INSIDE: How to use staircase banister as wall decor. How to decorate with picture frames in your home for easy, cheap gallery wall.
“I got you something,” said the text from my husband. Was he bringing me home flowers or my favorite sweet treat? Nope. Instead, he handed me an old, grimy section of a wooden staircase banister. Yes, I’m one lucky girl!
Unwilling to bring this dirty thing into my house, it sat for a long while in the garage. Gathering more dust than it accumulated at the salvage yard, we finally realized it would look pretty good in, of all places, our dining room!
So if you find yourself expecting flowers but are given something from the local salvage yard instead, don’t freak. What do they say about one person’s junk…
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how to use staircase banister for easy gallery wall
Who says a photo gallery wall only has to be on the actual wall? Why not take someone’s former staircase banister and use it to display photos of your gorgeous children (or perhaps your four-legged kids)? All it takes is some elbow grease, a little paint and a nose willing to deal with some dust!
Supplies:
– Paint and brush
– Carpentry nails
– Bolts
– Variety of photo frames
how to decorate with picture frames
It’s amazing what a good wipe-down can do! Go figure.
The frame of the banister was originally painted purple. Got nothing against purple; it just wasn’t the color of my dining room. Transformation #2, turn the purple teal.
And against the wishes of my mother’s unsolicited two cents opinion, I kept the banister “rough”.
Layout the various photo frames how you want them displayed.
Based on that, add carpentry nails into the banister spindles where the frames will go.
Who knew one small part of a staircase railing could weigh so much?!
So to avoid this banister crashing down in the middle of the night, bolts were used to hang the unique photo display on the wall. I think the bolts add to its uniqueness.
Add photo frames of your beautiful children, awesome adventures or just your cute pets.
How do you display photos at your home? Let me know in the comments.
Other DIY Ideas You May Like:
- Turn a metal plate charger into a DIY chalkboard sign with fabric flowers
- Upcycle a larger dresser mirror frame into large-scale wall art
- $20 Craigslist mid-century modern coffee table makeover
- $10 vintage suitcase turned into a wall photo display
- DIY wood transfer bookmarks
- How to transfer photos onto DIY scented drawer sachets
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Cara says
This is so cute and creative! I would have never thought in a million years to use it as a gallery wall, but it looks amazing!
Audra @ Renewed Projects says
How cool! This piece is amazing!
Kim (TheKimSixFix) says
I love this project! The old aged texture you retained is great. Fabulous. In fact, I am going to feature it as one my favorites at You’re Gonna Love It this week!
Thanks so much for linking up!
Mary-the boondocks blog says
This is really cute! The railing adds so much more interest to the wall then if you had hung the pictures alone. I used one to hang up my daughter’s scarves and bags. I’ve hung it up vertically.
[email protected] says
Thank you Mary!
Linda Bouffard says
Amazing. I love it. and it’s so original!! Best wishes, Linda @Crafts a la mode
[email protected] says
Thanks so much! It was a fun project.
Brenda Young says
Love the display you created here, it adds such a great touch of visual interest to an otherwise run of the mill gallery wall.
[email protected] says
Thank you! We think so too.
Katrin says
I love this, I would have never thought of this, but it’s so nice, now I want to find one of these too!!!
[email protected] says
Thanks! You never know what treasures you will find at the salvage yard.
Audra @ Renewed Projects says
What a lovely and unique gallery wall. Stunning!
[email protected] says
Thank you! We are happy with how it turned out. Definitely a conversation piece.
Tuula @ Thrifty Rebel Vintage says
This is such an amazIng idea! What a fabulous display piece. I’d love it if you’d share this at Vintage Charm, which is all about vintage, repurposing, and upcycling. The party’s on right now. I hope to see you there. Tuula 🙂
http://thriftyrebelvintage.com/2016/02/vintage-charm-18.html/
julie nichols says
You are so cleaver…I love this project! Pinning this!! You are my pick for Talk of the Town Link Party #8.
Thank you for linking up.
Julie @ Love My Simple Home
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thank you so much!
Shirley Wood says
You know your hubby loves you when he brings you thrifted treasures! Very clever project and a great way to avoid all those nail holes!
Gentle Joy Photography says
What a wonderfully unique idea!!! It looks great and what a good idea for a repurpose. 🙂
Kim says
That looks adorable!!!
Kim says
Adorable!!!
sara s syrett says
Turned out great!!
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thanks Sara!
Cindy Richter says
Victoria, this is so cute and what a great way to display photos! Saw this on TFT… LOVE IT!
