Remember that grid of eight Ribba frames above our sectional (the ones we finally got right the second time)?
We wanted something quick and inexpensive to cover the plain brown backing so we wouldn’t have to stare at empty squares every night while we decide on a long-term solution. The result? A temporary, colorful display that cost us about $5.17 total.
We’re leaning toward a more graphic, colorful direction for that wall eventually, but for now we needed an easy, affordable fix that wouldn’t take much time. Enter one of our favorite tricks: 12 x 12 craft paper from Michael’s.
We chose eight sheets that play off our inspiration napkin and slipped them into the 12 x 12 Ribba frames. At roughly $0.60 a sheet, it was a no-brainer for temporary wall art that still looks put together.
Before hanging them, we laid the frames on the floor and experimented with arrangements. Since we had duplicates of a couple of colors, we spaced them out to avoid clustering, and landed on a balanced grouping that plays well above the sectional.
Framing the paper immediately elevated it — what felt like sixty-cent craft paper now reads as intentional, polished wall art. The frames added the clean, finished edge we wanted, and the pop of color gives the room a fresh lift reminiscent of modern, graphic pieces we admired recently.
In a way it’s a simplified nod to the napkin that inspired the color palette — the hues are now working together on the wall in a much cleaner, more cohesive way.
After living with the framed pages for a day, we’re dangerously close to keeping them permanently. They cover the ugly brown frame backs, brighten the space, and still leave room for future creativity.
We’re already brainstorming ways to build on this concept: adding white doilies for contrast, stenciling geometric shapes, or layering a second pattern over the colorful base to create a more graphic, custom look. Another idea is to use the bright paper as oversized mats and place small black-and-white photos in the centers for a modern, mixed-media feel. Sherry even suggested tucking tiny fortune-cookie-style notes into the middle of each sheet so you have to get close to read them.
For now, the inexpensive, Subway-footlong–price solution is doing exactly what we wanted: providing a quick, attractive, and inexpensive dose of color while we decide on a permanent installation. We’ll share updates when we refine the design further.
Do you have affordable, colorful art ideas you love or have spotted ready-made sets that work well as a gallery wall? We’ve also gotten some great reader suggestions for filling empty Ribba frames — and yes, we loved one of the creative solutions posted on our Facebook page. As Sherry often says, “um, yeah, love it.”
Psst – we’ve announced the winner of this week’s giveaway; check the giveaway post to see if it’s you.