How to Make Your Childhood Favorite Wall Art Look Chic and Grown-Up

From band posters to ticket stubs, you likely had quite a few things hanging on your wall as a child or teen. While these items hold a lot of nostalgic charm, they don't exactly translate into stylish decor — or do they? Here are a few ways to give your (or even your child's) favorite wall hangings a chic flair.

  • Band or movie posters. Show off your favorite pop culture interests without giving your home a dorm room feel by framing them in high quality, neutral frames. Choose ones in natural wood, white, or black to coordinate with any decor style.
  • Personal photographs. Easily update your favorite photographs by thinking outside of their usual sizing. Instead, send them to a professional printer to have them printed in a variety of sizes, and then use them to create an eclectic gallery wall.
  • Polaroids. If you still have a few Polaroids hanging around (or if you own a modern instant camera), invest in some wire hanging systems. These wires come equipped with clips designed especially for hanging photos.
  • Ticket stubs and other memorabilia. If you're partial to holding on to keepsakes from concerts, plays and vacations, display them in a shadow box. Create your own unique collage, and then frame it in one of these gallery-style frames.

Think Outside the Frame With These Unique Wall Art Ideas

Looking for a way to decorate your walls without using the usual photos and posters? Here are three fun ideas that go way outside the frame—and best of all, you can even make them yourself.

3D Colorblock Wall Art [curbly.com]
If you’re a fan of all things mod, you’ll love this 3D display of colorful circles. Take a few different sized wooden circle cutouts from the local craft store and paint them in your choice of bright shades (or even soft, neutral hues). Use dowel rods to make some of them stick out farther from the wall, and then arrange them in a burst that creates a focal point in any room.

Paper Wall Art [ohohblog.com]
Attach two layers of decoupage leaves, flowers, or any other shape of your choosing to a large, paper sheet. Hang it banner-style using sturdy dowel rods for a modern take on the old-fashioned nature print.

Pixel Painting [witandwhistle.com]
This relaxing project is a fun one to do with a few free hours after work or on the weekend. By reducing the size of a photo down to just a few pixels wide, you’ll be able to see the photo in square, colored blocks. Imitate these blocks in a large scale on watercolor paper and then arrange them to create a truly unique work of art.

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