Big, Cheap Wall Art Ideas for My Living Room

After being sick on Wednesday (yuck) and working from home on Thursday, I was feeling a little stir crazy Thursday evening. I usually do my weekly tidying-up session on Friday after work, but thanks to feeling better (and a cup of coffee) I got a head start. It was nighttime and this room doesn't get a ton of light anyway, so the photo's a little dark. But there it is! My living room is coming along - cat toys/beds and all.

I feel like I need a BIGGER area rug, so that's on the wishlist. I love the setup around the purple tv cabinet: turntable, deer head, paint chip canvases. However, the other side of the room is looking a little bare:

Okay, a lot bare. I still adore my vintage orange sofa that I scored on Craigslist before relocating - even though it tends to eat its sitters. I fear the day that it breaks or falls apart, but luckily those old things are usually built to last. ;) I love the colorful turquoise and cream pillows and the purple blanket that I pretty much based the whole room around. ...But that space above the sofa. That empty wall! It's haunting me on a daily basis. "Jessica," it pleads in a ghostly moan. "Decorate me!"

I need something there. Something big. Something pretty. Something cheap. In my last place, I started a gallery wall. I'm no longer feeling the gallery vibes - in this room at least.  I want to keep it simple. Plus, the darling bf G just fixed this wall and I'm loathe to even try to hammer a dozen nails into the antique plaster.

I also have this weird fear of things falling on my head. So I never hang heavy art or anything glass over my bed or sofa. (Even in hotel rooms - if the over-the-bed painting isn't screwed to the wall, it's coming down for the night.) It's a weird fear, I know. I also won't hang shelves or books or anything like that over where I sit or sleep.

Here are some ideas I'm considering:

I love that 6th Street Design School turned a shower curtain into giant canvas art. I'd have to find the perfect shower curtain though - it's hard enough to find one I like enough for the bathroom!

This simple but elegant setup was featured on One Kings Lane. I love the slender gold frame and mix of turquoise hues. Plus, this is something I could definitely DIY in, like, a day.

The wall art in this Apartment Therapy home tour is eye-catching, simple, and focused on words, which I love. I could think of a lovely quote to stencil. 

I like this split-photo project that House by Hoff created. But what photo would I use? I'm much more of an art and print person vs. photos. 

I'm also considering just whipping up some more of this paint chip canvases. I made three of these back during my internship at Better Homes & Gardens' Do It Yourself magazine. It was exciting to see them featured in the magazine and they've been a staple in my decor ever since. Maybe it's time to make some in shades of purple? (You can see the orange and turquoise ones hanging over my tv stand.)

Any other ideas or suggestions? :)

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