Remember that grid of eight Ribba frames above our sectional (that we got right the second time around)?
Well, we figured out some in-the-meantime “art” for them (so we don’t have to stare at those brown squares every night). You know, until we come up with something better. And it only cost us five bucks. Okay, $5.17 if you’re being picky. So worth it.
We’re still not 100% sure what we want there in the long run, but we’re leaning towards something graphic and colorful. And since the brown frame back is the opposite of that, we wanted to at least put something in there temporarily that wouldn’t cost much or take any time to toss together. Enter one of our favorite solutions: 12 x 12″ craft paper from Michael’s.
We picked out eight sheets that complement Sue (aka: our inspiration napkin). They were the perfect size to slip in our 12 x 12 Ribba frames and at about 60 cents a pop it was kind of a no-brainer.
We tried a few different arrangements on the floor before putting anything in frames. Since we had picked a couple of duplicate colors, we wanted to keep them far enough away from one another, so we ended up with this grouping:
The frames definitely helped them feel less like sixty-cent craft paper and more like something worthy of being displayed behind glass (seriously, what can’t you slap in a frame for a more polished look?). It definitely added that temporary injection of color we were looking for, and it was kind of reminiscent of the cool art that we saw – and loved – in this House Crashing adventure from back in the day (aka: a month ago).
It’s kind of like a simplified version of Sue the napkin now lives on our walls, eh?
We’ve been living with them for the last 24 hours and might be in danger of falling in love with them as a not-so-temporary solution. Uh oh.
They just look so much nicer than the brown frame backs they covered. Actually, what we’re thinking that we might do is try to build on the concept somehow, like adding some modern white doilies, stencils, or layering some other pattern in front of them so we still can enjoy the color scheme that “shows through” while creating something a little more graphic. Almost like a custom version of those Classical Symmetry prints from Crate & Barrel (this set of six retails for $369, btw).
Or we might still consider doing the personal photo thing by using the colorful paper as large mats around small square black & white pictures. Sherry even mentioned sticking tiny fortune cookie fortunes in the center of each colored sheet of paper. So you have to get really close to read them. ‘Til we decide on anything, we’re kinda loving the cost-of-a-Subway-footlong solution for these eight frames. And of course we’ll keep you posted when we finally get around to updating them for the long haul.
Do you guys have any colorful art that you’re loving? Or affordable sets of images that you’ve spotted? Oh and how cool is this solution to empty Ribba frames that Krissy posted on our Facebook page? As Sherry says (way too much) “um yeah, love it.”
Psst- We announced the winner of this week’s giveaway. Click here to see if it’s you.
Jo @ Jo In the Kitchen says
I like that a lot! The stencils would be super cool, too.
Elizabeth says
love it!! sue the napkin saves the day again!
Bri says
Great idea! I was actually in the process of creating some art to put in my soon-to-be Ribba frames (there’s no IKEA in Milwaukee so we’re waiting for weekend trip to Chicago to make the purchase.) when I saw this post. Perfect timing!
Do you happen to know what size art you could use for the 20.5″ frames, after you keep the mat in? Is 12″ x 12″ the exact size? I guess what I’m asking is how much area does the mat cover?
Also,where do you guys go to get oversize art printed for cheap?
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, the mat opening is meant for 12 x 12″ art, so it’s a smidge smaller so 12 x 12″ paper looks flush behind ’em!
xo,
s
Andrea B says
It looks good! My solution to my empty frames was to pop in scraps of colorful vintage fabric I had on hand. I love the result while I wait for the perfect print or piece of art.
I also have been known to cut up a map of Nashville I had to spare and put it in a frame in our bathroom. The colors just happened to match! FREE!
micki says
Oh, please please retire the napkin.
YoungHouseLove says
So sorry Micki! Sue just does it for us. And she’s our whole house inspiration so we’ll probably talk about her 500 more times. Obsessing over a napkin= a good time. At least to us. Haha.
xo,
s
Jenny says
Since you were talking about family-picture art, what about some homemade silhouettes from family photos, maybe in black (or white? or some of each?) and placed in different places/orientations on top of the craft paper?
