“Candy Minimal” DIY Wall Decor

I am noticing a photography trend on social media. If you do a search on Instagram or Facebook for “Candy Minimal” you will pull up a collection of delicious photography. The look is very simple- a plain background with a simple object, and the whole thing (background and object) are candy colored pastels and brights. I love the look and wanted to incorporate it into the decor in my daughter’s room. She is 12 now, and trying to ditch the stuffed animal scene and “teen” up her space. This DIY wall decor project was perfect!

This was really simple to do. All you need are a few favorite photos, some paint, and some wooden panels.

Supplies needed to make your own candy minimal DIY wall decor:

• 6″ Unfinished Wood Panels (I used 3. The wooden panels come in several sizes you can choose, you would just need to adjust your photo size to fit accordingly)
• Mod Podge
• Acrylic Craft Paint (I used Green, Pink and Blue)
• Foam Brush
• Cutting Mat and Craft Knife
• Three Black and White 5 x 7 Photos of your Choice

When you select your photos, make sure they are photos that can be cut out. For instance, I love this photo of my daughter:

but it can’t be cut out and mounted without a weird line at the top of her head, or the bottom where the photo cuts off.

This photo:

made the cut. Even though it has a flat edge on the left hand side. I knew I could adhere the photo right to the left edge of the canvas and it would work.

Once you select your photos, use a craft knife and mat to cut the photos from their backgrounds.

Choose the colors you would like for your wooden panels and paint them. You can do this step first, so the paint can be drying while you cut your photos out.

I used two coats of craft paint. Let the panels dry completely.

Position your cut photos on the panels. You may need to trim the photos to fit.

When the photos are prepared, add a layer of Mod Podge to the back side of the photo to adhere it to the panel.

Smooth out the photo and make sure it is positioned correctly.

Give the Mod Podge a couple of minutes to dry, and then coat the whole top surface to seal the photo to the panel.

I did two coats of Mod Podge. The first coat I brushed on vertically, and the second coat I brushed on horizontally.

Allow drying time between coats, and allow the finished DIy wall decor panels to cure overnight.

Then your “Candy Minimal” DIY wall decor is ready to hang!

I think this DIY wall decor makes a “maximum” impact, for “minimal” effort. 🙂

Shaunte

Shaunte is a 30-something, chocolate-loving, SAHM from Utah. She has been scrapbooking since 1997, the dreaded era of photos cropped with deco scissors. Since then, her work has evolved into a clean, linear, photo-focused style. Her favorite subjects to scrap are her husband and five kids (never a lack for subject material there).