Fill a large wall with trim and art

April 11, 2010

airplane art
There are a few toughies when decorating any space, and one of those is what to do with long, empty wall space. They are everywhere, obviously. Above sofas, down hallways, transitional areas from room to room. 

When it comes to these empty spaces, I usually go to my tried and true -- molding of any kind. Why? It’s cheap. It’s easy. And it creates BIG impact. 

The Bub’s room is a long one – with two large expanses of wall. When I decided on the navy blue paint, I knew I wanted to keep the room bright by breaking up the dark color with art spaces on the long walls. 

When I painted the walls a few weeks ago, I left some of the wall unpainted. On one wall, my idea was do to a series of three prints, framed out with molding. To start, I cut out paper the size of the frames to figure out my measurements for the molding:
Ignore the one that fell off the wall, and the one on the way off. Just imagine three, K? :)

Once I had my measurements, I started cutting and nailing, my two favorite things to do. Nothing quite like using a compound miter saw and a nail gun to make your day. 

The result was this:
molding boxesI usually go to Lowe’s for molding, but Home Depot has a great selection too. I grabbed this stuff for about $4 (for eight feet) – that is a great deal. It’s an mdf composite. Cuts like buttah. But everything cuts like buttah with my saw. (Swoon…)

For the art, I ordered vintage airplane prints from art.com. They were all 9x13 and were only $3.99 each! Awesome!
Because of the odd shape, I knew I’d have to have mats cut (expensive!), try to cut them myself (annoying!) or just do what I always do, and do a fake mat. 

I started by trimming off the white edge around each print:

I just use my level to get a straight edge. Works great every time – just make sure to put a lot of pressure on the level so it doesn’t move around when you cut. 

The mats that came in my Target frames were already white, so they would have looked great as is, but I wanted to tie in the wallpaper I used in the room. I used spray adhesive on the mat, covered it with the wallpaper, then used double stick tape to stick the art directly to the mat:
wallpaper mat 
wallpaper mat

The result? LURVE:
filling large wall with molding and artI painted the insides of each box with white semi gloss paint. I usually use high gloss for a project like this, but I got the Behr Ultra (paint and primer in one) for other areas in the room so I wanted this to match to the other spots (those are coming soon!)

I was initially going to do white frames, but I realized the white frame would get lost on the wall. I found these nickel frames at Target for $20 each – a lot for me – but they work perfectly with other accents in the room.
hanging airplane art
I hung them on the wall and hot glued the ribbon so it looks like they are hanging – I’ve found if you actually try to hang a frame from a ribbon, it can stick out from the wall a bit. 

I don’t know if you can tell, but my favorite little detail on this wall are the $2 knobs that spell out “FLY”:
Hanging art from knobs



If you can’t tell by now – the theme of this big boy room is airplanes. :)

On the wall above his bed, I had a similar project in mind – I was going to take pictures of a vintage airplane and frame them out in a big molding box on the wall.

But I couldn’t find the vintage airplane that I was seeing in my head. :) And, I kind of forgot that Stink Eye Sister found an awesome airplane print for the Bub and gave it to us at Christmas:
So I knew I had to use it or she would totally pull the stink eye on me and the stink eye is totally annoying. I absolutely LOVE the print – we adore New York City and can’t wait to take the Bub there, so the photo really is special to us.

I just framed it out on the wall and put a piece of acrylic over it (from one of the big poster frames):
003
Then I painted it all out in the semi gloss white:airplane poster artIt is soooo freaking cool. The acrylic does slide out, so we can change this out eventually if we want. I LOVE how it looks built in. And I love how it’s not what I initially planned but I love it so much more

So two huge, long walls are now filled. The total cost of the molding for both walls was about $40. My time was the investment. And there is no room I’d rather invest in.  ;)

Before:

Classic navy blue and white afters:


I adore them. And I can’t wait to show you the next step in the room. :)


Email subscription form header
Your email:*
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide

Comments

  1. Totally love it, it looks so Magazine good! Love thet knobs spelling out FLY! that molding just frames it all perfectly.. WAY TO GO! IF YOU WOULD LIKE... stop by Larsenloves.blogspot.com... I am having a giveaway! NIGHT! JGG

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gorgeous, love the knob detail and how you took the time to frame out the area to hang the images in, it takes it all to another level!
    Janell

    ReplyDelete
  3. I absolutely love these! And once again -I will be un-original one and use your ideas! I should be mad at myself for that but I don't care - you do such cute stuff - its like you get me! Ahem.... sorry for getting all sentimental on you...

