Most people wouldn’t consider a poster as high-end, gallery-worthy art. The flat, glossy look of the piece is a dead giveaway that it wasn’t something curated in a studio, and those small details can make a huge difference in your home.
Affording that one-of-a-kind level of art is a real investment though, and while it’s worthwhile if you have that kind of expendable income, it gets pretty tough if you’re on a set budget.
One DIYer came up with a genius solution to getting that high-end look for a fraction of the price, and tested it out using some spooky cottage-core Halloween prints.
Professional artworks have visible texture, so she found a way to brilliantly mimic that tiny detail. All she did was take Mod Podge and brush on a few messy strokes to give these $5 Walgreens prints that curated look, then let them dry. After popping them into nice frames with matting, the entire thing came together beautifully.
Followers were pretty impressed with the end result and vowed to give it a try for themselves.
“Genius! I framed some printouts but it wasn’t giving ‘painting.’ I’m going to use Mod Podge now—thank you for this tip,” proclaimed one follower.
The cool thing is that you can swap out the prints seasonally and keep them organized for an ever-changing gallery wall.
Related: Woman’s Genius DIY Gallery Wall Changes With the Seasons and Holidays
More DIY Art Hacks
This doesn’t just have to be a seasonal project. If you’re trying to give your home that luxe feel, you can do this with a number of different prints that accentuate your space. Keep it affordable by thrifting frames, giving each artwork its own personality, and furthering the narrative that the print is truly “one of a kind.” And if you’re not into printing, thrift an old art book for inspiration on what to frame.
Other ways to elevate art in your home:
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Try this trick with cheap canvas pieces.
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Upgrade the matting—play with texture and color to make it look custom.
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Cluster several works together to create a gallery feel (just vary the sizes).
These are just a few ways you can transform your home for the season or for good—all on a dime.e.
This story was originally reported by Parade Home & Garden on Sep 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the House & Home section. Add Parade Home & Garden as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
