35 Comments | Jill Winger | Last Updated: April 10, 2019

Homestead Decor: DIY Chicken Wire Frame

Life is too short to live in an uncomfortable space.

You definitely don’t need your house to look like it came out of the pages of a magazine, but I think it’s vitally important to surround yourself with things that make you relaxed and happy.

And guess what else? You DON’T have to shell out the big bucks to create a warm and welcoming home. Over the last year or so, I have redecorated a large portion of my house, and I’ve spent very little to do so.

My little house is decorated in a mixture of styles: rustic, farmhouse, vintage, and shabby chic, just to name a few. It’s eclectic, but it’s ‘me’.

One of my absolute favorite ways to outfit my home is to scour yard sales and thrift stores for old pieces that I can re-purpose and give new life.

Today I want to share a simple idea for a wall hanging that anyone can create.

It can add farmhouse charm to any living space, no matter if you live in an apartment or out in the sticks.

And it’s how I turned this:

(no offense to anyone, but ugh…)

Into this:

There is just something about chicken wire. It’s so simple and primitive and rustic… I can’t get enough of it!

DIY Chicken Wire Frame

You will need:

Scraps of old chicken wire (we had a lot hanging around in trash piles when we bought our homestead. Ask country friends and neighbors if they have extra, or you can also just buy a roll at the hardware store)

Old wooden picture frame (any size will work- depending on your preference)

Paint (optional)

Sandpaper (optional)

Staple gun and staples (You’ll need something slightly bigger than your average “office” stapler)

Wire cutting tool

This is pretty self-explanatory…

Remove everything from the frame (glass, backing, picture, etc) except the, well, frame.

If you wish, paint your frame with a light coat of paint. Once it dries, you can lightly distress it with sandpaper to give it an aged look.

Cut a chunk of chicken wire that is roughly the size of your frame. Staple it to the back of the frame. Trim if needed.

So what do you do with it?

Use it as a jewelry or earring organizer

Use clothespins to clip notes to the wire for an instant message board.

Use clothespins to arrange your favorite photos for a picture collage

Leave it bare and hang it as a simple, rustic wall accent.

A Few Notes:

Once you’ve painted and sanded your frame, try rubbing a small amount of wood stain over the top of the paint for an extra bit of “distressed” flair.
Choose a wooden frame so you can staple the wire easily onto the back.
The wider the frame, the easier time you will have with the stapling process.
Be on the lookout at yard sales and thrift stores for old frames. Don’t be afraid to purchase a piece of undesirable ‘artwork’ just for the frame!
This little craft project makes a great housewarming gift. (or Christmas, or birthday, or…)

There you have it! A custom piece of DIY decor that you can easily create in a very small amount of time. Call me crazy, but I would pick homespun decorations like this one over fancy showroom accessories any day of the week! 😉