This quick and easy DIY window frame art project is beginner-friendly, easily customizable, and can be completed in just one day. It’s a great way to upcycle an old window into modern decor. Win!
Have you ever had a space on a wall that sat empty for ages, desperately needing to be filled? That’s exactly how I felt about a wall in my dining room. The large open space on the far side of the room sat empty, but not after I came across some vintage window frames for $5 each at my local Habitat for Humanity Restore.
I was able to repurpose that frame into an eclectic, botanical-themed wall art that is way better to look at than an empty wall.
The windows I found were basically down to raw wood, so I opted to paint over them. If you’re going for the distressed look, you may be able to get by with just cleaning the window and adding a top-coat sealer and completely skip all the painting steps.
CUSTOMIZING YOUR FRAME
The great thing about any kind of window frame art is that it is so customizable. You can find a frame to fit the size of the space you need (I made a similar frame for my parents, but on a larger scale for their much-larger wall). You can also customize what kind of images you want to place on the panes.
I chose butterfly prints from an old book that my dad had given me, but you could also use:
-family photos
-kids’ drawings and art
-dried, pressed flowers
-vintage black-and-white photos
-travel photos or postcards
-music sheets from hymn books
-pages from your favorite book
-drawings from vintage books
-free online printables
MATERIALS
Ok, you’ll need to have your materials handy and I’ve listed all of them out below:
- Window frame of your choice. I recommend finding a frame that does not have peeling or chipping paint to avoid having to scrape this off, since old windows may contain lead paint that is released into the air when sanded or scraped. It’s alright if the frame has a layer of paint, since chalk paint will adhere to old paint just fine and you’ll be sealing this with a topcoat.
- Photo’s, printables, book pages, or anything else you choose to adhere to the panes.
- Mod Podge
- Paintbrush (I used a round, natural-bristle brush)
- Small flat synthetic brush
- Painters tape
- Chalk paint (I used Rustoleum’s “Chalked” Ultra Matte Paint in Linen White)
- Water-based clear coat (I used Rustoleum’s “Chalked” Matte Clear Protective Top Coat)
- Damp cloth for cleaning
- Hardware for hanging frame (I used sawtooth hangers and drywall anchor screws)
HOW TO MAKE WINDOW FRAME WALL ART
1. Clean your window frame
First things first, you need to clean that frame! Wipe the window down with a damp cloth and remove any dirt, dust, or cobwebs.
NOTE: Remember, older frames that were painted before 1978 may contain lead paint, which is released into the air with sanding and scraping, so I recommend getting a frame that is already pretty smooth. That way, you do not have to fool with sanding and scraping the peeling paint and avoid potential exposure to lead paint.
You can purchase a lead paint test kit at your local hardware store to test the frame if you have one with peeling paint. If you choose to scrape peeling paint, research the proper steps and precautions that you must take to minimize the risk of lead exposure.
2. Prep your window for painting
Next you will need to tape the windowpanes to avoid painting the glass. Get the tape as close as you can and don’t forget those tiny corners!
Make sure you tape both sides of each pane if you plan on painting both sides.
3. Time to paint!
With your frame on a drop cloth, use your brush to begin adding layers of paint, following the instructions on the container. My window took 2 coats of Rustoleum’s “Chalked” paint in Linen White, plus a few touch-ups. I chose not to sand the chalk paint at all – I wanted it completely coated with the texture of the paint showing on the wood.
4. Seal with a topcoat
I wanted to avoid the distressed look for my frame, but if you want that look then lightly sand the corners and some edges with fine-grit sandpaper (180 or 220 should work).
Clean the piece with a damp cloth to remove any debris before using a topcoat sealer. I used Rustoleum’s matte clear topcoat with a total of 2 coats.
5. Apply your pictures
Remove the painter’s tape and cut your pictures to the desired size. I cut mine to be smaller than the panes, so that when hung the color of the wall would show through the panes (but you could also cut to fit the panes entirely).
Flip your frame over so that the backside is facing up – this is where you will glue your photos, facing down. Using a small synthetic brush, brush the entire pane with a thin coat of Mod Podge and apply your picture face down while it is still wet. Smooth out any wrinkles immediately, then coat the entire pane with another layer of Mod Podge. This will seal your picture to the pane and also give the glass a foggy effect with the front side of the pane remaining nice and smooth. Let it all dry.
6. Apply your hardware.
I fastened heavy duty sawtooth hangers on each side of my frame and hung with drywall anchor screws.
As always when hanging items, measure twice and use a level!
And that’s it! This project is basically cleaning, painting, and gluing but the result is awesome. Plus, by hand-choosing the pictures, you get to coordinate this piece with your own style.
Way to be creative!
Comment below so I can read about and see your creative window frame art. Have another great way to upcycle window frames? Tell me about it below!
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