The Anatomy of a Wall Collage

I love a good collage. Mixing prints, textures and colors is a general theme around our home. And  whether small or large, a good wall collage adds personality and depth to any room. Here are some of my tips for achieving your perfect mix. 

1. Make it personal

Use items from your life - your wedding, your adventures, meaningful quotes -- something from your favorite novel, a line or two of poetry or even an entire poem, or song lyrics -- perhaps the song you danced to at your wedding, or the one your mother used to sing to you as a child.

2. Find a common theme

Make one element of the collage cohesive  -- perhaps a color story {I went with neutral colors in my living room collage}, using the same frame for each piece, a wall of only poetry or song lyrics, pictures from your honeymoon or a favorite trip. Find something that ties a common thread between all pieces.

3. Plan it out

I like to lay the collage on the floor to get the perfect arrangement, then cut out shapes from paper that match each piece. Lightly tape each piece of paper to the wall and tweak the placement as needed. It may seem like extra work, but I guarantee you it is far easier than rearranging things after you've already made holes in the wall. I especially suggest this if you are trying to hang multiple things in one straight line.

4. Don't be afraid to switch it up

Changing out pieces in the collage helps keep things fresh, especially during the holiday season. I like to add silver Christmas balls to the antlers in our living room or string garland across the frames to make them more festive. Also, if you find another piece of art that you love, find a way to incorporate it into your collage.

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Sunday Truths

{via}

Yes, just yes.

Walled Off

While I tend to shy away from overly filled walls, collages are one of my favorite ways to occupy wall space. In fact, the only items hanging in our living room are a mixed assemblage above the couch. The other four walls are virtually empty (save for a couple of hooks by the door for storing coats and purses). Our collage consists of a central vintage landscape painting, two metal letters, a set of antlers, a 1800s map of Georgia, a vintage gold and crystal candelabra, and a few bird prints. I like to mix modern with rustic for an eclectic spin and throw in a few printed pieces (both vintage and new) for good measure. Here are some of my current favorites for adding a bit of text (and inspiration) to your walls.

Bloom

Avett Brothers - Murder in the City

Ryan Adams - English Girls

Public School Posters

Pray

Follow Your Dreams

Plato

What do you put on your walls?

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

signage

i simply love the use of words and letters as decoration in a home. when done well, it can add a bit of eclectic flare to a room. recent design trends have shown that such art is no longer confined to spaces such as offices and libraries, but is incorporated throughout a home... in a living room, bedroom, even a kitchen.

here are some of my favorites:
i know this one has been around for a while, but i still love it.keep calm

aardvark manifesto

i love you

this one might just be my favorite....
it was a DIY project i found on sweethomestyle. i am absolutely in love with it! there will definitely be something similar hanging in our bedroom in our next residence.


what is your take on sayings and words in art? yea or nay?
xoxo


copyright Hiking in Stilettos

i'm in love...

... with this painting.


it's me and husband.
it's inspiring & beautiful.
it would be so lovely over our bed.
it's simply perfect.

and i've been thinking about it for at least three weeks straight.
sigh.


but we don't dance by casey oconnell
copyright Hiking in Stilettos

mark your calendars

when i read about this installation on atlanta's daily candy, i was so very intrigued and excited that i knew i had to share it with you. then, i headed over to check on the asiancajuns and found that they are super excited about it too! now i know i really must share. :)

for those of you in the atlanta area {or the new york area for that matter}, mark you calendars for an incredible artistic display. amy flurry {style writer/editor} and nikki salk {owner of addiction boutique} are showing a sculptural paper installation that looks absolutely wonderful.


you have from now until february 5th to see the installation. i think i will probably wait to go until next weekend when the temperatures aren't quite so frigid. read about the project here and get exact info for your respective cities. also you can look at all the lovely pieces!


images copyright Mali Azima 2009
via paper-cut-project
Hiking in Stilettos

a peek inside

i love seeing where and how other people live...

what their living rooms look like,

what foods are in their pantries and cupboards,

whether they have messy closets or neat ones,

what they carry in their bags on a daily basis, etc.

that is why i adore this project:

persona by j. trav on flickr

he takes a portrait shot

and then a shot of what is in the person's bag.

i love it.

my lovely friend lesley wrote about it on her blog. check it out!

i looked through all sixty pictures in the set last night,

and i was intrigued by every one.

it's so interesting to see what we all deem necessary daily items.

check out the collection, and let me know what you think!

images courtesy of j. trav on flickr

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

love

i need to somehow find this in a poster print
so it can live on my wall

i love it that much

**EDIT: you can purchase this print here

Thanks to PhyschMamma for telling us where to find it!

I really have the best readers. Love you guys!

xoxo
Hiking in Stilettos

adorable doodles {and such}

i adore these little birdie doodles by the talented kate wilson

shoes and birds ensemble? yes, please.

for more great doodles, check out her portfolio.

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

just a few things

{to distract you until the weekend}

i'm a big fan of unique headboards, and i love this adorable idea

this concert poster would look great in my kitchen collage

this is just too cute! christmas in june anyone?

three little owls that are so precious

still in love with this dressing mirror

this colorful leather belt would look great with so much and it's handmade!

wishing that i were here, playing in the snow

but since i'm not....

i'd like to be sitting here

with the perfect drink for a hot summer day in the south

and these little guys to munch on

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

A Thousand Words

Although I can't take the credit for finding this wonderful gem, I definitely want to pass the word along. My lovely friend Jesse of The Lucky Stone shared the link on her blog, and I have decided to do the same. 1000 words is a wonderfully creative endeavor exploring the phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words." One author snaps a photo and the other creates a story to accompany, a story that must be exactly one thousand words. I think the concept is brilliant, and after reading the first installment, I am hooked. The combined artistry of the photography and the literature is simply beautiful. Read for yourself and explore exactly what a picture is worth.