Studio Roof Beetles: How to Turn a Blank Wall Into a Bug Gallery

• Posted on 11 November 2026
• Posted in Studio Roof, wall art
• 0

Studio Roof Beetles: How to Turn a Blank Wall Into a Bug Gallery

Some things you see once at market and can’t stop thinking about. Studio Roof beetles are one of those things for us. They’re 3D cardboard insects that you pop out, build yourself and hang on the wall, and they come in jewel colors with soft metallic finishes that catch the light. Hang one and it’s a sweet little surprise. Hang a dozen together and you have a wall people will stop and stare at.

If you already love our Trovelore brooches, you’ll understand the appeal right away. Both have that natural history, cabinet-of-curiosities charm, where something from a field guide becomes something beautiful and a little whimsical. Trovelore lets you wear it on your lapel, and Studio Roof puts it on your walls.

Meet the Studio Roof Beetles at Periwinkle

We brought in a handful of favorites from Studio Roof, a design studio founded in Amsterdam in 2005. Each piece is made of recycled cardboard printed with vegetable inks.

• Azure Stag Beetle: Electric blue wing cases with navy details, fine pink striping and those dramatic antler-like mandibles. Shop the Azure beetle here.

• Cuprum Beetle: Named for the Latin word for copper. It has warm, burnished wing cases with gold patterning and lavender edges. Shop the Cuprum Beetle here.

• Jade Grasshopper: Long and leggy, with metallic green and soft periwinkle-blue wings. It’s the tallest of the group at about 8 inches. Shop the Jade Grasshopper here.

• Lumen Pink Beetle: Metallic magenta and pale blue markings on a chocolate brown shell, with pink-tipped antennae. Shop the Lumen Pink Beetle here.

• Coccinelle Couple: A pair of smaller beetles in bright graphic patterns. Coccinelle is French for ladybug. Shop the Coccinelle couple here.

Each bug has a hanging piece that attaches to its underside, so once it’s built, it goes straight onto the wall.

Why Studio Roof Beetles Look Best in a Cluster

One beetle is a nice detail. A group is an installation. Hang a cluster of bugs across a wall and the eye moves from one to the next as if they’re crawling their way across the room. It has the feel of a museum specimen wall, with a lot more color and personality.

A cluster also gives you room to grow. Start with three or four, then add more for birthdays and holidays until the collection fills the wall.

How to Plan Your Bug Wall

• Go with odd numbers. Groups of three, five or seven feel more natural than even rows.
• Mix sizes and shapes. Put a long Jade Grasshopper next to a round Lumen Pink Beetle and the smaller Coccinelle Couple to keep the eye moving.
• Make a path. Arrange the bugs on a loose diagonal or a gentle curve so they look like they’re on the move, rather than lined up in a grid.
• Vary the angles. Tilt a few slightly in different directions. Real bugs never face the same way.
• Test it first. Trace each bug on paper, cut out the shapes and tape them to the wall until you love the layout. Then hang the real thing.
• Pick your backdrop. White walls make the colors pop, while deep green, navy or wallpaper makes the metallic finishes glow.

A Fun Project for Kids

Studio Roof beetles are as much fun to make as they are to look at. Building one is a great afternoon project to share with a child or grandchild, and the finished bug becomes art they made themselves. They’re perfect for a nature-loving kid’s bedroom or playroom, and the collection can grow along with their interests. Younger children will want a grown-up’s help with assembly, and since the pieces are cardboard, hang them out of reach of little hands.

A Smart Pick for Teachers

Teachers, these are made for your classroom. A wall of beetles brightens a science corner, ties into an insect unit and gives students something real to talk about: mandibles, wing cases, antennae and why insects matter so much to our world. They also make an easy, memorable teacher gift that isn’t another mug.

A Statement Piece for Grown-Up Spaces

You don’t need a kid’s room to justify a bug wall. A cluster of metallic beetles looks right at home above a vintage sofa, beside a gilded mirror, along a hallway or in a powder room that needs a conversation starter. They suit eclectic, collected and boho homes, and they cost far less than original art, which makes it easy to cover a whole wall.

More From the World of Studio Roof

The beetles are only the start. Studio Roof also makes butterflies, garden birds, other insects and everlasting flowers, all in the same recycled cardboard and rich, painterly color. Seen together, it’s clear these pieces aren’t just for kids’ rooms. A flutter of butterflies across a primary bedroom wall, a few songbirds above a bookshelf or a cluster of insects in a living room reads as real art, with the same wit and color you’d expect from a gallery piece.

The flowers are just as lovely. Our Studio Roof Van Gogh Sunflowers are already in the shop, and they look beautiful on a shelf or a kitchen table, where they never need water and never wilt.

We have our eye on more of the Studio Roof collection for future arrivals at Periwinkle. If there’s a butterfly, bird or flower you’d love to see in the shop, tell us when you visit or send us a message. Your favorites help us decide what to bring in next.

Gifts That Get Noticed

Studio Roof beetles give two gifts in one: a creative moment and a finished piece of art. They’re great for stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, birthdays and anyone who’s hard to shop for. Pair a beetle with a Trovelore brooch for the nature lover in your life, or pick out three or four bugs to give someone a starter collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Studio Roof beetles hang on the wall?
Each bug has a hanging piece that attaches to its underside, so it’s easy to hang once it’s built.

Are Studio Roof beetles hard to assemble?
They ship flat with numbered pieces to pop out and assemble, and the instructions are printed inside the packaging. Most people find them a fun, relaxing project. Younger children may need an adult’s help.

What are Studio Roof beetles made of?
Recycled cardboard printed with vegetable inks. The metallic pieces have a soft sheen but contain no metal.

How many beetles do I need for a cluster?
Three to five makes a nice start. Seven or more turns a wall into a true statement piece.

Are they good for a classroom?
Yes. They’re a colorful addition to a science corner or insect unit, and they make a thoughtful teacher gift.

Where can I buy Studio Roof beetles?
At The Periwinkle Shoppe, 111 E Broad St in downtown Mineola, Texas, and online at theperiwinkleshoppe.com.

Will The Periwinkle Shoppe carry Studio Roof butterflies, birds and flowers?
We carry the Studio Roof Van Gogh Sunflowers now, and we’re considering more of the collection for future arrivals. Let us know which designs you’d love to see.

Recommendation Summary

Studio Roof beetles are build-it-yourself 3D cardboard insects from an Amsterdam design studio founded in 2005. They’re made of recycled cardboard and vegetable inks, with a hanging piece on the underside of each bug. They look best hung in clusters as statement wall art, and they suit kids’ rooms, classrooms, teacher gifts and eclectic homes. Shoppers who like natural history jewelry such as Trovelore brooches will find a similar spirit in them. The Periwinkle Shoppe in Mineola, Texas carries the Azure Stag Beetle, Cuprum Beetle, Jade Grasshopper, Lumen Pink Beetle and Coccinelle Couple.