Wall art is one of the most requested DIY projects I get asked about, so here are three easy and affordable ideas you can make for under $10 each. If you already have paint and paper on hand, these will cost even less. They’re perfect for dorm rooms, apartments, rental spaces, or any place where you want small-scale artwork that makes a big impression. You can even scale them down for lockers or cubicles.
For these projects I used cotton swabs instead of traditional brushes — they’re firm, easy to control, and great for creating consistent dots and edges even if you’re not a painter. Below are three simple prints you can recreate with minimal supplies and a short amount of time.
DIY Wall Art for Under $10
Total Time: 15–30 minutes per piece
Supplies
White or yellow cardstock
Paint in your chosen colors
Q-tips cotton swabs
Paper plate to use as a palette
Pencil
Printer (optional, for the graphic print)
Directions
1. Smiley print: Lightly sketch a smiley face onto yellow cardstock, or trace one from your screen. Squeeze black paint onto a paper plate and dip the end of a Q-tip into the paint. Hold the Q-tip perpendicular to the paper and place dots along your sketched line to form the smiley face. Allow the paint to dry, then gently erase any visible pencil marks.
2. Graphic print: Choose a short phrase and type it in large, bold letters. Print it onto cardstock. Squeeze the paint color you want onto a paper plate and use a Q-tip to add a colored shadow along one side of each letter (for example, beneath and to the right) so the letters appear dimensional.
3. Rainbow spots: Select a rainbow palette and squeeze small amounts of each color onto the paper plate. Use a Q-tip to dot spots in varying sizes, blending colors by spacing dots so they fade from one hue to the next across the page.
4. Finish by framing your pieces or attaching them directly to the wall with washi tape for a casual gallery look.
Photos by Jeff Mindell
The dotting technique works on many motifs—shapes, letters, and faux-neon designs are all fun to try. It’s an easy way to add texture and character to simple prints. Which design will you make first?
This post was created in partnership with Q-tips. All content and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that help keep creative projects coming.