DIY Stunning Decor To Elevate Your Walls With A Budget-Friendly IKEA Hack

Gorgeous wall art pieces can cost a fortune, but DIYing your own version of a luxe canvas could save you money and still achieve the same effect. If you're looking for a DIY textured wall art idea to make your home look elegant on a budget, look no further than snagging affordable materials like IKEA cork trivets to create a stunning piece. IKEA offers a pack of three 7-inch trivets, called HEAT, for $6. These trivets can be versatile for a DIY project, especially if you choose to cut them or paint them so they don't look like a pot holder, and rather, appear like an intentional piece of art. One method to try with these materials is to create a modern, geometric canvas that you can hang on your wall for a minimal yet elegant appeal.

If you want to fill your home with art you actually love, DIYing pieces allows you to customize the size and shape of the ensemble and add more personal flair through color or arrangement. While the cork trivets are highly customizable when it comes to arranging them, painting them allows you to separate them from their initial purpose. Unpainted pieces, while optional, might look too "cork-like" and could appear cheap. Also, it's important to note that some paints may not be able to hide all of the nooks and crannies found in cork's texture, lending to a piece that may not appear as smooth.

For this project, you'll likely need at least 15 cork trivets, though you can use more to achieve a larger, more intricate wall art piece. Next, grab a large, flat poster board or other slim backing like a canvas to be the base of your project. Be sure to measure your space before sizing your poster board. Then, using a cutting tool of your choice, start cutting and sorting your cork trivets into two piles: a pile for uncut whole circles and another of cut, half circles. We recommend keeping at least half of the trivets uncut for the modern art look. Once you have your circles and half-circles, begin arranging them on your poster board to create your design. Pair half-circles together by placing their rounded edges side by side, either vertically or horizontally, and intersperse the full circles throughout.

Once you have your layout, begin gluing the cork trivets to the board. Next, use a minimal paint color, like white, and paint the board and the trivets to cover the entire piece. After the paint has dried, cut 1-inch wood trim pieces and use glue and a nail gun to attach the wood trim along the edges of the poster board or canvas to create an elegant frame. Finally, attach hooks to hang the art piece on the wall and show off your modern art creation wherever you like.

While the cork canvas DIY keeps trivets contained and adds a geometric look to your space, you might consider swapping up some of the techniques for a more organic look. Rather than keeping your trivets bound in a frame, consider placing whole and half-circle trivets along the wall in a similar pattern but allowing for space in between to cover more area. This can be a fun geometric alternative to a classic headboard in a bedroom, for example. Painting them the same color as your wall could offer a unique three-dimensional effect.

Another alternative is to use fewer trivets for a smaller piece. Consider using a needle or small tool to poke a hole in the top of a circle and run a string through it. Do the same with the half-circles, stringing the shapes together to create a hanging ensemble that is slim and great for smaller areas that need a touch of art. Or, for a truly organic art piece that still offers a geometric look, color your circular trivets by dividing the circle in half with paint rather than cutting it. Hang the cork circles directly along the wall in any form or shape you prefer, alternating between single-colored and multi-colored pieces. Depending on how you style the trivets, you can create a trendy wall art design for any room in your house.