Angela at Simply Beautiful By says
What an awesome idea, I love how this looks! My husband is known to bring home “junk” from time to time aslo and it makes me WAY happier than flowers would!!
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
LOL, glad I’m not alone. Thanks Angela!
Debrashoppeno5 says
I love this idea. It adds such charm to the wall. Everyone will be on the look out for old banisters.
Toni says
It’s so great that your hubby brings you stuff home to repurpose 🙂 What a creative way to display your pictures.
Amanda | Domestically Creative says
What a unique way to display photos!
I wish my hubby would bring me home some “junk” lol, but he is a less is more kind of guy. I guess it keeps me in check.
Claire says
I love your creativity with this idea. What a lovely way to display photos.
Susanne says
That is great Victoria! I have an old ladder that I am going to do the same thing with….great minds think a like!
Kimm at Reinvented says
I love this idea so much! Layering is my favorite. 🙂
Kim~madeinaday says
What a cool idea & like the teal much better! I bet it’s a great conversation piece.
Kim
Michelle James says
I think you are a very lucky girl. My husband will help but I don’t think he would ever bring home a project on purpose. I would have never thought to use it this way but it looks so good. I love the colors and the “roughness”. You did a great job.
Angie ~ Ambient Wares says
This is awesome and definitely unique! It adds so much to the wall and the pictures look great on it. Thanks again for sharing this with us at Funtastic Friday! Pinned
Chelsea @ Making Manzanita says
I would LOVEEEEEE if my hubby brought me home something like this. You’ve got a keeper 🙂 Love how your upcycle project turned out friend.
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
LOL, thanks Chelsea!
Lauren says
Great project! Thanks for sharing it at The Creative Corner Link Up Party!
Michelle Gwynn Jones says
What a great idea. I have been trying to think of something to do on the wall across from my bed. This will do the trick. Going to pin this to my Craft and Diy board too. Thank you.
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thank you Michelle!
Lindsay says
This is so smart! I would have never thought to use a banister. I’ve got so many photos that I need to hang up too! Thanks for sharing the paint you used. I always get confused as to what type to use on different projects!
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thanks Lindsay!
Jelica says
Flowers are a dime a dozen, Victoria. I think your hubby’s choice of gift was definitely a winner. And you did a marvelous job repurposing it 🙂
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thanks Jelica!
Katherines Corner says
thank you for sharing your awesome craftiness at TFT. You were pinned and featured. Hugs!
Marie says
This turned out fantastic! I would never look at a piece of railing and think, “You know that would look great on the wall” but you have made a stunning, unique statement piece out of it. Absolutely love this upcycle!
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thanks Marie!
Kathleen says
What a great hubby! Mine does the same thing from time to time ~ gotta love it! (He’s already on the lookout for a fireplace mantel for me for Christmas!) Gallery walls can be boring but you really spiced yours up. Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home
Teri @ The Freshman Cook says
This is adorable! You have so many great ideas! Thank you for sharing at Celebrate It!
Kate Hollingsworth says
I’ve seen this using a crib but never a banister! Such a clever cookie Victoria xx
Grandmas House DIY says
Thank you so much for sharing this with us at the To Grandma’s house we go link party – I’ll be featuring it tomorrow morning when the new party starts!
Jess says
What a neat idea! 🙂
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Leslie says
What a fun idea! As luck has it, it looks like a trip to a salvage yard is in my near future! 😀 Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Kristin's Peppermints and Cherries says
What a unique project! It’s so fun when a project finally comes together after putting it off!
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thanks Kristin! The couple that DIY together, stays together, LOL!
Donna Reidland says
Very nice!
Kenyatta Harris says
This is such unique project. It turned out lovely.
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thank you, it’s one of our favorite home projects!
Erlene says
What a unique way to use old banister to display photos. Definitely a conversation piece.
Erlene says
What a unique way to use old banister to display photos. Definitely a conversation piece.
Peter DIYPD says
You have always to remember that your husband is one of the best man in the world! Amazing project and the result is stunning!
Debrashoppeno5 says
This is a great idea. It looks like it will be easier to change out pictures and gives interest to the wall.
Amy says
What a darling idea! I would have never thought of this. I’m always looking for a way to display pictures. Thank you for sharing at To Grandma’s House We Go.
Sheri says
Love this. I’ll be featuring it this week at To Grandma’s House We Go DIY, Crafts, Recipes and more Link Party on Hazel + Gold Designs! Pinned!
Michelle Leslie says
I love this idea Victoria. It looks amazing
Teresa says
This is such an original idea, but it works perfectly. You did a wonderful job.
Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinned.