Decorating Guides
20 Easy DIY Graphic Art Ideas From Around the World
Typography, original art and geometric shapes shine in these crafty and clever homeowner projects
Sometimes a graphic pattern or a bold splash of colour is all you need to punch up a space. These crafty homeowners from the My Houzz series used discarded materials – including the trash! – and often-overlooked spots like the side of the kitchen island to show off their creativity. If you’ve been looking for a way to put a personalised stamp on a space, get inspired by these 20 graphic DIY ideas.
2. High-scoring powder room floor in Canada
Katie Lo of Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood injected a little fun into her powder room without making a huge commitment. She ordered Scrabble tiles from China and installed them on the floor herself. “I was met with a lot of questions and confusion from our project managers and trades, but in the end, everyone loved it,” she says.
There are about 7,000 tiles on the floor, each individually laid by Lo. The installation took two full days to complete. “I had the entire floor designed beforehand, and my husband and I came up with approximately 60 words that are hidden in the floor,” she says. The words include cities they’ve lived in, family members’ names and inside jokes. The tiles are attached to a plywood base with polyurethane construction adhesive, and the floor is sealed with five coats of water-based clear sealant.
Read more about this family’s chic home
Katie Lo of Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood injected a little fun into her powder room without making a huge commitment. She ordered Scrabble tiles from China and installed them on the floor herself. “I was met with a lot of questions and confusion from our project managers and trades, but in the end, everyone loved it,” she says.
There are about 7,000 tiles on the floor, each individually laid by Lo. The installation took two full days to complete. “I had the entire floor designed beforehand, and my husband and I came up with approximately 60 words that are hidden in the floor,” she says. The words include cities they’ve lived in, family members’ names and inside jokes. The tiles are attached to a plywood base with polyurethane construction adhesive, and the floor is sealed with five coats of water-based clear sealant.
Read more about this family’s chic home
3. Turning trash to treasure in Australia
This laundry room splashback in Adjungbilly,in Australia’s New South Wales state, provides a colourful backdrop for Will Onus and Simone Viljoen when they fold clothes. Viljoen, a model and artist, took a photo of trash in a garbage bin, edited it on Photoshop and applied interesting filters to the image. She then sent it off to DecoGlaze to have it digitally printed and set behind glass to complement their Ikea cabinetry.
Read more about this home with quirky charm
This laundry room splashback in Adjungbilly,in Australia’s New South Wales state, provides a colourful backdrop for Will Onus and Simone Viljoen when they fold clothes. Viljoen, a model and artist, took a photo of trash in a garbage bin, edited it on Photoshop and applied interesting filters to the image. She then sent it off to DecoGlaze to have it digitally printed and set behind glass to complement their Ikea cabinetry.
Read more about this home with quirky charm
4. Geometric appeal for a baker in the Northwest
For renter Abby Taylor of Shoreline, Washington, quilt designs inspired her to make these two large geometric art pieces on plywood in her living room. “I’m obsessed with triangles, which is also reflected in my quilt designs,” she says. “I love how you can twist and turn them to create completely different feelings depending on their arrangement.”
Read more about this rental apartment
For renter Abby Taylor of Shoreline, Washington, quilt designs inspired her to make these two large geometric art pieces on plywood in her living room. “I’m obsessed with triangles, which is also reflected in my quilt designs,” she says. “I love how you can twist and turn them to create completely different feelings depending on their arrangement.”
Read more about this rental apartment
5. Beautiful DIY blue hues for an island in Toronto
A punch of colour appears in the most unlikely of places in this creative open-concept home: the side of the kitchen island. Homeowner Timothy Mitanidis had his brother, a print shop owner, print a dreamlike image of blues, whites and greens on Lexan plastic. It provides the perfect jolt of contrast to the monochromatic, industrial-style space.
Read more about this industrial-modern home
A punch of colour appears in the most unlikely of places in this creative open-concept home: the side of the kitchen island. Homeowner Timothy Mitanidis had his brother, a print shop owner, print a dreamlike image of blues, whites and greens on Lexan plastic. It provides the perfect jolt of contrast to the monochromatic, industrial-style space.
