I’ve been seeing lots of intriguing projects lately so want to share some great inspiration with you. Just as using letters in all sizes in your home decorating is a current trend (see my previous posts here and here), now you can easily use this trend to add a little something new (and very inexpensively!) to your home. Maps. Yes, you read that right, maps. Although they’ve been around forever, they are showing up framed all over the place, but even more than that, home decorators and crafters have caught on and are embracing the possibilities.
Maps can be educational, wishful, hopeful, graphic, whimsical, huge or tiny. They might make you remember someplace you’ve been or dream of somewhere you’d like to go. They impart a sense of history, of belonging to a greater community than just your neighborhood.
Map Art Inspiration
Maps are SO readily available – everyone has extras in the glove compartment or the bottom of a drawer. If not, check thrift stores, yard sales (it’s just about the season) or online. Amazon (an affiliate – click through on their logo from our Bookshelf tab) has posters, atlases and folded maps to choose from.
Choose maps that are pretty – maybe a sepia color for a vintage or neutral colored room or one with lots of water for a blue or green room. Find maps showing hiking elevations, city walk maps, places you’ve been on vacation (or want to go on vacation).
Photo via Pottery Barn.com
Use maps to create your own wallpaper.
Use a map to cover just about anything – Chez Larsson shows how to cover a drum lampshade.
Photo via Martha Stewart.com
Add pizzaz to a serving tray – ala Martha Stewart.
How about letters AND maps? What could be cooler?
Photo via Apartment Therapy.com
Photo via Domestic Ease.com
A little creativity and a lot of decoupage would make a fun statement piece for a child’s room or maybe your office? How about covering a chair (maybe start with a child’s size?) or a stool?
Since maps are printed on paper, you could really cover just about anything your little heart desires by using decoupage medium or PVA glue (found in bookbinding sections of a craft or art store).
Make Your Own Map Art
The Nester shared this simple but complete how-to to make your own map art.
Photo via The Nester.com
Frame the art, cover stretched canvas or even a block of wood.
Photo via All About Vignettes.blogspot.com
Separate one oversize map into fourths (or halves, whatever) and frame to recreate the whole.
Photo via ElleDecor.com
Photo via Martha Stewart.com
Photo via Martha Stewart.com
Use a map of your vacation spot to act as the mat for a photograph. What a great way to showcase memories!
Map Out a Plan
Maps are casual, fun, visually appealing, mentally stimulating and as I’ve shown, can be used just about anywhere to make as big or small of a statement as you’d like. How can you use maps in your decor? In a child’s room, a guest bedroom, your breakfast nook, or will you cover the wall in your powder room or an accent wall in the family room? Or do you find the whole idea unappealing? Tell me what you think.
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I just “ran into” a blog where a gal found a chest “in the dump”..brought it home, stripped it, painted it black and decoupaged a map on the top..it was GORGEOUS. I’ve got framed maps in several rooms ,,,they’ve been there so long they have turned sepia. franki
I’m working on adding a little “mapping” to my home. Seems like you’re a trend setter!