Hide Air Vent Eyesores With An Easy Solution You Can DIY

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Planning the decor you put into your home can be an extremely personal experience. This makes it that much more frustrating to find that your artistic spirit is hindered by an unsightly vent on the wall. The urge to cover these monstrosities is strong, but HVAC companies warn against this, as it could increase your heating and cooling bill, reduce efficiency and quality, and increase the chance of overheating. So, where does this leave you in your decorating options? You can keep unsightly wall fixtures out of sight with a simple decor hack: Instead of hiding them, display them in a field of art.

The age-old adage, "when you can't beat them, join them," rings true here. Since you can't just do what you might for other eyesores, such as creating a simple cover for your electrical box using a budget-friendly DIY, or for your air conditioner in the winter, you need to think outside the box. By placing different-sized wall art around the offending grate, you camouflage it, and it gets lost in the gallery. It helps that most paintings and prints come in squares and rectangles, much the same as a standard air duct lid. The effect is aesthetically pleasing, safe, and can be customized to any budget based on the art you choose.

Getting started on this project requires little more than some beautiful pieces you want to display around your air vent. You don't have to know how to create the perfect gallery wall to pull this hack off — you just have to find pieces that speak to you and aren't too uniform in size. Using small and big frames will make the vent stand out less based on size alone. You can also use a fancy store-bought air vent cover to make the air flow eyesore less offensive. The Hampton Bay collection at Home Depot, for example, features brushed nickel scroll work, adding just a touch of something special, but you don't have to spend money to change the look of the grate.

Another way to help your air duct cover blend in is to give the one you've got a little sprucing up. A white grate on a white wall, for example, might not pass as artwork in a gallery wall, but if you paint the frame in metallic gold paint or a color that matches your picture frames, it will better resemble the pieces around it. You could also grab some rhinestones or glass beads and glue them around the frame for a similar effect. Just be careful not to block the vented area where the air transfers as you work. It might sound counterproductive, but by making it appear artistic, you may just detract notice from it, and keep the focus on your new accent wall.