Hallway Gallery

     Owr new house has a very unsightly breaker box in the hall that I've been meaning to disguise for some time. Of course, decorating an entire hall on a budget can be difficult. My favorite solution? The local thrift store! I purchased several mismatched frames in brown wood. (I even got most of them on clearance! Check with your thrift store. Most do deals for certain colored tags every day.)You can mix sizes and textures, but you want to have something unifying, like the color, to keep the display from being too busy. I already have a botanical drawing display in black frames above our couch, which I'm quite pleased with.
     When you're looking for frames, you can go for empty ones or nice frames with questionable "art" inside that can be easily replaced. Don't forget to check the hanging mechanism of the frame to a make sure it's sturdy. Table top frames can be hung with the addition of picture wire. If your frame has a hanging mechanism and a table top stand, you may need to remove the stand for it to sit flush against the wall. You can usually pull the stand off with a pair of pliers.
     Next, fill your frames. Look for unusual (and inexpensive) items that you find beautiful. I used some family snapshots, laser cut paper keys (usually used for scrapbooking or collage), and some pages of beautiful script from an old German book. I further united the collection by keeping the color scheme in neutrals and green.
     Next, determine your layout. Do this on the floor before you start putting holes in the wall! You want to make sure that your display is balanced in size, color, and contents. Now, you're ready to hang and enjoy!

    

     
     So, what happened to that unsightly breaker box? It's hidden behind the four-paneled key picture. Voila!


Total cost of Project: $16.95
Time needed: 2 hours (plus frame shopping)