DIY Duplicates: Get the Look for Less with These Home Projects

Okay, so you know how some bathrooms just radiate this serene, spa-like vibe? Like, everything is perfectly organized, there are those fancy cotton balls in a jar, and then there’s a killer piece of art that just makes the whole space feel grown-up and intentional. You go to recreate it, and then you see that the art piece you loved is, like, $400 for a medium size. Gulp. Been there, girl.

My friend Sarah recently moved into a new place and was obsessing over these gorgeous, oversized textured art pieces she saw on Instagram. Think big, chunky plaster or clay-like textures, usually in neutral tones – super minimalist but with a lot of depth. The kind you see in high-end design mags. She sent me a link to one that was perfect for her living room, a 36″ x 48″ piece, and it was nearly $600! She was so bummed because it was exactly the vibe she wanted, but totally out of budget. So, I told her, “Girl, we are making that.”

The trick to getting that high-end textured art look without the high-end price tag is simpler than you think: skip the fancy pre-mixed art mediums and go straight for joint compound. Yep, the stuff contractors use to mud drywall. It’s incredibly versatile, dries hard, and you can tint it or paint over it. For Sarah’s piece, we grabbed a large stretched canvas (a 30″ x 40″ from the craft store was about $25-30 with a coupon). We also picked up a small tub of lightweight joint compound, which was maybe $15, and a couple of cheap plastic putty knives or scrapers.

Here’s the breakdown: Lay your canvas flat on a protected surface. Open your joint compound and start scooping it onto the canvas with your putty knife. Don’t be afraid to experiment! You can create thick, swirling patterns, subtle ridges, or even stipple it for a more granular look. We aimed for thick, sweeping arcs and some organic blobs, mimicking the piece Sarah loved. You have a decent amount of working time before it starts to dry, so play around until you love it. If you mess up, just scrape it off and try again! Once you’re happy, let it dry completely – this can take 24-48 hours depending on how thick your textures are.

Once dry, the joint compound will be a chalky white. You can leave it as is for a raw, minimalist look, or you can paint it. For Sarah’s piece, we wanted a warm, off-white, so we mixed a tiny bit of brown acrylic paint into some regular white latex wall paint we already had. Then, we just brushed it over the entire textured surface. The paint really helps to unify the piece and protect the joint compound. The result? A striking, large-scale piece of textured art that looks like it cost hundreds, but came in well under $100.

This week, think about a piece of art or decor you’ve been eyeing that feels out of reach. Can you replicate its key visual element – a texture, a pattern, or a material – using an unexpected, budget-friendly material like joint compound, plaster of Paris, or even rope? Pick one idea and grab your supplies!

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