Are you looking for an easy, quick, affordable way to spruce up a room in your home on a budget? If the answer is yes, then you’ve come to the right place! I created this textured wall art for less than $25.
We needed something very simple and affordable for our open wall space in our dining room. I explored all different types of options, like macrame wall art, printed/framed art, floating shelves, and mirrors. At the end of the day, I knew it needed to be simple so that it didn’t overpower the other pieces in the room. I’ve seen other creators make textured wall art with drywall mud, and I loved the idea of having something that was simple, textured, and unlike anyone else’s. Since you’re using drywall mud to create the texture, you have complete control over how much (or how little) texture you want to incorporate into your piece. You can even get creative by using different tools like spatulas and butter knives to create interesting textures, although I kept mine pretty straightforward.
Before I began, I honestly wasn’t sure how it would turn out. I had never used drywall mud before, so I was ready to accept a total fail in the end. To my surprise, it was SO easy and turned out to be a complete success!
Here are the supplies you’ll need:
- Canvas – I scored mine for $6 at a thrift store. You could also check places like Homegoods or Ross for clearance canvases that are the size you’re looking for.
- Drywall mud
- Paint
- Paint Roller
- Shaping tool – you could use a drywall trowel, spatula, butter knife, or anything else you think will help you create the texture you desire for your DIY wall art.
Begin by cleaning off your canvas. Since mine was thrifted, it seemed to be super old an a little dirty. It had some old masking tape around the edges that I had to peel off and I also wiped it down with a cloth.
Then, add a layer of white paint directly to the canvas. I almost skipped this step but it is crucial. I’ll tell you why in just a minute. Leave it to dry before you move on to the next step. Mine took about an hour to dry outside in 90 degree weather.
Next, you’re ready for the fun part- the drywall mud! If you want to practice your technique on a piece of cardboard first, that could be a good idea, but I just went directly to the canvas with mine. Since I was working outside in the heat, I worked in sections to make sure that the mud didn’t dry before I was finished shaping that area. It dried out super quick for me, but you might have more time to play with it if you’re working somewhere cooler. As far as technique goes, I wanted my canvas to be pretty simple so I began by smoothing thin layers onto the canvas. Then, once I had covered majority of that area, I would go back in with a little more mud to create a few more dramatic peaks. Since your paint and the mud are both white, it is very easy to leave some spots uncovered by accident. That is why it’s so important to paint the canvas white before you begin so that you don’t see pieces of the original artwork popping through!
I also can’t stress enough how important it is to keep the mud as thin as you can. Thicker layers are more prone to cracking once it dries, which ends up being super sad.
Once you’re done applying the mud all over the canvas and you’re happy with how the textured wall art looks, go ahead and let it dry completely. Mine only took a few hours to become 90% dry, at which point I took it inside to hang on the wall. It cured the rest of the way overnight as it hung on the wall and ended up fine. Once it is fully dry, you can add a wooden frame around the outside if you’d like (anyone want to see me DIY that? LMK in the comments). You also have the option to put another layer of paint over top but I didn’t opt for that step. I really liked the matte look of the drywall mud, and I was afraid that paint might make the texture look smoother that what I wanted. I left it and haven’t had any issues with crumbling so far!
That’s it! Once you’ve put those finishing touches on it, it’s ready to hang on the wall. Enjoy the newest addition to your space and let me know if you try this DIY project yourself! I’d love to see pictures and any other tips you may have come across.
💛