YoungHouseLove says
Could be really fun! We already have some silhouettes going on in the nursery (of Clara and Burger) but we can totally see how small white ones would lend themselves to these bold color squares for sure!
xo,
s
Kelly says
Amazing! I love how this solution is both energetic and calming at the same time. I think you should totally keep these as-is. Sue color squares 4 life!!!! :)
Mary says
It is amazing how well these frames bridge the gray between the couch and the beams. At first I wasn’t sure about the beams, but now? LOVE.
YoungHouseLove says
I know right? It’s like the gray beams felt sort of oddly obvious until we started filling the rest of the room with stuff like art and pillows, etc. I bet when we hang curtains they’ll feel even more like “neutral” back-up singers. Which is totally the idea. When they were the stars of the room it was a sad gray artless place. Haha.
xo,
s
jbhat says
Cheap chic. Very nice!
jbhat
Christie says
I love the infusion of color and think the solid paper in the frames is genius!
Sarah says
I used this clever trick to fill in a few frames on the gallery wall behind my couch. I love the impact this makes in your living room- just the touch of color that huge wall needed! I think this is worthy of a permenent solution, not just “for now!” One question: did you mount your frames from the back? They look so deeper and, IMO, more expensive than the many Ribba frames I have. If so, how did you do it? I didn’t know this was an option. Thanks in advance for your help!
YoungHouseLove says
They’re the same square Ribba frames that Ikea sells (21 x 21″ ones) with their original mats and everything. We hung them normally, so maybe it’s just the grid-like arrangement that makes them look a little more special?
xo,
s
Ginny says
I am getting ready to hang a group of frames like that on my plaster walls – any handing tips to make sure they are lined up correctly?
YoungHouseLove says
Use paper templates before hanging! More on that here: https://www.younghouselove.com/2011/03/2-4-6-8-who-do-we-appreciate/
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Maria says
These are great, so simple and colorful. I just finished painting Ballard Design inspired art for my house and was on the lookout for something colorful to compliment those. This might work perfectly! Thanks for the idea!
http://www.ourlakelife.com/2011/03/08/ballard-designs-inspired-berry-blossom-prints-tutorial/
YoungHouseLove says
Love that! You did an awesome job!
xo,
s
Riane says
I am in L-O-V-E with this idea. Especially adding a white graphic overlay. I may just be copying this when I get around to my bedroom re-do! Awesome.
Melissa says
Ah! I wish I could go out and buy a bunch of frames and fill them with colour. Mmm, colour.
Beautiful temporary solution.
Beautiful solution full stop.
Tracy says
That is surprisngly awesome.
Noele says
Love it! I just did the same thing for my daughter’s nursery. I needed some cheap artwork and went to our local craft store for some scrapbook paper. They had a 3 tiered bin of discontinued and out of season paper for 14 cents a piece! Can’t get much better than that. I sat my pregnant booty on the floor and went thru the whole thing haha. I was very proud of my thrifty score.
Heidi says
it’s amazing how something so simple can be so beautiful and perfect for this room. and i love how it’s so nicely extracted from the inspiration of sue the napkin. dare i say, sue for president? lol
YoungHouseLove says
Agreed. Sue for president!!
xo,
s
Jessi E says
I actually really love them. I think if you do anything, it should be small and really let the colors pop out. They look great next to all the greys. I vote fortune fortune cookie fortunes. Great job!
GreenInOC says
GENIUS!
Elisa says
Oh man. Stencils = awesome. I know ya’ll stage your house a little bit for the photos and I can’t figure out if you have 2 of those ikea-sheepskins or like, 12. Hah!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, we have four! One on the ottoman, two in the bedroom, and one on the ottoman in the nursery. But they’re kinda like nomads, they move around from time to time! For example, we love using two of them as a tree skirt during the holidays.
xo,
s
marianne says
I thought you got rid of your IKEA sheepskins and diy’ed some from bath mats a while back. Did I dream that? Quite possible. Haha!
