and he turned an adjacent trailer into accommodations for visiting artists. Every artist who visits the recording studio signs the bathroom walls, which the couple painted with chalkboard paint.
Harper and Jimmy Quill took an Austin, Texas farmhouse in rough shape and made it into a charming family home. Jimmy, a musician and record producer, built an analogue and digital recording studio that has also been used as a set for films and music videos on the property, and he turned an adjacent trailer into accommodations for visiting artists. Every artist who visits the recording studio signs the bathroom walls, which the couple painted with chalkboard paint.
20. Nature-inspired custom wall hanging
Interior designer Kristin Korven made a woven wall hanging using found driftwood and a textile from Mexico for her daughter Luella’s nursery in their Los Angeles home. She also stained an unfinished Ikea wood crib to match the rest of the room’s furnishings.
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YOUR TURN
Have you created your own graphic art piece for your home? Share a photo of your masterpiece in the Comments section below.
MORE
Take the Leap and Go Bold With Graphic Wallpaper
What We Can Learn From Art Collectors
DIY an Upholstered Bedhead Then Change the Colour as You Please
Interior designer Kristin Korven made a woven wall hanging using found driftwood and a textile from Mexico for her daughter Luella’s nursery in their Los Angeles home. She also stained an unfinished Ikea wood crib to match the rest of the room’s furnishings.
See more of this home
YOUR TURN
Have you created your own graphic art piece for your home? Share a photo of your masterpiece in the Comments section below.
MORE
Take the Leap and Go Bold With Graphic Wallpaper
What We Can Learn From Art Collectors
DIY an Upholstered Bedhead Then Change the Colour as You Please
This black and white canvas in the living room of Chris and Saulé Smariga’s home in Maryland, USA, is a hand-lettered labour of love that serves as a graphic statement piece.
Saulé worked on creating the artwork – lyrics to the song Stereo Hearts by Gym Class Heroes – for countless hours with their son. “I love the scale and how simple yet graphic it is,” she says. The memory of working on it with her son makes it one of her favourite pieces of art in the home.