Read more about this industrial-modern home
6. “Where We’ve Been” art for two travel lovers in Oregon
Bryan and Jen Danger of Portland outlined a world map on the two walls above their sofa. “It reminds us of where we’ve been and where we’re going,” says Bryan, a designer. Orange pins mark many of the places the couple have visited. The trail down into Central America indicates a yearlong van trip.
Read more about this converted garage home
Bryan and Jen Danger of Portland outlined a world map on the two walls above their sofa. “It reminds us of where we’ve been and where we’re going,” says Bryan, a designer. Orange pins mark many of the places the couple have visited. The trail down into Central America indicates a yearlong van trip.
Read more about this converted garage home
7. DIY world travel planner in Texas
A world map painted by Austin homeowner Jason Kays serves as a focal point in his home office. Kays and his partner, Bill Symon, are avid travelers and use pins and stickers on the map to mark the places they plan to visit together. The couple also created the storage unit below, using cinder blocks, wood and two Ikea storage pieces.
Read more about this Texas home
A world map painted by Austin homeowner Jason Kays serves as a focal point in his home office. Kays and his partner, Bill Symon, are avid travelers and use pins and stickers on the map to mark the places they plan to visit together. The couple also created the storage unit below, using cinder blocks, wood and two Ikea storage pieces.
Read more about this Texas home
8. Painted corkboard in Canada
Katie Lo’s home office in Vancouver features a creative installation of corkboards that she customised with white paint. The round cork accents are kitchen trivets from Ikea. The humble corkboard can be a stylish way to keep papers and other reminders organised. “The next big project on my list is a custom sliding barn door for the office,” Lo says.
Read more about this whimsical home in Canada
Katie Lo’s home office in Vancouver features a creative installation of corkboards that she customised with white paint. The round cork accents are kitchen trivets from Ikea. The humble corkboard can be a stylish way to keep papers and other reminders organised. “The next big project on my list is a custom sliding barn door for the office,” Lo says.
Read more about this whimsical home in Canada
9. If walls could read in Texas
Camille Dickson made a striking accent wall using pages from books she had around the house. “Two were old French study guides; the other two novels I got at Goodwill for about 50 cents each. I just used my stapler from school to tack the pages up there,” she says.
The Wm. Knabe & Co. piano was a gift from Dickson’s grandfather. “He gave it to our family when I was in third grade, and I took lessons all the way through high school,” she says. “I have many happy memories associated with it.”
Curtains: P.Kaufman Hip Floral Berry, onlinefabricstore.net; dog bed: Holly Mathis Interiors
Read more about this DIY-style home
Camille Dickson made a striking accent wall using pages from books she had around the house. “Two were old French study guides; the other two novels I got at Goodwill for about 50 cents each. I just used my stapler from school to tack the pages up there,” she says.
The Wm. Knabe & Co. piano was a gift from Dickson’s grandfather. “He gave it to our family when I was in third grade, and I took lessons all the way through high school,” she says. “I have many happy memories associated with it.”
Curtains: P.Kaufman Hip Floral Berry, onlinefabricstore.net; dog bed: Holly Mathis Interiors
Read more about this DIY-style home
10. Custom art canvas and headboard in Salt Lake City
Cody Derrick installed large framed whiteboards above the bed so he can change the art in the room whenever he wants by simply using dry-erase markers.
Derrick carefully designed each aspect of the room to make it an ideal sleeping space. “The bedroom was small and chopped up, with many different colours and odd shelving,” he says.
Since it’s the only bedroom in the house, he painted it all one colour, including the trim, to make it feel larger, and added dramatic floor-to-ceiling drapes. He designed the platform bed with an oversize perimeter; recessed storage cubbies are hidden under trapdoors in the top, “both for simplicity’s sake and to hide cords,” Derrick says. The art lights above the bed double as reading lights, with remote switches.
