When it came time to adding artwork to the basement kitchen area, I really wanted something that would fill the space. Creating a custom piece allowed us to use the exact dimensions we wanted. I hope this inspires you to brush of the DIY skills and make something special for your own home. I promise it’s a very easy project.
OUR BASEMENT ARTWORK
It was wonderful to be able to customize everything from the art print we chose to the stain on the frame. And being able to paint the backdrop a warm taupe made all the difference.
The art piece is from here. I love this shop because you can specify on what type of paper you would like it printed. We went with a textured paper to give it more of a vintage feel. The print is 24″ x 32″.
THE INSPIRATION
Over a year ago we spotted this piece of artwork in a store in downtown Franklin. While I loved the size (exactly what we needed) I didn’t love the price (over $1200). I also wanted to bring in more color with the artwork but my wheels were turning. We looked everywhere and couldn’t find what I was envisioning so we decided to make it ourselves.
The first step was scouring Etsy for the print I wanted to frame. Once I found that, we were able to head to Home Depot and grab the supplies.
WHAT YOU NEED
We chose this fluted casing to be the frame and bought 4 pieces.
We also bought 4 of these pine boards (these will create the frame).
I liked the idea of using large upholstery nails to secure the artwork. It’s just an added detail that makes the piece unique. Just be sure to glue the artwork down first. These are just for decoration. If you rely on them to hang the artwork, it will sag over time. I know this because I made this mistake.
A COMPLETE LIST OF SUPPLIES
- 4 x 8 plywood ($45)
- 2 1/4″ x 7′ hardwood fluted casing x 4 ($52)
- 1 x 2 x 8′ select pine boards x 4 ($32)
- paint – I just bought the sample size from Home Depot
- 1 package upholstery nails
- D Ring Hanger
- Picture wire (we had some at home)
- ATG tape
- stain – Minwax Special Walnut
- foam roller
- a rag to apply the stain
- one piece of mat board cut to size (we used Michael’s)
TOOLS WE USED:
- chop saw
- circular saw
- wood glue
- clamps
- a table to work on
- hammer
- pin nailer
PAINT THE BACKDROP
Ryan used a circular saw to cut the plywood down to your desired size. The frame goes on top of the plywood, so you will cut the plywood to the dimensions you want your final piece to be. We used blue painter’s tape on our wall to create the size we wanted and then used those measurements. Our final product is
Next up was painting the plywood. I used primer I had on hand and then two coats of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray. I’m sure you could get away with skipping the primer. I didn’t want the backdrop to be bright white and chose a color that would blend well with the adjacent tile wall.
CUT YOUR FRAME PIECES
Next up was measuring and cutting the frame pieces. Ryan used a chop saw to cut them.
Cut the fluted trim with mitered corners. In the end, we chose not to fill them. They looked great as is and we were afraid filling them might create more of a focal point.
I used two coats of stain on the fluted trim.
We placed the plywood on a table outside. It was easier to work with it elevated.
ADHERE THE FRAME AND TRIM
Ryan used pin nails (with a pin nailer) and wood glue to attach the pine pieces to the plywood.
Each time he used wood clamps to secure it tightly while it dried. Just be patient with this process.
To attach the fluted frame, he used the wood glue.
To mat the artwork, we went to Michael’s and had them cut a piece of dark brown matting. I think it was under $10. So simple. We had ours cut 3/4″ larger on each side. They have so many colors to choose from so it’s easy to coordinate with your art print. Attach your artwork to the mat board with this tape.
To center the artwork correctly, calculate the middle of the top and bottom. We used levels to help us be sure we were placing it correctly and it didn’t move. Then use ATG tape to secure it to the plywood. We also use a dot of wood glue in each corner.
The upholstery nails are simply decorative. Once we pounded them through, we trimmed the access nail from behind with metal cutters.
ATTACH THE D-RING HANGER
You’ll need to attach to D Rings to the frame in the back along with picture wire.
The artwork is a bit tricky to carry on your own so you will definitely need two people when hanging it. Ours was a bit wobbly with how large it was but it doesn’t matter once you get it on the wall. You can definitely knock this out in one weekend.
While the inspiration piece was over $1200, this came in under $300. Not bad for a 48″ x 60″ piece of custom artwork. Let me know if you give it a try. If you have a few basic tools, it really was a very easy project. It also felt really good to get back to our DIY roots.
WHERE WE STARTED
It’s fun to look back and see where it all started. She’s come a long way, that’s for sure!
*Paint color is Ashwood Moss by Benjamin Moore.
Thank you for the great tutorial! It’s a gorgeous piece for your room!
Very cool! Thanks for the inspiration and tutorial. The basement has certainly had a glow up, great work!
Love how it turned out!!!
When will we be able to see the full reveal of the basement? So excited to see the entire space!