7 DIY canvas wall art ideas for your home
Finding artwork that feels right for your home isn't always easy. You might love the colours of one piece but not the size, or find the perfect composition in a frame that doesn't work with anything else in the room.
Making your own wall art gives you another option. You can choose the colours, materials, size and frame, and create something that feels connected to your space. And trust me, you don't need to be an artist to make something you would be super proud to display.
From minimal abstract paintings to raw linen and colourful frames, here are seven DIY wall art ideas you can make at home with our canvas art kits, with practical ways to get started.
1. Make abstract wall art with one colour
A limited palette can make a surprisingly interesting piece of DIY canvas art. Work with one colour in different strengths, build up transparent layers and let some of the canvas show through.
For our layered blue artwork, we used Rich Navy from our Monochrome Cotton Kit, diluted with water to create depth across three layers.
Try it: Choose a colour you love and experiment with lighter and darker versions rather than adding more colours.
2. Create geometric canvas art with masking tape
Masking tape makes it easy to create clean lines and geometric shapes in your DIY canvas art. Keep it structured with blocks of colour, or contrast sharp edges with loose, organic brushstrokes.
For one of our minimalist artworks made with our Monochrome Linen Kit, we taped off a rectangle, painted a light base and added abstract marks in blue, black and white, leaving the natural linen exposed.
Try it: Start with one geometric shape and a limited colour palette. Keep it crisp or add expressive marks for contrast.
3. Leave a raw linen canvas blank
Not all DIY wall art needs paint.
Raw linen has a warm natural tone and visible weave that give it character on its own. Stretch it, add a wooden edge frame and you've made a minimal piece that works beautifully alongside timber, ceramics and other natural materials.
We've both had blank linen canvases hanging in our homes simply because we love the look.
Try it: Pair raw linen with an Oak or Dark Oak frame, depending on the contrast you want. Explore our Framed Linen Canvas Kit.
4. Make textured wall art with a palette knife
A palette knife creates marks and texture that you won't get from a brush. Spread, scrape and layer acrylic paint to make even a simple composition more interesting.
For our Olive grid artwork, we divided the canvas with masking tape and filled each section with expressive palette knife marks.
Try it: Repeat one type of mark across the canvas, changing the direction, colour or amount of paint as you go.
5. Make two artworks that belong together
Two canvases can feel connected without being identical. Use the same colours across both, but change the shapes, proportions or placement.
It's a lovely way to create original wall art for a shelf, a narrow wall or a small arrangement.
Try it: Make the first painting, then borrow two or three elements from it for the second. Our Double Art Kits include two framed canvases and one shared set of tools.
6. Make the frame part of the artwork
Who says the frame has to be an afterthought?
We painted our wooden edge frames bright blue before creating an artwork with our Mix Art Kit, then repeated the colour in the composition. It made the entire piece feel connected.
Try it: Choose your frame colour first and bring a little of that shade into the painting.
7. Find inspiration in the objects around you
You don't need to look at other paintings for DIY wall art ideas. A book cover, favourite fabric or piece of furniture can be the starting point.
For one of our Navy & Bright artwork, we took inspiration from the colours and shapes on the cover of Kinfolk Islands, then turned them into our own geometric composition.
Try it: Pick an object you love, pull out two or three colours and use its shapes as inspiration rather than trying to copy it exactly.
How to make DIY wall art that feels right for your home
The best thing about making your own artwork is that you don't have to compromise on the details that matter to you. You can take colours from your interiors, choose a canvas material you love and decide how minimal or expressive you want the finished piece to be.
A few things are worth considering before you start:
Look at the colours already in your room. You don't have to match everything, but repeating a shade from your furniture, textiles or favourite objects can help the artwork feel connected to the space.
Think about the canvas itself. Raw cotton gives you a natural off-white base, while raw linen brings a warmer tone and more visible texture. You can make either material part of the finished artwork.
Choose the frame early. An Oak or Dark Oak edge frame can change the feel of a piece, so it's worth thinking about it alongside your colours rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Start with an idea you can actually enjoy making. You don't need an elaborate composition. A few shapes, a limited palette or one repeated mark can be enough.
If you're unsure which canvas to start with, our guide to choosing between cotton and linen canvas can help.
Make your own framed wall art with Plan
Making your own art gives you something a ready-made poster can't: control over the colours, canvas and frame, plus the experience of creating the piece yourself.
Our Full Art Kits bring everything together, from the canvas and handcrafted wooden frames to the paints and tools. All you need to do is choose the colour palette, canvas size and frame finish. You then get the hands-on process of making it, from building the frame to hanging the finished piece somewhere very visible and taking full credit.
Explore our Full Art Kits and start creating yours.
Emmi
Co-founder of Plan