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An empty wall is like a blank canvas, and how it’s decorated tells a story. Items hung on a wall can ground a space, open it up, add vibrancy, create a clean look, and invite guests to admire and discuss. These inspiring ideas will work with just about any style, space, and budget, and will help you put your own personal stamp on your living space.
1. Create a Gallery Wall
A gallery wall is a coordinated arrangement of multiple pieces of art that makes a big impression. For a luxurious-meets-laid-back look, put together a selection of carefully curated prints in neutral tones. Choose prints of varying sizes, and for a cohesive display, mount them in identical frames. Opt for high-quality wood frames with simple, clean lines.
2. Pile On Plants
Turn a wall into living art. This idea features stylish wooden shelves that provide a neutral backdrop that lets vibrant, green plants flourish and stand out. Play with either a uniform look using matching pots or a dynamic mix of clay, baskets, and ceramics. You could even go with wood containers for an all-around earthy feel.
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3. Incorporate a Tapestry
Wall decor ideas can be as simple as a large, whimsical wall hanging. Fabric wall hangings bring texture, color, and a bohemian flair to a room, and they’re ideal for a space that could use some grounding energy, like a bedroom.
4. Accent a Wall in a Contrasting Color
Set one wall in a room off by painting it a color that contrasts with the other three. Choose a bold hue to make the room pop. You can up the contrast even more by displaying abstract art on the accent wall for a layered look.
5. Apply Temporary Wallpaper or Decals
Another way to achieve an accent wall is with peel-and-stick wallpaper or decals. This option for wall decor ideas is especially useful for renters. Create a midcentury vibe with the Mercury Row Reliford peel and stick wallpaper, which features semicircles in black, white, orange, and green hues, or go for a more classic motif.
RELATED: How to Install Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper Like a Pro
6. Create Dimension With Molding
Combine traditional and contemporary design by installing molding. This is a pretty doable DIY project for newbies, particularly if you use Orac Decor’s flexible panel molding. Made of a polyurethane blend and formed in steel molds, these crisp moldings look like plaster but are easily placed with standard woodworking tools.
7. Affix Bunches of Baskets
Skip the typical framed artwork and instead decorate walls with an assortment of baskets. Amp up the visual interest and energy by choosing baskets of various sizes, patterns, and materials, including rattan, bamboo, sedge fiber, and jute. A bouquet of baskets will add a burst of color and texture to any space.
8. Mount a Mirror (or Several)
There’s no easier way to add luxury to a home than to decorate with mirrors. Mounting just one, or even several, opens up the space visually while making a sophisticated statement. Mirrors are available in a range of styles, from traditional rectangular mirrors with opulent gold frames to sharp-edged modern geometric designs. To make the most of natural lighting, hang mirrors opposite the windows.
9. Hang a Bicycle
Whether you choose to hang an antique bicycle as a statement piece or need to hang one that sees regular use, bicycles offer a playful way to decorate the walls. To display a bike on a wall, use a strong yet attractive hanger like this wooden bike shelf from Etsy seller BOTLAmsterdamShop. Not only does it securely hold a bicycle, but it provides a handy shelf for a vase or other decorative item as well as a cubby for keys, books, or other household necessities.
RELATED: 15 Clever Bicycle Storage Ideas for Any Space
10. Install Floating Shelves
Floating shelves offer a minimalist design that looks clean on the wall. The quiet, austere lines of a floating shelf let the decorative pieces placed on it take center stage.
11. Paint a Mural
Take an artistic approach to wall decor and put those creative skills to use with a mural. For a stunning, one-of-a-kind display, choose a theme for your artwork that will generate lively discussion every time guests walk into the room.
12. Display Your Hat Collection
Why not let the most stylish hats in your closet dress up a wall in the bedroom? Simply hang hats on nails in an attractive mix of sizes, colors, and textures. As another option, select a few large, decorative hats and space them out in a line along the wall.