    ReplyDelete
  4. love love love!!
    I am working on transforming my little boys room too - thanks for the ideas!!
    How did you make the acrylic slide in and out?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cuteness!! I can't wait to do my son's room. You have no shortage of ideas or energy, LOVE!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. That is the same theme in my oldest room, let me know if you find some great/cheap wooden/vintage looking planes to hang from the ceiling. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. oh wow! You are totally awesome! I have 3 boys and Im trying to do some fun stuff to their rooms and Im so bored with the usual "sports" theme that i see everywhere. this is a great idea! I cant wait to see the rest of the room!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. LOVE!!!! The airplane theme is so fantastic! Great job so far, and I can't wait for the big reveal!

    ReplyDelete
  9. WAY COOL! How sweet of Stink Eye, eey? Love the navy. Wish I had a room to use it in. Hope Bub loves it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. OMG. Where do I start? I love the colors and style of vintage art work and this is fabulous or should I say so cool for a boys room. Love the dark blue walls and the white molding. Wonderful way to make a big statement on the wall. Looks like you spent a fortune. The door knobs are just too cute spelling out fly. Now I want to do a boys room. I should have been a decorator but you do need to be good at it like you, hee-hee.

    Hugs...Tracy :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. you now have two walls with high impact and with very little $$ upfront - congrats on a very creative venture!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ah, this is so beautiful! I'm thinking a person could use this same idea in a rental home by buying the right molding with a little edge like the inside of a frame. It could be attached to very thin plywood, painted just as you have done and hang it on the wall.

    You are an amazing artist! I love your ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  13. That looks really good! You are always so good with the little details. You d'master!

    ReplyDelete
  14. My three year old bub has a vintage airplane room too. Except, despite some moderate effort, it doesn't even come close to how amazing your sons room is. Someday, maybe I'll redo it and copy lots of your ideas. They are all fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love, love vintage travel posters! We have two Hawaii themed ones in our living room which is travel based. Such neat art. Love what you did.

    ReplyDelete
  16. It looks so great! I love the contrast of the white with the blue. This is what I should do in my master bedroom on a wall that I don't know what to do with. It's dark teal, and I have lots of white in my room. Throughout this post I kept seeing this in my room :). Great job, I can't wait to see the whole room!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow, what a great idea! This looks soo cool!
    -Bekah

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh my... this is gorgeous Sarah! What a lovely unique wall mounting idea!

    Love the vintage touch. :)

    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm blown away, but should I be surprised? Once again you prove why you are ranked so high and have so many followers.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Sarah...this is awesome! I know your son must be loving watching his room transformed into a big boy room. The blue and white with the silver accents is beautiful...ahh, I mean handsome. :-) I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wowzers!! This is fabulous!!! I'm thinking of doing this in my daughters room!! LOVE IT =) But then again, I love all of your ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I know I'm "challenged" in more ways than one, but I don't get the "screwing the knob in the wall". I thought you screwed knobs in from the other side of the object, which obviously you can't do with a wall! PLease help me out, as I LOVE the look!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oooh, how did you do the whole moulding and acrylic slide out thing for the poster? Would love to try it.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Perry - I believe she just screwed them in like... Stick the knob in the wall a bit and turn it until it goes in. Hope this help! It'd be similar to screwing in a lightbulb. :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow! Everything I am thinking has already been said....so ditto to everything above! Awesome job!

