How to Decorate Bare Walls
I often get asked how to decorate blank walls — what to do behind the couch, above the bed, down a hallway… pretty much anywhere! Here are some great ways to decorate walls from coatings, to shelving, to hangings, and more.
Paint
The Identite Collective | This half-painted wall is a super easy way to add interest.
Adding colour with paint is the quickest and easiest way to spruce up a blank white wall. Going part way up the entire room rather than going with a single accent wall is a nicer and more balanced look!
Wallpaper
This peel and stick floral wallpaper by Timberlea Minimal does all the heavy lifting in this space.
Peel and stick wallpaper has been a game changer. If you’re not up for papering the entire room, adding it to the top half of the room or the ceiling is a gorgeous look.
Wood Wall Treatments
Shiplap wainscoting adds character and interest to this laundry room by Wild Decoelis.
Wood wall treatments will instantly elevate any room in your home. They add texture, dimension, and interest to otherwise bare walls, and can be a great opportunity to experiment with colour! Beadboard, board & batten, shiplap, panel moulding, and wainscoting can all be installed quite easily and will give you major bang for your buck.
RELATED: 5 Types of Beautiful Wood Wall Treatments
Artwork
A lovely digital art print by Art Studio NT fills the empty wall in this dining area.
Art is a classic and versatile way to fill an empty wall, but there are several things to keep in mind when choosing your pieces! Here are some additional tips:
RELATED: All About Artwork (Size, Spacing, Height, Framing, Colours, and More!)
RELATED: Where to Buy Affordable Artwork
Wall Mirror
This lovely gilted mirror bounces light around in this living room by Kate Marker Interiors.
Larger-scale mirrors look great mounted on the wall or leaned on top of a mantle or piece of furniture. Since the actual mirror isn’t much to look at, decorative mirrors should have beautiful frames. Mirrors can be expensive, but you might get lucky at your local thrift store!
Gallery Wall
Check out this vintage gallery wall by 7ArtPrints.
Gallery walls are a fun and creative way to fill tons of space. It’s best to lay out all your pieces on the floor (or in PowerPoint using rectangles) first. Start with your central focal point (the biggest piece) and fan out from there. The gaps between pieces should be even and not too big, about 2”- 3” apart for small/medium pieces, and 3”-6” for medium-large(r) pieces. Try incorporating other items like mirrors, plants, clocks, and sconces! You can use thrifted frames to keep costs down, but try stick to three colours/materials max to maintain a cohesive look.
Alternatively, you can opt for a monochromatic grid for a more modern, streamlined look.
Picture Ledge
All styled up, these solid maple picture ledges add so much character to this seating area.
Porch & Peony | Picture rails are a great alternative to gallery walls!
Picture rails (aka gallery rails, exhibit rails) are a great alternative to gallery walls. Art and decor is suspended from a rail with chains - a lovely and creative way to fill a wall! Assemble one on a budget using the IKEA Hultarp Rail and chain from the hardware store.
Floor Mirror
This arched floor mirror by Mistana effortlessly fills the space and adds some height.
Floor mirrors add variety to your decor and help bounce light around a room. They tend to be expensive, but can often be found in thrift stores and second-hand marketplaces. Larger pieces like this also add an element of height to the space — an important yet often forgotten design element!
Furniture
A beautifully styled console fills the wall space in this entryway by Studio McGee.
A piece of furniture like a dresser, sideboard, or console table has the power to fill up an empty wall! Just add art or a mirror above it (leaned or mounted), then layer in other items like lamps, vases, bowls, candlesticks.
Alternatively you can use a tall piece of furniture like a shelving unit or cabinet.
Belongings
Hanging hats add functional styling to this entryway by Mindy Gayer, photographed by Lindsay Stetson Thompson.
If you have decorative items like hats, baskets, plates, tapestries, needlework, a record collection, etc., try hanging these things on your wall! Sift through your belongings — maybe during your next home purge — and keep an eye out for interesting items to display. Level it up by choosing beautiful hooks so they too can be part of the installation!
Cooking Equipment
I filled the empty wall space over our kitchen extension with some difficult-to-store cooking items that now serve as functional styling.
If you have beautiful (or at least, aesthetically presentable) cookware and some empty wall space around your kitchen, display a few items on a kitchen rail! Copper and wood accessories are particularly lovely, but as long as your items match and are in decent shape, you can create a functional art installation. Hang a combo of pots, pans, cutting boards, and utensils for a mix of shapes and materials. Be sure your rail is screwed into studs!
Plant Wall
Check out this lovely plant wall by For the Home.
Getting plants up on the wall is definitely underrated! This little trick adds tons of colour, texture, and dimension to an empty vertical space. You can grab some wall-mount planter rings to use with your existing pots, or buy some flat-backed wall planters (see below). Or you could keep it simple(r) and do a plant shelf.
Pro tip: group together plants with similar lighting/watering needs to make caring for them easier!
Wall Sconces
Brass wall sconces fill the wall space above the sink in this kitchen by Thompson Construction.
Wall sconces are another great way to introduce function and decor at the same time. They look great repeated down a hallway, worked into a gallery wall, flanking a mirror / piece of art, or filling that awkward space above the kitchen sink window!
For some budget sconce options that don’t require hardwiring, check out this roundup of Beautiful Plug-In Sconces.
Dried Botanical Hanging
How beautiful is this dried floral hanging? (Source unknown.)
What a gorgeous idea! This would take a little patience and creativity, but how lovely and creative in the right space?
Hope these ideas help you fill in all the blanks in your home!
Related Articles
Laminate countertops are one of the most underrated design materials! They are a great affordable option for kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms, but their lower price point is not the only advantage. Here are 7ish reasons why you should consider laminate for your next project!