Read more about this masculine Utah home
Cody Derrick installed large framed whiteboards above the bed so he can change the art in the room whenever he wants by simply using dry-erase markers.
Derrick carefully designed each aspect of the room to make it an ideal sleeping space. “The bedroom was small and chopped up, with many different colours and odd shelving,” he says.
Since it’s the only bedroom in the house, he painted it all one colour, including the trim, to make it feel larger, and added dramatic floor-to-ceiling drapes. He designed the platform bed with an oversize perimeter; recessed storage cubbies are hidden under trapdoors in the top, “both for simplicity’s sake and to hide cords,” Derrick says. The art lights above the bed double as reading lights, with remote switches.
Read more about this masculine Utah home
11. Heartwarming cross-stitch paint mural in Austin, Texas
Jennifer Kinder, homeowner and mother of two, was inspired by a cross-stitch painting she saw on Etsy. She worked with her 10-year-old daughter, Eliza, to complete the typography project. “Eliza did much of the actual painting over my pencil sketch for her on the wall,” Kinder says. “It was fun to have her do some of it.”
Read more about this eclectic Texas home
Jennifer Kinder, homeowner and mother of two, was inspired by a cross-stitch painting she saw on Etsy. She worked with her 10-year-old daughter, Eliza, to complete the typography project. “Eliza did much of the actual painting over my pencil sketch for her on the wall,” Kinder says. “It was fun to have her do some of it.”
Read more about this eclectic Texas home
12. Repurposed art palettes in Oregon
Painter Richard Murray’s live-work art studio is marked by cathedral ceilings and a cavernous central work space. The living areas are open to the studio, separated by low walls that were constructed from Murray’s art palettes. “I noticed while working that the palettes themselves possessed their own beauty. When they had a wonderful colour or pattern, I’d stop,” he says. “I thought I might use them one day as wainscoting for a dining room. Then when I came here, it became a railing.”
Read more about this dream home and art studio
Painter Richard Murray’s live-work art studio is marked by cathedral ceilings and a cavernous central work space. The living areas are open to the studio, separated by low walls that were constructed from Murray’s art palettes. “I noticed while working that the palettes themselves possessed their own beauty. When they had a wonderful colour or pattern, I’d stop,” he says. “I thought I might use them one day as wainscoting for a dining room. Then when I came here, it became a railing.”
Read more about this dream home and art studio
13. Winning wine crates in Canada
Jessica Schmid used a collection of deconstructed wooden wine boxes to decorate a kitchen wall in her family’s Vancouver home. “We have a friend who collects wine,” she says. “Some of those crates he has lugged around with him for over 25 years. When he saw I was collecting old wine crates, he gave me some really cool ones, like the 1982 Opus.”
Read more about this updated 1898 Victorian
Jessica Schmid used a collection of deconstructed wooden wine boxes to decorate a kitchen wall in her family’s Vancouver home. “We have a friend who collects wine,” she says. “Some of those crates he has lugged around with him for over 25 years. When he saw I was collecting old wine crates, he gave me some really cool ones, like the 1982 Opus.”
Read more about this updated 1898 Victorian
14. A different kind of oil lamp in Washington
Artists Buffy Cribbs and Bruce Morrow of Whidbey Island repurposed colourful olive oil cans into reading lights for their headboard. “I love olive oil cans,” Cribbs says, citing their highly decorated, colourful designs. Cribbs also made their painted wood headboard.
Read more about this artistic Craftsman
Artists Buffy Cribbs and Bruce Morrow of Whidbey Island repurposed colourful olive oil cans into reading lights for their headboard. “I love olive oil cans,” Cribbs says, citing their highly decorated, colourful designs. Cribbs also made their painted wood headboard.
Read more about this artistic Craftsman
15. Wallpaper-like coaster collection in Montreal
Inspired by a trip to Ireland in 2005, Caroline and David Denis built a cosy bar in their basement. The countertop is made of wood salvaged during their renovation and a graphic accent wall is decorated with beer coasters the couple collected over the years. David built the shelves and hung travel photos and other mementos on the walls.