    ReplyDelete
  26. This looks great, Sarah! You are so good at molding! I'll have to keep some scrap wood on the side and practice. I think I tried it once years ago and it wasn't a pretty sight.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I always love the molding projects you do! I love the detail of the knobs "FLY"! In the single pixs in the beginning I thought maybe it was your little ones initials. Ha ha So Cute...So creative

    ReplyDelete
  28. They look awesome!! When I redid my son's room...(about 5 years ago) We had a airplane, trucks, boats, and train theme going on....his toddler bedding had all of the above on it. I found perfect prints at art.com and I bought cheap unfinished frames.....and just had mats cut. I need to update the pictures now because they are a little to young for him....he's almost 8! Anyway, I also found some vintage plane wooden models that you can build and paint at the craft store and hung a couple from the ceiling. You can paint them to match the room. It was the perfect finishing touch!

    ReplyDelete
  29. What an amazing art wall. I love the way the knobs spell FLY !

    ReplyDelete
  30. Absolutely fantastic! I love that you can switch the pictures out, especially on the large single one. Very cool and very inspiring, I think I just may do this to the big empty wall in my dining room. Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I have 18ft walls and I have been STRUGGLING - this is a great idea! Life saver! Thanks!

    Kim @ http://frostmeblog.blogspot.com
    party inspiration

    ReplyDelete
  32. It looks great!!!! :) I love the "double" frames. I think vintage airplanes are a great theme for a big boy's room. :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. it does look great - i think i might have to steal it for the space above my bed. Forget the boys' rooms - it's all about ME sistah!

    ReplyDelete
  34. You did a wonderful job - it looks wonderful! Stopping by from BNOTP.

    ReplyDelete
  35. That molding looks incredible! And I LOVE those colors, there is nothing more classic than navy and white! (I even had them as my wedding colors! ;) )

    ReplyDelete
  36. WOW Sarah! I LOVE everything about this! The color scheme, the molding, the knobs, the prints. Oh my gosh! Awesome!
    Amber @ www.itsgreeneroverhere.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. The molding and art look incredible! Thanks for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  38. What a great idea! The room is really coming together. I'm going to have to add this one to my files. Something fun for a girl's room would be covering canvases with cute fabric and hanging them with ribbon. I just did a similar blog post about fabric-covered canvases, but you've given me a great idea for our (hopefully) future nursery.

    http://photocraftbook.wordpress.com/

    ReplyDelete
  39. That is such an adorable idea! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Super cute!! I have seen alot of big boy rooms going with the airplane theme. Its just so perfect & I love your idea on how to take up most of the wall...gotta use this fro my living room...without the airplanes of course.
    GREAT JOB!!!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Fab work! We used miles of molding to bring down the ceiling in our higher-than-it-is-wide dining room. We still get compliments after 10 years. Molding is so wonderfully classic. But how did you screw the knobs in the wall without a backing board? Double-ended screws? Oh please, do tell.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Love the blue but I've been afraid to use a color that dark. I think the big white blocks make it work so well. My boys might actually get their blue bedroom they have been wanting.

    ReplyDelete
  43. What a great idea. Your pictures are just wonderful. Very creative. Hugs, Marty

    ReplyDelete
  44. Looks great...wish I had your creativeness!!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Brilliant idea and great job! I love it!

    Happy Met Monday!!

    xoxo
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
  46. HOLY CRAPOLA!!! This little project of yours looks amazing!!!!!! I am so impressed and can't wait to see the whole room.

    ReplyDelete
  47. LOVE them! Great project. The framed effect is awesome. Planes...my son would have loved it! He's 23 now and loves photography...I think he should do this project in his home (he's in a rental now tho). Creativeness.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Aw man, ANOTHER thing I must steal from you. Add it to the list...
    I really love it-I struggle with filling up a wall. I hate that I have to find the size of the prints/pics first, then see what I like. Now, fixed!
    Only drawback...20 bucks per frame at Target? Ouch! Have you taught us nothing? :)

    ReplyDelete
  49. Excellent. Really. Honestly. Just plain excellent.

    And so BIG BOY. You rock, Mom.

    ReplyDelete
  50. It looks great , love the knobs with the photos.
    Joy

    ReplyDelete
  51. Sarah, this looks awesome!!! Could you post on how to framed in the picture where you could still have the acrylic over it? I'm so confused at how you did that and I am TOTALLY IN LOVE with how it looks!!!

