An Earthy Alternative To Wall Art Is One Foam DIY Away

Are you tired of browsing the same old big box store aisles, searching for that one-of-a-kind wall décor piece to tie your home together? While you may be able to find nice home décor pieces using this method, it can take quite some time to get your hands on the perfect item. It can also get expensive to buy specialty décor, especially if it requires a professional installation. Instead of hunting for wall art, one alternative is to DIY your own décor. A simple project that can enhance your wall space is to use pieces of foam as a way to create a faux earthy rock stone accent wall.

While it can seem intimidating to jump into this type of project, building DIY faux stone wall décor is affordable and simple to execute. Before starting, you'll want to make sure you have all the necessary tools on hand for a smooth construction. The main bulk of the rock accents are created from pieces of foam, which can be leftovers from your latest delivery. Or, if needed, purchase something like the Juvale Foam Blocks for Crafts that you can cut to size and shape. You'll also need to have a sharp utility knife on hand to cut the foam, paint in neutral colors, and a strong adhesive like Liquid Nails Extreme Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive to attach the rocks together.

Once you're ready to get crafting this DIY home décor on a budget, start by laying down a protective coating over your workspace. This can be anything from an old sheet to extra pieces of cardboard that will keep the space free from paint splatters and runaway pieces of foam. Use the utility blade to cut the foam to the desired shape for each rock. Remember, it can look more natural and realistic for the edges to be imperfect rather than precisely cut. Now, you can lay the rocks out and paint them in different colors to make them mimic the appearance of true rocks in nature. Stick to varying shades of gray and brown to keep an earthy décor look.

When you have all of your rocks cut out, it's time to start assembling the décor in any pattern you'd like. For example, you can go bold and use the rocks to cover the entire space and create a visually striking accent wall. Want something a little more modern and sleek? Arrange the rocks in a fun pattern and secure them to one another using adhesive before hanging them on the wall. Use the Command XL Heavyweight Picture Hanging Strips as a renter-friendly way to display your new faux rock wall creation.

Even if you've got all of your realistic rocks prepped and ready to hang on the wall, there are ways you can customize the look of this wall art alternative that go beyond just painting the pieces to look realistic. Spray painting the faux rocks with a product like Rust-Oleum Stone Creations Spray can add additional texture to the foam to enhance its appearance. You can also use a spray bottle or sponge to apply the color in a unique pattern and texture. Go outside the box and take the look of this wall art alternative to the next level by creating faux moss with paint or materials like glue and peat moss.

Another way to customize a faux rock wall is by tweaking the design based on what room it will be displayed in. For example, a DIY bedroom accent wall made from foam rocks can be enhanced by adding fairy lights for a cozy glow that's sure to help you wind down at the end of a long day. Want your new creation to get a little more traffic? Hang the rocks in a clever pattern on your living room wall to wow guests with your DIY talents.