Ever stared at a blank wall in your house and wished you could be one of those TikTok designers, transforming rooms? Follow these DIY wall decor ideas for blank walls and watch your home take on a new life!
There are a few different ways to look at a blank wall. It could be a source of dread – or an empty canvas, beckoning for expressive wall decor ideas. While most people will agree that a room needs furniture and nearly everyone wants those furnishings to be comfortable, it’s much harder to figure out what to do with empty walls, which is why some homeowners and renters choose to ignore them all together. Whichever perspective you have, never fear; it’s not exactly easy to fill a blank wall with design ideas, but it’s not impossible. All you need is a little direction.
“People often think of art as an afterthought or as something that has to perfectly coordinate with the design of a room, and that’s a trap that should be rigorously avoided,” says architect Nicholas Potts. “At its best, art adds depth to a space by allowing for personality quirks and idiosyncrasies to shine through. It shows that a home wasn’t ordered straight out of a catalog.” Read on for 27 different DIY wall decor ideas to turn this sometimes daunting design task into a positive experience.
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1. Go for large-scale art
We're starting our DIY wall decor guide with a tried and true formula: An oversized painting or photograph will command attention and set the tone in a small space. Try a black-and-white photo in a minimalist bedroom or add colour with a vibrant abstract piece, as pictured above. (Check out our guide on where to buy art online to source striking and affordable pieces.)
2. Curate a gallery wall
This trend has been going strong for years, and for good reason: It’s a great way to showcase your interests, display souvenirs, and give a room some colour. But Potts says that there’s a trick to a successful gallery wall, and it comes down to planning. “Make sure there is enough hierarchy in colour or size where a viewer’s eyes can clearly understand what should be highlighted versus what’s filler,” he says.
3. Install moldings
If you have a bright sofa, patterned rug, or intricate lighting, perhaps the best plan of action is to install molding on a wall. “Moldings, instead of things, can be just as effective at demarcating space and allow the eye to breathe,” Potts says. Plus, if you’re into Parisian style, this is an easy way to incorporate that effortlessly sophisticated look into your home, and art is optional.
5. Install built-in bookshelves
Let’s say you have a lone fireplace in the centre of a long wall. Consider yourself lucky, because this is the ideal opportunity to install built-in bookcases on either side. “These custom features add drama, architectural details, and a bespoke feel,” Dabito says. You can either hack IKEA cabinets to fit, or hire a local carpenter to make it happen without breaking a sweat.
6. Put up plates
Why hide your fine china or vintage dinnerware in a cabinet when you can show it off? Use wire plate hangers to display your favourite dishes and serving platters, especially if they share a colour scheme. It’ll be fun to turn something you love into a focal point, without worrying about hand-washing later.
7. Install sculptural wall sconces
Sconces add an extra source of light without taking up space on the floor or a side table. Choose an eye-catching design that doubles as a wall sculpture, particularly on a large wall, and it’ll add visual interest in the living room day and night. “A sconce in a glass or metal material goes such a long way against a matte-painted wall,” says designer Jen Levy of Surrounded by Color.
8. Play with plants
Plants don’t just have to sit on the windowsill. Make use of hanging or wall-mounted planters to add a bit of greenery and texture to your walls. You can stick to succulents for their low-maintenance nature, or try a plant that’s with vines that’ll crawl down the wall and add even more life to the room. Those of us not blessed with green thumbs can consider opting for a high-quality faux plant.
9. Get your fill of macrame
The woven quality of macrame adds texture to a wall without a lot of fanfare, which can be appealing when filling small corners, like half walls besides door frames, or wider ones, like the upper half of a wall above a bed. These wall hangings are easy to find on Etsy, but you can also DIY a creation, if you so please.
10. Add lime wash
The whimsical and earthy quality of lime wash is a compelling decorative feature in and of itself, particularly if you’re aiming for a minimalist yet cozy ambiance. “Lime wash is here to stay,” Levy says. “It adds so much warmth, texture, and colour to any space. This is always a splurge that pays off.” One further suggestion? Add lime wash to the ceiling, and you’ll be totally enveloped in colour.
11. Add panoramic wallpaper
Sure, installing wallpaper is a tall order. And asking for that wallpaper to align perfectly so that it creates a scene is even more of a challenge. But when you pull it off, it’ll be worth it – whether that’s in a small entryway alcove, a dining room, or a playroom. “It can create a moment of escapism,” Potts says. “One of my favourite tricks is to use a panoramic wallpaper in a tiny space, creating an immersive and transporting moment.”
12. Work in some wood panelling
While Fixer Upper and farmhouse style frenzy have made white shiplap synonymous with on-trend upgrades for quite a while, there’s another way to make this look work that feels less modern farmhouse and more Sea Ranch: wood wall paneling. Natural finishes instantly make a room feel lived-in and can complement most any art.
