John and I were both staring at our stack of Martha Stewart paint swatches and almost simultaneously the light bulb went on. Why not have some fun with them on our postcard wall in the office? One of our favorite features about that wall is how easily it can be switched out at a moment’s notice. So here’s what the ol’ postcard wall looked like before we went swatch crazy:
And here it is now, after we added some fun rectangles of color for a nice change of pace:
MMmmmm, I just love staring at all of those rich hues. Seriously, we’ve never been so inspired.
Of course the postcards will be back soon, since we love to rotate things around and keep it interesting in there. But for now we’re loving all the delicious hues that we stuck up for our enjoyment (for $0, which is always a plus).
Oh and we just leaned them against the wall (and thanks to the notch that John routed with his Dremel they have stayed put) but you could also use white sticky-tack to keep them in place if you’re taking on a similar project and worry that they’ll blow around.
So what do you guys think? Do you have a favorite color out of the bunch? Have you created any free art or other home decor with paint swatches from your local home improvement store? Share and share alike.
Psst- Wondering how we made our post card shelves? Learn how here. And check out the full office makeover reveal here.
I can see why some like this project and why some don’t. I like both, but am not fully in love with them. But, with that said, the idea is really using the cards in a more positive way, other than throwing them away after you have painted the color you want.
You guys are so resourceful in your decorating! What a neat idea.
You know that you’re a DIY/ home improvement nerd when…..! Just kidding guys! Looks great and has a lot of energy. I love the idea that colors can make us feel different moods. :)
That is an interesting change. Not sure I would have gone that route. Re-purposing existing items in decoration is always a fun challenge. Always nice to get a new look without spending any money.
As always thanks for the great ideas.
This is so gorgeous! I love the repetition and pattern created with all of these swatches! Also- the way the light swatches (closest to the natural light from the window) create a gradient that mimics the natural shadows of the room. This wall now looks like a true art instillation! Love it, thanks for sharing!
I actually like it better with the postcards. Much more interesting with the height differences of the cards. Maybe it is just your photo, but those colors seem dull to me in the paint chips.
I liked what you had up there before better. I don’t think this idea is horrible (if it’s free it’s for me) but I would have gone with some more, in your words, punchy, colors. The colors you have seem a little depressing.
Glad I’m not the only one who enjoys staring at paint swatches! I’m thinking about covering the top of my end table with them soon.
Can you just go to home depot or lowes and just take a ton of those? I love it!
Hey Katie,
Yup, they’re free for the taking. Of course we wouldn’t recommend walking out with five bags full (that seems a bit over the top) but if you’re trying to find some inspiring color schemes (like we were, which is why we had a big stack of them around) they can definitely come in handy. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Looks great! Honestly, I like it better than the postcard wall, because it feels more cohesive. Love those Martha colors, too. We just painted our bedroom in her Rainwater with Tailor’s Chalk trim, and it’s less gray and more truly soft green on the walls than we expected, but it feels fresh and lovely and we’re happy with it.
Love the paint chip wall!
The paint chips would also make a great chair rail or border along the ceiling.
Very interesting and resourceful! You always have something neat to try. I wouldn’t do this myself, honestly, but I like how you show people that it is okay to think outside the box! Bravo!
couldn’t help but think of you guys when i saw this…. and i know how you love a bargain :) http://passionatepennypincher.com/blog/?p=4748&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PassionatePennyPincher+%28Passionate+Penny+Pincher%29
Love it Amy! Thanks for sharing!
xo,
s
interesting, but I definitely prefer the original postcard wall. Much more colorful and interesting to look at.
LOVE this!!! I just painted my living room with Martha’s “Enamelwear” I think i see it in your fourth photo… I love it!
This is really cool! Though I like the idea of the postcards and photos, I think the symmetry of this set up speaks to me a little more strongly. But I guess you could arrange photos and postcards in the same fashion, too.
Neato.
Oooo, I LOVE this. It’s so soothing! I just recently arranged the books in my bookshelves according to color, however I love this idea even more! I’m sure your little girl would love looking at this when she starts to learn her colors.
Paint chips are one of my favorite free resources!
As a former preschool teacher, I often asked parents to send those to school when they were done with them. Great for learning colors, art projects, collages, etc. I’d also use them to jot notes to parents, other teachers, etc.
OH I love that!
The beauty of those shelves, you can change it up whenever the mood strikes! Cool idea for a change, but the world traveler in me so loves the postcards. Visually appealing but meaningful at the same time.
I love using things I have laying around for wall decor, you can see some of my DIY wall decor ideas at
http://styleandcentsability.wordpress.com/category/wall-display/
I like this better than the original. It’s sooo visually pleasing. Great work, YHL!!!
Can we get a quick Clara update??? My son is the same age (5/15/10) and I just adore seeing other babes the same age!!
Hey AEOT,
Clara’s doing awesome and she sends kisses to your little boy (she’s quite the flirt). You can click that sidebar button with her cute face on it for all sorts of constantly updated photos (with little tidbits about her growth and her personality as well). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I’m glad you guys have paint chips on the brain, too! I recently made two pieces of wall art for our bedroom using paint chips – I overlapped and layered the chips to make something like a mosaic. It was an easy way to bring other colors into the room and (since I already had the frames) it was free!
I love it! I made a paint swatch sunset collage a few years ago. Unfortunately it was on posterboard (lame!) but I’d like to recreate it on canvas with modgepodge. :)
What a fun idea! I’ve seen lots of uses for paint swatches recently and they are definitely inspiring. David Bromstad used them on the set of his first season of Color Splash and now I think Sherwin-Williams is using them in their ads to make fun animals and things. Love it! What a great temporary art piece for your office.
2nd row from the top, cards 8 and 9 from the right…would you say either of those is close to the color in the Australia house you crashed? I loved that paint color! Where do they sell Marth Stewart paint?
