Curbly Original
Make These: Rorschach Ink Blot Pillows

by M.E. Gray

Make these: DIY Rorschach test pillows

Are you familiar with the Rorschach Test? It's the psychological exam where you look at ink blots and say what you see. Depending on how you interpret the ink, you receive a different diagnosis of your psyche. Now, I'm not a psychiatrist by any means, but I do know a DIY opportunity when I see one. Whether or not you interpret the shapes as a bear, or as the face of your mother, throw a little color in there and we've got ourselves a project. These ink blot pillows are easy enough for anyone to make, and each result is different!      

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Curbly Original
Make This! Abstract Wall Art Using a Hair Dryer

by M.E. Gray

DIY abstract art using a hair dryer

Lately I've been getting sucked into watching painting videos on Instagram. The abstract paintings are the best. I love the ones where the artist is seemingly just messing around, throwing paint here and there, when suddenly BAM! - some well-placed paint or drip technique brings it all together. While I'm not as clever an abstract painter as these Instagram stars are, you don't have to be an expert to make some fun abstract wall art. I made this piece the other day using a hair dryer - keep reading and I'll show you how.              

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100 Affordable Home Decor Pieces for Under $100

by M.E. Gray
100 affordable furniture and home decor pieces - each for under $100
Source: Target

When it comes to making design changes in your home, you don't want to spend more money than you need to - especially on the accent pieces. The cost of details add up fast if you aren't being mindful of the price tag. However, affordable furniture and home decor is out there - if you know where to look. We've rounded up 100 of our favorite affordable furniture and home decor items, each coming in under $100 each. From rugs to accent chairs, you'd be surprised how far a Benjamin will take you.              

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68 Apartment Decorating Ideas and Organization Tips for Renters

by M.E. Gray
Apartment Decorating Ideas and Organization Tips for Renters
Source: Apartment Therapy; Photo Credit: Sophie Timothy

Renting your home has some perks (no mortgage, no maintenance costs, no headaches), but there are downsides: apartment decorating can be a challenge, and limited storage space makes it hard to stay organized.             

Many apartments are too small or don't offer much storage. Maybe the landlord won't let you paint or put nail holes in the wall. And rental properties are usually...

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Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall: Which is Our Favorite IKEA Hack of them All?

by M.E. Gray
IKEA Mirrors round-up - Hacked!
Photo via IKEA Hackers

Hanging a mirror is a painless way to add depth and interest to a wall. Mirrors reflect light and movement in a room, they're eye-catching, and they can make a space appear bigger than it is. If you know us here at Curbly, you know we LOVE a good IKEA hack. Today we're reflecting (sorry!) on some of our favorite IKEA mirror hacks and transformations, all in uniquely awesome ways. Keep reading!        

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Curbly Original
Make This: Easy DIY Origami Wall Art in Under 30 Minutes!

by Stephanie Lee

Make this: Easy DIY origami wall art in under half an hour!

While I’m a firm believer that everyone is creative, I understand that many people aren't comfortable with the idea of painting or drawing their own wall art. Heck, I’ve worked with paint all my life and sometimes I still don’t feel completely at ease with a paintbrush in hand!

Make this: Easy DIY origami wall art in under half an hour!

The wonderful thing about art is that you can make it out of pretty much anything. So if you're looking for a way to decorate your walls, instead of going down...

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17 Ways to Introduce this Trending Pattern into Your Home

by M.E. Gray
Selection from the Unmagic Eye Exhibition by Spencer Harrison and Billie Justice Thomson; Photo by Bri Hammond
Selection from the Unmagic Eye Exhibition by Spencer Harrison and Billie Justice Thomson; Photo by Bri Hammond

The home decor world is operating mostly in throwback-mode right now. What used to be tacky is now tasteful, and looking dated doesn't matter as much. Walk into any big box store like Target, West Elm, or CB2, and you'll see interpretations of designs and color schemes that originally surfaced over 30-40 years ago. From the resurgence of treatments like terrazzo to the re-introduction of wicker, what's old is new again. If you're like me, you've noticed a familiar pattern pop up. And if you're like me, it's making you gleefully reminiscent. I'm talking about the bold and bright world of Memphis design, and its colorful impact on the 80s and 90s.                 