Read more about this contemporary home
Inspired by a trip to Ireland in 2005, Caroline and David Denis built a cosy bar in their basement. The countertop is made of wood salvaged during their renovation and a graphic accent wall is decorated with beer coasters the couple collected over the years. David built the shelves and hung travel photos and other mementos on the walls.
Read more about this contemporary home
16. Succulent seat in Northern California
Landscape architect Chris Kukula had an old outdoor bench and the rusted metal slats on the seat made it unusable as seating. She gave it new life by planting chamomile and echeveria and turned it into an art piece.
Read more about this artful low-water garden
Landscape architect Chris Kukula had an old outdoor bench and the rusted metal slats on the seat made it unusable as seating. She gave it new life by planting chamomile and echeveria and turned it into an art piece.
Read more about this artful low-water garden
17. No material left behind in Oregon
Jen and Bryan Danger tried to use as much reclaimed material as possible in their so-called accessory dwelling unit in Portland. The couple used screws to make the numbers on their house-design studio.
Read more about this live-work home
Jen and Bryan Danger tried to use as much reclaimed material as possible in their so-called accessory dwelling unit in Portland. The couple used screws to make the numbers on their house-design studio.
Read more about this live-work home
18. Please record a message in Texas
Harper and Jimmy Quill took a South Austin farmhouse in rough shape and made it into a charming family home. Jimmy, a musician and record producer, built an analog and digital recording studio that has also been used as a set for films and music videos on the property, and he turned an adjacent trailer into accommodations for visiting artists. Every artist who visits the recording studio signs the bathroom walls, which the couple painted with chalkboard paint.
Read more about this recording studio and home
Harper and Jimmy Quill took a South Austin farmhouse in rough shape and made it into a charming family home. Jimmy, a musician and record producer, built an analog and digital recording studio that has also been used as a set for films and music videos on the property, and he turned an adjacent trailer into accommodations for visiting artists. Every artist who visits the recording studio signs the bathroom walls, which the couple painted with chalkboard paint.
Read more about this recording studio and home
19. Grow your own alphabet art in California
Jeran McConnel made this 24-by-36-inch tropical foliage alphabet print from photos of leaves and flowers she collected in her family’s Bakersfield yard. She hung the print with a wooden floating frame, which she also made.
Read more about this 1920s bungalow
Jeran McConnel made this 24-by-36-inch tropical foliage alphabet print from photos of leaves and flowers she collected in her family’s Bakersfield yard. She hung the print with a wooden floating frame, which she also made.
Read more about this 1920s bungalow
20. Nature-inspired custom wall hanging in Los Angeles
Interior designer Kristin Korven made a woven wall hanging using found driftwood and a textile from Mexico for her daughter Luella’s nursery. She also stained an unfinished Ikea wood crib to match the rest of the room’s furnishings.
Read more about this home
Read more:
9 Of The Best DIY Projects On Houzz to Get Your Hands Dirty
Weekend DIYs to Spruce Up Your Living Room
Tell us:
Have you created your own graphic art piece? Share a photo of your masterpiece in Comments below.
Interior designer Kristin Korven made a woven wall hanging using found driftwood and a textile from Mexico for her daughter Luella’s nursery. She also stained an unfinished Ikea wood crib to match the rest of the room’s furnishings.
Read more about this home
Read more:
9 Of The Best DIY Projects On Houzz to Get Your Hands Dirty
Weekend DIYs to Spruce Up Your Living Room
Tell us:
Have you created your own graphic art piece? Share a photo of your masterpiece in Comments below.
This black and white canvas in the living room of Chris and Saulé Smariga’s home in Frederick, Maryland, is a hand-lettered labour of love that serves as a graphic statement piece. Saulé worked on creating the artwork – lyrics to the song Stereo Heart by Gym Class Heroes – for countless hours with their son. “I love the scale and how simple yet graphic it is,” she says. The memory of working on it with her son makes it one of her favourite pieces of art in the home.
Read more about this art- and fashion-inspired home