Hey Julie,
Yes, those look similar! They sell MS paint at Home Depot, so why not bring a ton of swatches home and see which ones work in your space with your lighting. Good luck!
xo,
s
Those ledges are one of my favorite projects that you’ve done. I love how the whole look can be totally changed whenever you want. I loved the postcards, and I love the swatches too. It looks like modern art. Can’t wait to see what you do with it next!
What fun (and free) wall art! I picked up Martha Stewart’s Wrought Iron swatch as the inspiration for our front door and shutters. I can’t wait to paint this weekend and see how the rich navy hue looks on our house!
Sweet idea! The BF and I are painting his bedroom this weekend with MS Fawn… do you have suggestions for the finish? I’d like an eggshell and he’s dead-set on flat. We also have two dogs (one of whom is large and hairly and likes to sleep next to the wall with his legs in the air).
Hey Amanda,
We have rooms with flat walls and satin walls and love them both (the difference is nearly impossible to detect so you probably will love whatever you choose). Of course satin or eggshell is a smidge more wipeable and durable so it might be the way to go. Good luck!
xo,
s
I think the shelves in the office are my favorite YHL project to date. Whether you love the postcards or the paint swatches most, the point to me is the amazing versatility of the installation. It really is genius. Cheers!
I like the postcard better, too! But whatever makes you happy, do it! :)
so calm and professional, amazing change.
You guys always make everything look good! I tried a project just a couple weeks ago involving paint chips. I tried to decoupage a diaper box with a mosaic of paint swatches to use as toy storage in our playroom. It didn’t go well:
http://underwatercondo.blogspot.com/2010/08/craft-fail.html
Maybe I’ll have to give it another go. There’s something I really love about paint chips – there are so many inspiring colors!
That.Is.Totally.Cool. Guarantee that this will show up alllll over online blogs!
perfect! I might even like this better than the postcards. Brilliant for an office as creative and fab as yours.
In the past, I’ve used swatches for scrapbooking things. Now, though it’s not art, we have the basic colors on a little ring that lives in the bathroom and we practice colors with our daughter while she’s on the potty!
This is neat! I’ve seen a lot of ideas using paint swatches lately. I don’t have any but maybe I need to swing by my local home depot and snag some.
easy peasy AND beautiful!! I love it.
Oh me, oh my! I LOVE this. :) My husband and I just moved into a new place and thanks to your paint source/swatch post a while ago, I am now privy to Martha’s rich paint collection! Just finished painting our place in Bedford Gray and Spring Melt. Thanks for all your hardwork and daily inspiration.. I’m a big fan!
I like it! The whole point of the shelving was that you could switch out the pieces as you see fit.
However, my ADD would have me constantly rearranging the colors to see if there is a more visually pleasing pattern.
cool idea but i’m not totally loving it – definitely like the look of the post card version better personally. i love how you guys are always changing things up though – pretty fun!
GREAT idea. I love free art and I can totally see how inspiring all those lovely hues would be :) awesome job!!
Do you happen to know where to source the Martha Stewart paint swatches, as I am in the UK!
*hugs* to all.
Hmm, Home Depot sells them here but perhaps you can google around for a UK source? Hope it helps!
xo,
s
So cool!
A few years back, I framed some free wallpaper samples from Farrow & Ball. They looked awesome in my icy blue office, but since we moved, I just don’t have the heart to hang them in my peachy-walled office. I really need to paint this room!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27949356@N06/4973998037/
Oh man, I love this sooo much!!! It’s soooo awesome! I’m tempted to do it above the desk in my office (designed per your design advice!) but I am pretty sure it would be a little coocoo with our multi-colored rug :) Love it!
I love how different this looks from the postcards! It’s so easy on the eyes!
What do you have on top of the blue shelf John built? Are they just tiny trays?
I can’t wait to see an entire wall full of Clara’s weekly photos!
Hey Amanda,
They’re small ceramic dishes that we use as trays to house paperclips, a small scissors, and other office supplies. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Just because I’m curious – how long did it take you to decorate the shelves with postcards before? I’m sure that it’s a “put a bunch of stuff up, take a step back, rearrange” kind of thing, but I feel like it would take me FOREVER and I would always be messing with it! Although I guess that’s the point…that you can change it up all the time!
I like the paint swatches too, it’s a nice change of pace.
Hey Lauren,
It probably took us around twenty minutes of tossing things up, stepping back, swapping things around, etc. We try not to create any arrangement that’s too precious, so it works for a while and then we change things up. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Interesting, but honestly I hate it. I much prefer what you had going on before! I love the shelf idea and lover that you can change it, but I dont like the paint card look.
I think it’s a fun change! I am loving the center portion of the third row.
I remember vividly going to Home Depot with my babysitter when I was maybe 8 and stealing tons of paint chips!!…back when they were actually chips and not just paper. We got back to her house and she saw them stuffed in my bag and made me take them back. I was horrified and sad that I couldn’t keep them! I think that’s where my paint obsession began! :D
Well, you guys have done it once again! I have been looking for some free art to gussy up a frame collage I did in our guest bedroom(kind of like the one in Clara’s room- all white frames). Most of the frames have stayed empty since we put them up a couple of weeks ago, due to a lack of inspiration, but THIS IS A GREAT IDEA! I am heading to HD after work so thanks (again!) for the inspiration! Seriously, I should probably just add a sign over the front door of our house that says “inspired by John & Sherry!” You guys rock. :)
xo- Michelle
I think there’s a space at the Martha Stewart Omnimedia HQ with a huge wall just like that. If I remember correctly, she had that press conference announcing that she was checking into prison early with that wall behind her. As much as I love Martha & her colors, I think that association makes me like the postcard wall better.