DIY Wall Art Ideas for Your Home
Bare walls are the perfect place to show off your own creativity. You do not need to be a trained artist to make DIY wall art that looks good in your living room, bedroom or office. This Haanz Art Guide shares six easy wall art ideas for your home, from abstract canvas paintings to pressed flower art, with the materials you need, simple steps and tips for hanging and protecting your work in Sri Lanka’s humid weather.
What you need for DIY wall art
- Canvas. A Bomeijia Canvas 40×40 cm makes a strong single piece, while a set of Bomeijia Canvas 20×20 cm canvases looks great in a row or grid. Both are gesso-primed and ready for acrylic.
- Paint. Art Rangers Acrylic -12X12ml gives you a full range of colours to start.
- Texture tools. An Artist Palette Knife for thick, textured strokes.
- Finishing. FUJIN Acrylic Varnish 100ml as a protective top coat.
See all sizes in Drawing Canvasses and paint sets in Acrylic Colour Packs. Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price.
Six DIY wall art ideas for your home
1. Abstract colour blocks. Use Nyoni Artist Masking Tape to divide a canvas into shapes. Paint each shape a different colour from one colour family, such as blues and greens. Peel the tape while the paint is still slightly wet for crisp lines.
2. Textured palette knife art. Spread thick paint with a palette knife in short strokes, like icing a cake. White on white looks modern and calm. Our guide to Textured Canvas Art explains more.
3. Poured paint art. Mont Marte Pouring Acrylic Paint 240ml is ready to pour, with no mixing needed. Tilt the canvas to let colours flow into each other. Follow Acrylic Pouring for Beginners before you start.
4. Pressed flower art. Arrange Pressed Dry Flowers Mix -SA Series on a painted canvas. Brush a thin coat of varnish on the canvas, lay the flowers down gently, then brush another thin coat over the top.
5. Gold leaf accents. Add a few touches of Gold Leaves 15x15cm 25 leaves pack to an abstract or textured painting. Apply gilding adhesive where you want gold, wait until it is tacky, then press the leaf on and brush away the loose flakes.
6. Lettering and quotes. Paint a soft background, let it dry, then write a short quote or family name with the Uni-posca 8 pen set -(PC-5M). The opaque paint markers show clearly over acrylic.
How to make a canvas set, step by step
- Choose your colours. Pick three to five colours that match your cushions, curtains or furniture.
- Plan the layout. Lay three canvases side by side on the floor and decide how the design will flow across them.
- Paint the background. Paint all canvases at the same time so the colours match.
- Add the design. Continue lines, shapes or flowers from one canvas into the next.
- Let it dry. Leave the paint to dry fully. In humid weather, give it longer than you think.
- Varnish. Brush on a thin, even coat of varnish to protect the surface from dust and moisture.
- Hang. Measure the wall, mark the hook positions with a pencil and keep equal gaps between canvases.
Tips for hanging and caring for wall art
- Hang the centre of the artwork at roughly eye level, not high up near the ceiling.
- Keep paintings away from direct sunlight, cooking steam and damp walls.
- In the monsoon months, check the back of canvases now and then for damp spots or mould.
- Dust gently with a soft, dry brush.
- For framed pieces, read our guide to Framing and Displaying Artwork.
Frequently asked questions
What size canvas should I use for wall art?
For a single statement piece above a sofa or bed, choose a larger canvas. For smaller walls or a gallery look, a set of small square canvases works well.
Do I need to varnish acrylic wall art?
It is not required, but a coat of varnish helps protect the painting from dust and moisture and makes cleaning easier, which is helpful in humid weather.
Do you deliver islandwide?
Yes. We deliver across Sri Lanka in 2–5 working days, with cash on delivery, card or bank transfer. You can also visit our shops in Boralesgamuwa and Horana, open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.
Not sure what to choose? Call / WhatsApp the Haanz team on 0711 515 515 and we’ll help you choose canvases and paints for your wall art idea.
