DIY Custom Wall Decor

For weeks after moving into our rental house, I kept my eyes open for a wall decor piece that would work in the living room. I looked online all the usual places, and in person at Home Goods and Hobby Lobby, but just couldn't fine exactly the "right" piece. I wanted something round / black / exactly a certain size / perhaps glamorous but also rustic, if that's a thing... Cutting to the chase, I couldn't fine the perfect item so I decided to make it myself.

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Back to Hobby Lobby I went, this time with new eyes, open-minded to items that were not the right color as long it was the right size and shape. If those factors work in a space, almost anything else can be changed with a little paint and craftiness!

Above is the finished project. In a few simple steps, I'll share how I did it!

This metal and wood piece caught my eye, as it was the right size, shape, and also did not appear too visually "heavy," if that makes sense, but had a delicate look that I thought would be pretty in my Scandi-themed living room. It just needed some customization to coordinate with the look I had in mind.

Here is the piece I started with:

https://www.hobbylobby.com/Home-Decor-Frames/Mirrors-Wall-Decor/Wall-Art/Circle-Medallion-Metal-Wall-Decor/p/80992763

TIP: Look for half-off sales which Hobby Lobby has frequently, and snag this piece for about $19 versus $38 full price.

You'll need a few other supplies, too. Here's what I used, but bear in mind you can change anything you like to make this project your own:

SHOPPING LIST

Black spray paint

String of beads

Hot glue gun

Small round mirror to fit decor piece (mine cost $4 from Hobby Lobby)

Wall decor piece that coordinates with the size of the small mirror

3 SIMPLE STEPS

Step 1: Identify your wall decor piece (it could be something you already own!) and paint it to coordinate with your space, if needed.

Hint: I repurposed a shipping box as a base to paint on, and then I could use the cardboard to carry the wet piece inside to let it dry, and not have to worry about rain. Rain happens almost every day here, so leaving something outside to dry would be too risky for my taste.

I love the sharp black color! The metal was originally bronze.

Step 2: Prep the mirror & adhere it to the decor piece.

Make sure the paint is dry on the decor piece before proceeding. Remove anything that would prevent it from mounting flat to the piece. Then, attach a piece of 2-sided adhesive tape to the back of the mirror. In my case, I had to remove the foam feet, as the mirror was designed to be set on a table, and not designed to be hung or stick to anything. Not to worry, easy fix.

To adhere the mirror to the decorative piece, take off the adhesive tape paper and drizzle hot glue around the back of the mirror. Immediately place the mirror in the center of the decor piece.

Step 3. Glue the string of beads around the mirror.

This step was actually pretty tricky, because the string of beads I had didn't exactly fit, and I had to glue several together end-to-end.

The first two strings were a breeze, but the third had to be cut to fit, so then some of the beads started sliding off the string, and in my attempt to line up the loose beads, I left a large dab of hot glue that I couldn't clean up as it stuck to the surrounding beads.

Oh dear, there is the hot glue dab. I see it up close, but fortunately, it's not a huge deal from a distance. I still love how the piece turned out. It's okay if projects don't turn out "perfectly;" we tend to be our own harshest critics and most small mistakes probably aren't even noticeable unless you're looking for them.

I think one alteration that could make this project easier (and save you some money along the way) would be to use a faux string of beads. That way, you won't encounter the challenge I had with loose beads falling off the string as I tried to cut the string to the right length around the mirror. Check out these "beads" I found on Amazon for $5. They appear to be floating on a plastic string and can't fall off from what I can tell; this may be a simpler solution for next time.

SUGGESTION: To avoid my mistake, I recommend either using slower-drying glue so you can more accurately place any loose beads, OR string the beads to the perfect length yourself before starting this step, OR find beads that aren't actually able to fall of the string, such as the link provided.

Voilà! You're all done, hang it on the wall when the glue is totally dry, and enjoy your creation for years to come!

And see? You won't even notice my mistake from a few steps back, haha. With just a few supplies at a total cost of around $45 total, I've got a brand new, one-of-a-kind piece of art. The silver beads and dainty mirror are just glamorous enough and the surrounding metal detail just rustic enough to coordinate with the surrounding wall decor, while standing out as a pretty little addition to our space.

I hope you give this project a spin and please send me a pic of your finished product.

With Love,

Molly

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