Waaaaay back when we mentioned that we’d be converting our third bedroom into a nursery, we admitted we loved the asymmetrical wall of frames too much to remove it. From the start we planned to swap out some of the randomly framed prints with more kid-friendly, cheerfully toned pieces that would suit a little girl’s room. Here’s what the arrangement looked like before our art refresh:
And here’s the same wall after our quick art swap:
Zooming out a bit, you can see how the new blues, pinks and greens play with the patterned curtains and the soft aqua ceiling. The mix feels playful and mismatched but still cohesive—nothing overpowers or clashes, and the room reads as calm and cheerful.
We didn’t want to spend a fortune on this mini-update, so we hit Michael’s for inexpensive craft paper to repurpose as wall art. Most sheets were around 60 cents, a few were 99 cents, and we came away with all the decorative paper you see below for just $4.99 total.
Some papers were framed on their own—like the little house-illustration sheet at the bottom of the pile—while others served as backdrops for meaningful items we wanted to showcase, such as a placeholder for the baby’s hospital bracelet until we bring the real one home.
John suggested taping pink heart-patterned paper behind a glass shadow box that held faux butterflies we already owned. That simple change transformed them from specimen-like displays into charming nursery decor in seconds.
We also had a black silhouette cut-out of Burger (a gift John gave me), which was originally mounted on white backing. We removed it and swapped in pink-and-white striped paper. The silhouette suddenly felt more playful and perfectly suited for a little girl’s room—an easy update using inexpensive scrapbooking paper. We framed another sheet of squiggly-line paper and made a quick placeholder silhouette for Baby P that we’ll swap out for a proper one someday.
One frame features a “Feel The Love” piece inspired by a Skinny Cow ad we saw in a magazine. We liked the type, color and sentiment, so we scanned it, used Photoshop to remove the ice cream bar and reposition the little lovebirds, then printed the revised image to fit the frame. Simple magazine-inspired DIY art can look polished and personal without costing anything beyond printer ink and a quick edit.
We also shopped Etsy for a few affordable pieces that fit our palette. We found a sweet aqua-toned print of a girl and her dog with hearts that matched the room. It was a limited-edition print at $12 and felt like a fitting nod to Burger and Baby P’s future friendship, so we bought it before it sold out.
Another print we couldn’t resist is a playful take on peas in a pod—up close, the peas are actually little letter “P” shapes, a subtle monogram for Baby P. That piece from Wall Blank was $25 and added a personal touch that works beautifully with our colors.
Altogether, using mostly 60-cent craft paper plus two affordable prints, we refreshed the asymmetrical wall for about $42 total ($5 in craft paper, a $12 Etsy print, and a $25 print from Wall Blank). It would have been easy to spend over $100 on filling 15 frames, but this budget-friendly approach brought fresh color, pattern and personality to the nursery without breaking the bank. We keep walking into the room just to look at the wall, and can’t wait to hold our little girl up to compare her features to those in the family photos—John is hoping she inherits his big cheeks, which would be adorable.
You’ll also notice a celery-toned upholstered bench under the art wall. We found it at a thrift store for $7, painted and recovered it ourselves, and slid a large toy basket underneath. The bench adds storage and a padded spot for quick diaper changes or for toddlers to perch on—practical and stylish.
That’s where the nursery stands right now—we’re rounding home plate and plan to share the full reveal soon. Time flies when you’re having fun (and expecting a baby). What do you think of our art swap? Have you ever framed nontraditional items like a magazine ad or a hospital bracelet? Do you shop patterned craft paper for cheap wall decor, or pick up small prints from Etsy? We’d love to hear how you’ve created affordable, meaningful art for your own spaces.