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Curbly Original
How to: DIY Embroidered Monstera Leaf Wall Art (with Printable Template)

by Marlene Sauer
DIY Embroidered Monstera Leaf Art
Photo: Marlene Sauer

Urban jungle fever is still going strong in the design world, and I don't mind one bit!

From hanging air plants in every way imaginable, to covering a room with plants of all sizes, this decorating trend has us all "bringing the outdoors in" in ever-inspiring ways.

To pay tribute to the uncontested queen of stunning indoor plants, the monstera deliciosa, also known as the split-leaf philodendron, I created this embroidered monstera leaf art print.        

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Interesting Wall Decor Ideas Using Everyday Items

by Faith Provencher
Interesting Wall Decor Using Everyday Items
Photo: Stitch Design Co.

Expensive art isn't for everybody. Sometimes you just need a creative way to fill a large wall without breaking the bank. Don't get me wrong, I love hanging artwork on my walls... but I have some areas in my home that are just too large to fill with big, pricey paintings right now. So today I'm sharing lots of interesting wall decor ideas using everyday items you probably already have at home.   

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Curbly Original
How to Make Abstract Art with Fluid Painting

by Holly Wade

How to make abstract art with fluid painting

Marbling is gorgeous on just about any surface. It's the perfect way to decorate your home, your clothes, your walls, your cakes, etc., so I decided to test out a new way to make beautiful marbled art with fluid painting. You can make abstract art with fluid painting techniques using any regular acrylic paint, glue and water, and each piece turns out completely unique. Grab your favorite colors that match your home decor, and you'll quickly have a piece of art to brighten your walls.        

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Curbly Original
Learn How to Use Punch Needle Embroidery to Make DIY Art

by Faith Provencher
Learn How to Use Punch Needle Embroidery to Make DIY Art
Photo:  Faith Towers Provencher

If you love crafting (and I'm guessing you do, if you're looking at Curbly right now!) then perhaps you've heard of an embroidery tool called a punch needle. I hadn't heard of it until recently, but I'm now a convert. It produces a raised texture using small loops, and it goes quite quickly thanks to the ingenious design of the needle. Today I'm sharing what I've learned about punch needle embroidery so you can get started with this fun needle art process!   

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Curbly Original
14 Easy Picture Frame Makeover Ideas

by Holly Wade
Picture frame makeover ideas - Photo via Dream Green DIY
Photo by Dream Green DIY

Whether you're decorating your home with stand-alone frames or a gallery wall, you may begin to feel bored in a sea of plain white frames. I get it, they're my go-to choice too! Luckily, it's easy to makeover craft frames or plain white frames throughout your home to give it a more personalized look. With these easy picture frame makeover ideas, you'll be able to make each frame feel unique - like it was made for the photo inside of it! Add color, texture and more with these simple makeover ideas that will give your home decor a touch of character.

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Curbly Original
Make This: Affordable Glass Wall Art for Under $20!

by M.E. Gray

Affordable glass wall art project

Ideas pop up in the most random of situations, don't they? The inspiration for this project came to me the other day when I was at the airport. I was standing in line at a Wendy's, preparing to pay $15 for a small frosty and fries (why is airport food so expensive?!), and I was absent-mindedly staring at this wall that divided the checkout lane from the seating area. The wall was made of two layered panels of glass, frosted. Each panel was painted with lots of abstract green brushstrokes, making the wall look like an ethereal field of grass. Maybe it was the jet-lag that made me zone in on this wall for so long. For some reason or another, the grassy glass stuck with me. And I decided I wanted to make some glass wall art of my own in the same style.           

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