    ReplyDelete
  52. That is utterly amazing! I am totally stealing this idea for the design-abyss I call my daughter's room. It would add some much needed form to the space.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Um, WOW! You are so creative and clever! This project turned out amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  54. I love it! My twin boys room is currently a disaster. It needs MAJOR TLC, I will have to do something like this when they get their "big boy beds". Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Ok, I confess- I've been snooping around on your blog for a few weeks now and as you say I LURVE it!! Love the writing style, love your ideas and the fact that you post your decorating successes and failures. Keep it up and oh, today's room...koouuute!

    ReplyDelete
  56. that.is.awesome!!! so clever & so amazingly good! love this :)!
    Blessings,
    Stacey

    ReplyDelete
  57. I love it! That orangish one you have on the left though draws me to it.I would put it in the center.It distracts from the "overall" of it.That is probably and my OCD.lol

    ReplyDelete
  58. I love this!!! This is such a great idea for any room and any wall! Thanks for sharing! Oh and PS I love sleeping too :) but shhhhh

    ReplyDelete
  59. LOVE IT! What fabulous ideas. =)
    How were you able to make it so the sheet of plastic could slide in and out??

    PS>I love your blog and check it everyday. <3

    ReplyDelete
  60. You did a great job! I love that framed look and the images that you chose to put inside. :)

    ReplyDelete
  61. LOVE it! What a fantastic and creative idea!

    ReplyDelete
  62. Hi!

    The room is looking good! I love the "outside of the box" thinking with hanging the art from ribbon. Very cute!

    Lindsay
    A Design Story

    ReplyDelete
  63. This is Amazing!! Truly Amazing, I just love the way it turned out!

    ~Elisabeth

    ReplyDelete
  64. Awesome!!! Can you explain the how molding and acrylic slide out? I can't figure out from the pics how to do it :(

    ReplyDelete
  65. You're INSANELY INCREDIBLE. I glean so much inspiration from this blog. Thank you so much for inspiring me to make my boys' room kick-ass, too.

    ReplyDelete
  66. Totally love it. Totally linking this post to my blog. Thanks for all the great ideas!!

    ReplyDelete
  67. You are a decorating GENIUS! They both look so great. Love the FLY knobs! I've been racking my brain as to what do with the blank walls in our bedroom - something beyond just picture frames everywhere. Now I have my inspiration. :)

    ReplyDelete
  68. It's FABULOUS!!! I have a 6 month old son who is still making the most of his precious nursery space. Me. Well, I've already begun tucking ideas away for his big boy room and this is going in the file! It's so creative and polished...very masculine, but classic. I absolutely love it!

    ReplyDelete
  69. I really love this! It looks so professional! I don't know where or when, but I will so have to steal this idea! Another fabulous post!

    ReplyDelete
  70. I just love what you've done! You continue to inspire me. Can't wait to see what's next. :)

    ReplyDelete
  71. I really like this project. I was just at Lowe's and saw that they have pre-made molding for wainscoting. Someone that's not as handy with a saw could purchase those to do this project. Thanks for sharing all your great ideas!
    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  72. I am all over doing this with chalkboard paint and trim. Thank you for the tutorial. As a color consultant, I can recommend these ideas that you share, good inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  73. I have a question...did you use a nail gun with this? Can you get a clean finish without a nailgun? We have one,but I'm soooo scared to use it...and hubby is out of town...but I really want to try this....just wondering...ok, I'll stop babbling now.

    ReplyDelete
  74. It looks wonderful! I love how the trim frames the pictures and gives them more substance. Great work.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Wow Sarah! I love this. I can't wait to see the entire room transformation:)

    ReplyDelete
  76. Love that last print! Great job (as always!)

    ReplyDelete
  77. Sarah,
    You are the freakin' bomb! That's all I've got to say about that.
    Traci

    ReplyDelete
  78. It looks truly amazing and so custom. You are good girl!

