Quick Hallway Gallery Wall Update
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Ever get “stuck” when decorating your home, even if you know it’ll only take an hour to fix something but the task just feels so impossible? That’s how I felt about our upstairs hallway– it needed a few DIY updates but I felt stuck. It’s pretty much the last untouched area in our house because it fell into the “not too bad” category when we moved into our home (as opposed to the “holy cow we need to fix this right now” and “is that really a leaky mauve hot tub in the sunroom?!” categories). Here’s what it looked like this fall:
Even the kids were fed up, because those little DIYers decided to “redecorate” and start stripping the wallpaper:
After the wallpaper was stripped and the walls painted, I was left with a bland griege hallway. It looked like it was going to have to stay that way until I bit the bullet and took a chance. Sometimes getting “unstuck” involves an hour, a hammer, and a few fresh ideas for your space. I literally had ONE HOUR to do something in this hallway, so “do something” I did. I dropped the kids off at preschool, ran home, and got working!
The large Boston and Bedford signs are photos I took during my last visit home. They’re both from the train depot in my hometown (Bedford) so they mean the world to me. I used engineering prints and glued them to foam core like in the tutorial for my son’s gallery wall, and for just a few dollars each they make a HUGE impact!
The other wall contains a thrift store frame I painted white. I’ll admit I swore UP and DOWN that I WOULD NOT put antlers in my home– too trendy– too… rustic?– but then I fell in love with this little antelope type guy. Darn you, HomeGoods! That adorable baby print is one that hung in my bedroom throughout my childhood. It’s by Betsy Pease Gutman and I’m super happy it’s home with me again. It may not fit with my current modern tastes in art, but I strongly believe your home should be meaningful and this sweet print fits the bill!
Next to the antelope is another $5 thrift store frame, filled with a horse hook found in a vintage store in OBX last year. My husband thinks he’s funny by hanging a shirt on the hook. Cheeky guy.
Did you spot the other change? YUP. I’ve gone rug crazy again. Funny story about this rug– I’ve been eyeing it for YEARS, pinned it 10 times to Pinterest, and even used the pattern in my business cards. When it came up on my favorite site to score rugs (One Kings Lane) as a runner I snagged it and could not be happier! Talk about finding your style. This rug SCREAMS my name.
“Carrrieeeeee.” It screams, I tell you!
I’ve intentionally kept the left wall blank so that the large prints draw your eyes down the hall, but the opposite wall is about to get another change and I can’t wait to show it to you!
I’m also putting a makeover for that laminate Target credenza on my to-do list. But if I waited to show you these updates until I’d finished the wall and the credenza makeover then I’d put them on my blog, like, never.
Now I just need ONE MORE HOUR to finish off the other wall; I have all the supplies and am SO ready. Any volunteers to watch my kids for 60 minutes this summer?
Carpe diem! And Carpe a hammer, some foam board, and random empty frames and antlers and meet me in the hallway. Small changes can make a HUGE impact. Let’s do this thing! 🙂