YoungHouseLove says
We DIYed some faux sheepskins (great memory!) and then Ikea rocked our world and started selling cheap faux ones too, which we can toss into the washing machine and use everywhere. We just couldn’t resist!
xo,
s
Jacqueline says
I used to have 4 IKEA sheepskins as well. I assumed they were faux because of the cost (very inexpensive) and was slightly horrified to discover that they were real. Yikes!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, we did the same thing! We couldn’t believe they were real at that price so we gave them all away. Ikea must have heard our prayers because they later introduced faux ones (made of 100% fabric) called the Oleby for even cheaper (just $13). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Snickrsnack Katie says
Wow, that is so freaking amazing. You guys are so awesome how you can take some cheap craft paper and turn it into some fabulous wall art. Very cool!
Lesley says
Love them and love the simplicity of the simple blocks of color. Knowing Sherry’s love for white ceramic animals, maybe stencil a few ceramic creatures in silhouette for a couple of random frames? Or maybe the lower left or right-hand corner frame? Although I would be tempted to leave them as is!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that’s a fun idea. I love the lower left placement idea too.
xo,
s
dana828 says
Love it! I did a similar piece in my daughters room. I used a shimmery caribbean blue paper, and overlayed it with a black scroll-design cut-out paper, then framed it in a black frame with white border. The whole thing, including frame, cost less than $10. Now I’m constantly on the lookout for great papers to frame!
Kari says
So, 5.17 is my birthday. I’ll call that serendipitous!
Also, all this color in your house is kind of freaking me out–in a good way! Is the new rug situation going to be yellow? Or are you going to go some other direction?
YoungHouseLove says
We’re not sure if it’ll be yellow but we want it to be bright and modern looking! And wool so it’s soft for Clara and Burger to play.
xo,
s
Jennifer S. says
I LOVE this. When I first saw the colours of the paper you chose, I have to confess they weren’t really doing it for – until I saw them on the wall – awesome! I noticed a little “eh?” slipped into that post. Have you guys been hanging out with some of my fellow Canadians?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, John says “eh” all the time, isn’t that funny? He’s not even a smidge Canadian so I don’t know where he gets it.
xo,
s
Chanda says
Love it! When I was in TJMaxx the other day they had some scrapbooking supplies that looked really similar to the Crate & Barrel prints. They were near the registers. They were called die cut something or other but they reminded me of stencils. I tried to come up with some kind of small scale stenciling project but talked myself out of it. If I remember correctly they were 12×12 sizes. If you could find enough different ones those would be perfect to just pop over the paper.
Heather says
I LOVE this. I’d be tempted to keep them just the way they are too. I particularly like how you arranged the colors. I am probably enjoying reading about the transformation of your new house about as much as you guys are enjoying making it. Thank you for sharing everything you do down to the smallest detail!
Cara says
The colors look great. You could use some die cut scrapbook pages like these to make them pop even more.
http://www.fabric.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=b512897a-7773-4fb3-a81e-7310e645d2b1
I love the bright colors of your new house. My house has some crazy colors in it and we love it!
YoungHouseLove says
Those are awesome. Thanks for sharing the link!
xo,
s
Jen says
You can always use fun patterned fabric. Even fat squares or remnants!
Sam W. says
I bought a $30 set of prints from Home Goods that are eerily similar to those Crate & Barrel prints, but with white frames. I hung them in a staggered line to break up a large wall in my beige apartment bedroom. I feel even better about all the money I saved!
erika m says
love love love this, does so much for the room! Like it as is, but looking forward to another idea too!
Dave says
When I first read you where going to (and then did) paint the wood beams on the ceiling grey, or “grey washed” I thought you were without a doubt crazy. However the more and more I see them painted out, the more and more I think I was crazy because they really grew on me. Great Job! Sorry for losing the faith….