    ReplyDelete
  79. Whoa! I'm lovin' it! I have a million ideas running through my mind! I would also "LURVE" to know how to get the acrylic and picture to be interchangable. I'm also wondering about the knobs screwing into the wall? I've never used molding, but I'm beginning to think a trip to HD would be great!
    Love your blog!
    Thanks for sharing
    -Nicole

    ReplyDelete
  80. Super Cute!!! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  81. You have outdone yourself sista! It turned out more amazing than I could imagine. Absolutely big boy perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  82. Absolutely GORG, my dear! what a fantastic idea for a big expanse of wall. In the words of one of my favorite people......Luuuurve It!

    xoxoxoxoxoxo
    ~Amanda

    ReplyDelete
  83. THAT has got to be my favorite project so far! Fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  84. I just had to comment on your son's room - I LOVE it! You are truly talented! I love the little touch of the knobs that spell 'fly.'

    ReplyDelete
  85. Oh my GOSH! You never cease to amaze me! Totally AWESOME! I would have never thought of it!! Looks great! Love the Navy blue, it looks so crisp and clean against the white.

    ReplyDelete
  86. WOW...it has the WOW factor. Will keep in mind for my 3 wk old grandson! Guerrina from Ledyard

    ReplyDelete
  87. This looks SO fantastic!! You always, always amaze me. What is great as he ages he can switch out the theme of the room without losing your original vision or artistic touch (just thinking like sports stars etc? stuff like that).

    ReplyDelete
  88. Ever since I saw your large cloche that you got at HobLob, I have had cloche envy! I finally found one but it is only the glass part. Did yours come with a bottom or is that something you made?

    Debra

    ReplyDelete
  89. Well i can say it is awesome home decoration tips and tutorials great speech for all the steps.

    ReplyDelete
  90. I love love love this! You are so talented at creating something. The molding, the matting....to die for. Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  91. I love it! I swear you are the queen of molding!

    I am going to feature this one on my blog, even though I know that all of my readers probably already read your blog! ;D

    ReplyDelete
  92. FYI...Our target has vintage propellers (sp?) right now that would look great maybe over a door?

    ReplyDelete
  93. Thank you for this post! The pics are beautiful and with your step by step, I think I can do it too. I'm hoping to totally copy this idea for my living room this summer...I hope you don't mind!

    ReplyDelete
  94. I love that boys of any age love anything with wheels underneath it. OR wings on it. My hubby has a picture of the C130 airplane he flew in on his wall and also an unfinished model airplane on a table in his office here at home. OH, and I also love that boys never grow up.

    The bedroom colors and wall pictures in your son's room are da bomb!

    Di
    The Blue Ridge Gal

    ReplyDelete
  95. Love it, love your show...
    we are moving next weekend and our sons room is much bigger than his room now, so we will have walls to fill, this idea will def. work! Cant wait to try it. Thanks for all your great ideas. Even though we've never met, I feel like you are an old friend sharing great tips. Blessings to you!

    ReplyDelete
  96. LOVE this! What a wonderful piece of art you've created. Well done!

    You should come link this project up at on today's Bargain Brag Wednesday: http://www.bargainshoppingparadise.com/2010/04/bargain-brag-wednesday-414-420.html

    ReplyDelete
  97. Thought you might like to know that I was at Target today and I saw the cutest wooden airplane propeller for $29.99. I thought of you and thought it would be so cute in your son's room.

    ReplyDelete
  98. Beautiful! Saw those knobs at Hob Lob myself and it killed me not to buy them!

    ReplyDelete
  99. You are going to be famous! That looks AWESOME!

    ReplyDelete
  100. What I want to know is how you put the acrylic over the big airplane picture? You say that you framed it on the wall, correct? The acrylic slides out...guess I am just not following how.
    Thanks,
    Sherri

    ReplyDelete
  101. Really love your blog! Just came across it!! Love people like myself that love thrifty and yet still pretty decorating!!
    xoxo,
    BudgetBlonde

    ReplyDelete
  102. Oh My that looks awesome!!! I might have to do that in my son's old room. His walls are about the same color and I haven't had the desire to paint them since he moved out! This would be like...baby steps...not to mention look amazing too!
    Rene'

    ReplyDelete
  103. I was searching for ideas for boy airplane rooms and found your blog. I have been here before I follow you. I have a few of your blog posts bookmarked. Thanks for sharing some great ideas. Off to see the rest of the airplane room photos and posts.

    ReplyDelete

If you have a specific question I will do my best to answer you back here!

You can find our paint colors and links to items at the "Our Home" tab at the top of my site.

THANKS so much for reading!