13. Hang a Wall Clock
Clocks are a classic and practical way to decorate a wall. Whatever your decor, there’s a size and style of wall clock out there to suit it, from early American to cheerful retro to sleekly modern.
14. Show Off Your Vinyl
If you’re a music fan with a great LP collection, pull out some of your favorite album covers to display. Pick up a few album frames, hang a selection of covers near the record player, then swap out covers when you’re ready to freshen up the gallery. Your good taste in music (or lack thereof) will make for a great conversation starter when guests visit.
15. Frame Concert or Movie Posters
Like framed records, live concert posters give you the opportunity to express your style and interests while also livening up your walls. If you’re a movie buff, hang posters of your favorite films instead.
RELATED: The 10 Best Places to Buy Picture Frames
16. Map It Out
Maps are a great way to bring wonder to bare walls. Commemorate the city streets where you and your partner first met, or pay homage to your hometown. You can also hang a world map, and even go a bit further and mark all the places you’ve traveled to—or dream of visiting in the future.
17. Display Your Child’s Art
Let your children help deck the walls by assembling a gallery of their artwork. Whether they’re budding painters, illustrators, or photographers, give them a chance to exhibit their creativity—and curate their own displays as new pieces come home from school.
18. Hang a Huge Calendar
If you’re trying to get organized, think about hanging an oversized dry erase calendar to keep track of school events, parties, practice schedules, and upcoming meetings and appointments. It’s easy to add and erase your plans, and you can even leave messages for family members. This is a particularly useful solution for bare walls in kitchens and home offices.
19. Exhibit a Rug
Who says a cool rug needs to stay on the floor? Whether covered in an abstract design, stripes, or just a fun pattern you love, rugs are a great way to add design and texture to a bare wall. Try a small rug over a mantel or above a shelf, or hang a larger one if you have a lot of wall space to play with.
RELATED: 14 Types of Rugs Every DIY Decorator Should Know
20. Acknowledge Your Ancestors
Looking for photo wall ideas that go beyond hanging your kids’ school photos? Antique family photos are a wonderful way to make use of bare walls. Whether it’s an oversize portrait of a great-grandparent or a collection of smaller photos of distant relatives, raiding old family albums for vintage photos equals free decor—and fun conversation starters. Add some photos of current family members into the mix, too, to see if there’s any resemblance.
21. Light It Up
Wall sconces and lights are efficient ways of adding a little extra light without taking up floor or table space, and the fixtures themselves can be sources of eye-catching design. Whether you’re hoping to cast a warm glow over a room, looking for additional light for reading, or simply trying to brighten up a dark room, you’re sure to find a wall light in a style to suit your needs and decor.
22. Display Dishes
Your favorite dishes don’t have to languish in cabinets and cupboards. Bring them out of those dark recesses and arrange them on your bare walls. A few wire plate hangers in a variety of sizes should do the trick for displaying plates and platters. Serious teacup collectors may want to consider investing in a wall-mounted display shelf.
23. Faux Taxidermy
No animals need be harmed in your quest to demonstrate your love of wildlife—or a favorite dog breed. Outfit your bare walls with faux taxidermy animal heads, which can be crafted from wood, wicker, resin or fabric. Choose plush “trophies” for your child’s bedroom wall, or realistic-looking renditions for a library or living room.
24. Chalk It Up
A chalkboard is perfect for a wall in a child’s playroom or home office, or any empty wall space in the kitchen. Whether you buy an oversize chalkboard or cover a wall in chalkboard paint, a chalkboard can have both artistic and organizational benefits. It gives children a chance to be creative, and it’s also great for helping grownups post schedules, make lists, and keep track of messages.
25. Put Yourself on Display
Unique wall decor isn’t limited to canvas paintings, drawings, and photographs. Add character to a bare wall by hanging an antique storefront sign that reminds you of your childhood, or display old grain or potato sacks. Bring a little visual interest to a room by mounting an antique ceiling medallion on a wall instead. If you have a favorite poem, write or print it out beautifully, then frame it for display. Let your walls convey your passions, your dreams, and your personal quirks.