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, no worries Dave! We’re the first to admit that it was hard to really picture how they’d look once we started layering in art and curtains and all that stuff, but we’re so happy they’ve become some nice architecture up there to balance out giant Karl. We thought we couldn’t go wrong painting them white or gray, but now we think white would actually have been a mistake since all of the white frames that we love might feel like too much. Now it’s a gray sandwich – thanks to Karl and the beams – with white frames in the middle. Haha.
xo,
s
Renee says
How mod! I like things to be simple, and often get frustrated that home decorating projects are crazy expensive, and therefore our home remains mostly undecorated. $5 is wonderful, but how much did those sweet frames set you back?
YoungHouseLove says
They were 19 bucks a pop. But we used two that we already had so we only had to buy six. Not totally cheap, but for 21 x21″ frames (with thick mats) it was the best price we could find!
xo,
s
Hannah Jacklyn says
Love the bold colors! Moving in a great direction.
brooke says
I would go a step further and take personal photos you love and tint each one the colors you have up. So basically it would look exactly the same but it would be a photo. kinda like Photowow. I’m sure I could have explained that better or quicker!
Jaimie says
Love the colors. Also love the fact that I can show my husband it is okay to put framed art above the couch.
Sandra says
LOVE it … great idea! :-)
lonely wife project says
I love this idea! There’s an art store by my work with the most beautiful paper I’ve ever seen. I’ve often thought about framing it. You should inspired me to go for it!
Jamie says
I have the same thing in my living room. Well, different paper of course. I did this after many months of NOT finding artwork to go on the walls. I love it. My paper is patterened but I LOVE the solid colors you used!
Debbie says
So many possibilities! I watched Season 1 of Top Design a few years ago, and Matt Lorenz (the winner) had framed a bunch of photos that he had printed in orange ink and hung them in a grid. It looked so cool! Just an idea. :)
Michelle says
I love using scrapbook paper as art! I have two 12 X 12 frames in my dining room that I change out with the seasons. It makes it SO easier to have cheap, seasonal, easy-to-store decorations! I also like to cut strips of scrapbook paper and tape them around candles (that I don’t actually burn)in the same way. Plain off-white candles go from Christmas, to Valentine’s, to spring in 5 minutes for a few dollars. My favorite part is that I don’t have to store a set for each season!
Have you seen the scrapbook paper at Target? It’s not as thick as what I usually buy, but you can get a pack of color-coordinated patterns and solids, 8 sheets, for $1! I brought a pack into work and tacked them on the walls of my cubicle for a cheap way to bring some color into my gray cube.
YoungHouseLove says
We had no idea Target sold scrapbook paper! We’ll have to check it out!
xo,
s
Liz says
LOVE IT! I like that there isn’t too much going on. I would consider keeping it simple like that! The grid from the frames is already pretty graphic. (not that you’re soliciting advice, haha)!
Liz says
Love what you’ve done so far. It might be an optical illusion, but the bottom right frame looks out of line with the rest…
YoungHouseLove says
You’re right it totally looks like that! I think it’s the way the light is reflecting off the top of the bottom frame. In person it’s all lined up though. John’s crazy about that stuff. Haha.
xo,
s
Alissa says
How do you go to Michaels and only get what was on your list? I never thought it was possible. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, crazy right? You have to have tunnel vision. Go in, go only to the paper aisle, cover eyes and feel your way to the checkout, then leave before buying anything else! Haha.
xo,
s
Chelsea & Kyle says
Love the colors! For some inexpensive apartment art, we had a frame with 3 5×7 openings and we put old calander prints in for art.
Ofelia says
Wonderful! lovely colors, I would like to see them a very long time… Just one thing: I miss a coffe table in the middle of Karl, aren´t you?
YoungHouseLove says
We actually love the ottoman since Clara plays there all the time (no hard corners or glass to break!). We definitely miss a place to put a cup of tea down though, so we can’t wait to build a console table that will go all the way across the back of Karl for lots of nice surface area.
xo,
s
Ericka says
So simple and yet so stylish! It gives the room a nice injection of color!
Dina says
Great price and looks fantastic!
Gracie says
OMG! So simple, but I LOVE it!! I really like the idea of somehow building on them.