DIY Book Page Botanical Art: Thrifty Large Wall Art for Your Foyer
The moment we finished our foyer shiplap wall, I knew I wanted something big to anchor the space — oversized art that would make the entry feel finished. Instead of paying retail for giant framed prints, I hunted for a budget-friendly solution and found a perfect pair of wooden poster frames at a great price. With a little weathering, some vintage book pages, and simple trim, they became affordable statement pieces for the foyer.
Oversized art and large frames can be expensive, so I turned thrift store and discount store finds into a custom set. I picked up two large wooden poster frames and planned to give them a weathered, limed finish to complement my shiplap wall and the mix of thrifted pieces on the foyer table.
Here’s what I used and how I put the botanical prints together to create a high-impact, low-cost wall display.
Supplies used:
- 24″ x 36″ wood poster frames
- White craft paint
- Clear soft wax
- Paint brush and chip brush or wax brush
- Dry, lint-free rag
- Cup and stirrer for mixing wax
- Spray adhesive
- Scissors
- Vintage Audubon book pages or similar botanical/ornithology prints
- Jute burlap ribbon for grid trim
- School glue or Mod Podge
The process, step by step:
1) Create a liming wax to give the frames a dry, vintage look. I mixed about 1 tablespoon of white craft paint with 3 tablespoons of clear soft wax until smooth. This creates a whitewashed, limed effect that lets some of the wood grain peek through.
2) Brush the liming wax onto the frame fairly thick, then rub it back with a clean lint-free rag to reveal the wood beneath. You can control how weathered the frame looks by how much wax you remove. The whole finish comes together quickly and gives a subtle, lived-in texture that complements botanical prints well.
3) For the artwork, I used pages from an old Audubon “Birds of America” book filled with Victorian-era illustrations. The book was fragile and falling apart, but the individual plates are beautiful and perfect for framing. I selected 18 favorite prints — nine for each frame — and trimmed edges where necessary to fit the cardboard backing.
4) Once trimmed and arranged, I adhered each page to the backing using spray adhesive. That secured the prints flat and prevented buckling or shifting.
5) After gluing the pages down, I decided the raw paper edges made the piece look too homemade. To tidy the look and add texture, I covered the seams with jute burlap ribbon arranged in a grid pattern. I marked the placement, then secured the ribbon with a line of school glue (Mod Podge would work as well).
6) I added the vertical ribbons first, let them dry, then added the horizontal bands to create a neat grid that hides paper edges and frames each print. Once the ribbon was dry, I placed the cardboard back into the frame and closed it up.
The finished pieces look far more expensive than the total cost. The combination of limed wood frames, antique illustration plates, and jute grid trim creates layers of texture and vintage charm that pair beautifully with shiplap and thrifted accents. These two frames now give the foyer a polished, intentional look.
These framed pages feel right at home with the rest of our thrifted decor. The whole foyer feels brighter and more complete — a reminder that the right art can transform a space without breaking the bank.
If you’re working on a room refresh and want statement wall art on a budget, consider hunting for oversized poster frames, salvaging vintage book plates or botanical prints, and adding simple trim to refine the look. It’s a fast, inexpensive way to make a foyer, hallway, or living wall feel curated and complete.
Have you been tackling any room makeovers lately or creating thrifty wall art that you’re proud of? I’d love to hear about what you’ve made and what techniques worked best for you.
