Wall Decor On a Budget

The "after" ... read on for an explanation!

When we did our house addition last year, we took advantage of having things ripped apart and we replaced our fireplace insert, had travertine tile installed around the fireplace, and a bigger mantel built. We really love our new fireplace, but I've struggled with how to decorate the wall space above it. I had a big Pottery Barn circular candleholder over our old fireplace but, after 5 1/2 years, I was tired of it!
We lived with the blank wall for about six months. Then, shortly before Christmas, I was fed up with the blank space, and put up an old (kind of lopsided) twig wreath that I had out in the garage. That lasted about two months before I just couldn't take it any more. It was bad! We went back to a naked wall for six weeks and then I finally remembered an inexpensive wall treatment I first saw on Nesting Place almost two years ago. Scrapbook paper to the rescue!
My husband cut some MDF (leftover from our Pottery Barn knockoff bookcase project!) to 12x12 for me. Then I painted the edges with brown craft paint and let them dry.
Like my fancy drying rack? Ha ha! My next step was to use spray adhesive and attach scrapbook paper to the fronts of the squares. Then I nailed sawtooth hangers on the back of each square (bought those at Target although they're also sold at hardware stores) and had my husband hang them on the wall. (Yes, I'm capable of hanging things on the wall, but he's an engineer and I like to put his multiple college degrees to work for me.)
Ooooh!
Ahhh!
Sooooo much better! Why on earth did it take me so long to remember that idea?! I love how this looks and I like knowing I didn't spend a fortune on it, so I won't feel guilty if I want to change it out in the future.

By the way, stay tuned for my 200th post giveaway!