Imagine our delight when not one but two readers sent in their versions of some favorite Crate & Barrel prints you might recall from earlier mood-board makeovers. Both took different, equally successful DIY approaches, so we wanted to share each method. First, here’s Lindsay’s note:
I put together artwork for our living room after spotting a mood board featuring Crate & Barrel’s Classical Symmetry prints. As soon as I saw them I knew I wanted to make my own. For the lattice-pattern piece I used masking tape to create clean lines; the other two were made with hand-drawn stencils. I already had paper, paint, and tape, and I bought affordable square frames at Target for about $24 each. I ended up well under the original price and it’s so satisfying to hang my own work. Thanks for all the inspiring projects and ideas! – Mahalo, Lindsay from Aisle to Aloha
They look fantastic. Next up, Amanda’s version of the same geometric artwork:
I got a bit obsessed with the Crate & Barrel pieces featured in the design dilemma post, but when I checked the price I decided to DIY. We tested our Illustrator and Photoshop skills to recreate the prints at a lower cost, and I absolutely love how they turned out. Our prints are smaller than the originals but fit our space perfectly. We might add mats later. Here’s what we spent:
- Six 10″ espresso frames from Michael’s (on sale): $38.22
- Six prints from Kinko’s: $16.11
- Several hours in Photoshop/Illustrator: $0
- Total: $54.33
You’ve inspired me so much while decorating our new home. Thank you! – Amanda from On Being Browns
Both projects turned out beautifully and cost far less than the originals. We love that Lindsay’s approach is more hands-on with paint and stencils, while Amanda’s uses digital tools to achieve crisp, repeatable results. If you’ve been eyeing that Crate & Barrel artwork but not the price tag, consider trying one of these methods: grab paint and masking tape to create your own hand-painted versions, or use design software to recreate the geometry and have prints made affordably. Which route would you try — a painted, stencil-based approach, a digitally printed version, or maybe a third hybrid method?