Create Unique Artwork for Your Vacation Rental

You want your vacation rental property to stand out with stylish design and top-notch amenities, right? But how to accomplish that without breaking the bank? Get crafty and create your own artwork!

As a designer who sets up vacation rental properties, my goal is to create a unique home with stylish design that sets you apart from the competition… without breaking the bank. One way to accomplish this is to get crafty and create some of the artwork yourself. I love framed textile art (framed fabric), but it can be pricey. Online you’ll find a 24” x 24” framed piece for $499! Here are my steps for DIY-ing it! I framed this piece of mudcloth (20” x 26”) for about $70.  

Choosing Your Fabric

Perhaps your grandmother’s favorite scarf or a family heirloom quilt is sitting in a closet not really being enjoyed. I chose African mudcloth for its rough, organic nature, which I adore. You’ll find a variety of mudcloth available for sale on Etsy.

Gather Supplies

You’ll need the fabric, a seam ripper (if you’re using mudcloth or other textile with stitches), double-sided foam tape, a picture frame with mat board, and fabric scissors.

Trim Fabric to Size 

First, I needed to trim the fabric to fit in my frame. The piece of mudcloth was approximately 40″ x 55″ in size, clearly larger than my 20″ x 26″ frame. I decided on the appropriate length, leaving a few inches on the top and bottom so the mat would show, then cut the fabric to the desired length. 

Remove Stiches

Mudcloth consists of narrow panels stitched together, so for the width, I decided to separate the panels by removing the stitches with a seam ripper (rather than cutting it with scissors). This allowed me to display the original edge of the fabric, which is one of the qualities that make this fabric so beautiful. 

Attach Fabric to Mat Board

The frame I purchased came with a mat, so I decided to mount the fabric on top of the mat board and over the cutout (where a photo would normally go) using double-sided foam tape. 

Position the fabric on the mat board, then lift about one inch of fabric along the edge and lay it over itself. Next, measure out a piece of foam tape about one-half of an inch smaller than the length or width of the side you’re about to attach. Attach the foam tape to the mat board beneath where the edge of the fabric will lay on top of it.

Once the foam tape is attached to the mat board, it will be difficult to move without tearing the mat board, so try to get it in the correct place the first time. The fabric is more forgiving, and you can gently peel the fabric off the foam tape if the fabric isn’t in the correct position. 

Assemble

Finally, insert the mat board into the frame and assemble. Voilà! It is such an affordable way to add interesting art to any room at a fraction of the price to similar pieces sold in stores.

For more suggestions about furnishing, decorating and branding your vacation rental property, just give us a call at 805-729-2410 or email us here. We’d love to help!