13. Reach for removable wall art
Minted and Etsy have extensive collections of grown-up, removable wall art. The adhesive murals have a luxurious matte finish and come in a variety of styles so that it’s possible to personalise a nook or an entire living room without damaging it.
14. Group hats together
Do you unwittingly have a full hat collection in your closet? If there are some similarities between them – such as being of a similar woven texture or a certain shape – then perhaps you’d like to display them above a dresser in your bedroom. Dabito says they’ll still look stylish, even when not in use.
15. Coordinate paint to your furniture
The anchoring furnishings of a room, like an upholstered sofa or a vintage coffee table, can also inspire the paint colour you choose for the walls. For instance, if that sofa is a sky blue shade, then consider painting the walls in a similar colour that has a hint of shine. “It can be extremely fun to play with subtle variations of colour on different surfaces to trick the eye,” Potts says. “Working with different hues within a similar intensity on adjacent surfaces can change how the light and the proportions of a space are perceived.”
16. Put rugs on the walls
A good rug can tie together the look of a whole room. And while they’re great on the floor, they can also do double duty as boho wall decor. Two-by-three-foot picks stand out when hanging above a fireplace, but you could go bigger to cover a larger footprint above a console as well. If you’re not into buying a rug just to put it on a bare wall, you could also attempt the same looks with scarves as the wall covering – the chunkier, the better.
17. Set up open shelving
Mount long floating shelves on sturdy brackets in an unusual spot, like the back wall of a living room or beside a kitchen breakfast nook, to slide in some storage while adding visual interest to your walls. It can be an ever-evolving area of your favourite home decor depending on how you style the shelves, from books to trinkets. You can paint the shelves or leave them as is. “Our favourites are from Shelfology, but we’ve been known to use Closetmaid shelving brackets from Home Depot too,” Levy says. “They both give a really cool, utilitarian look.”
18. Add a ledge
To add depth without taking up too much square footage, consider installing a slim ledge above a bed. You can use this ledge to place framed photos and tchotchkes, as in this Robin Anderson–designed home above. It’ll ultimately be easier to switch things out than if you created a full-on gallery wall.
19. Layer pieces for practicality
Another interior design trick for effortless dimension is layering a number of items together in a teeny footprint. In this entryway, designer Molly Torres Portnof added hooks, a mirror, a ledge, and a piece of art to create a decorative moment that also brings in some much-needed functionality.
20. Display your clothes
While this might not be everyone’s idea of the most sophisticated wall decor, those of us who have a lot of clothes may find it to be the most worthwhile. Put your favourite pieces on display with a mounted clothing rod. The black clothing rod in this Falken Reynolds-designed home accentuates the room’s enviable ceiling height, but even more importantly, it makes it easier to get dressed in the morning.
21. Make a musical decor moment
Another great option if you’re short on square footage and want to display your interests: mount your instruments, especially on white walls. This solution gives you decorative power and convenient storage all in one, like in this guitarist’s apartment by Project AZ.
22. Put up colouring posters
Whether you love to doodle or share a home with little ones, consider adding a place for people to draw. In this apartment by design couple Caroline and Tim McKeough, colouring posters were the move, but you could also add a butcher paper roll for the same look.
23. Use a room divider as a headboard
If you come across an intricate wall screen at a vintage shop or thrift store, Dabito suggests using it as a headboard for an easy bedroom wall decor idea. A room divider can add colour, texture, and dimension all in one, making any art above it unnecessary.
24. Put up pegboard
Whether you’re decorating a kitchen, a mud room, or a home office, a pegboard can be a great wall decor piece that also functions as storage. Apartment dweller Kayla Dalle Molle opted for a minimalist pegboard, but you could pick one that feels more vintage or more industrial depending on the style of your home.
25. Soften your space with suede
Suede isn’t just for furnishings. It can create a sumptuous textural atmosphere when used as wallpaper, as designer Todd Raymond did in this primary bedroom with luxe camel coloured option from Phillip Jeffries. For an added effect, Raymond incorporated draped fabric to mimic the swooping lines on the walls. “It helps soften the room and doubles down on the cocoon-like, zen feel I think all bedrooms should have,” he says.
26. Install wall-to-wall curtains
You’re likely well aware that curtains should frame windows for aesthetics and practicality. But if you want to amplify the coziness of a bedroom, consider hanging curtains across an entire wall, particularly one that’ll act as a focal point. “In an otherwise stark room, a fully pleated fabric wall can add warmth and interest—particularly with a velvet that picks up shadows between the peats,” Potts says. “For renters, this can also be a great way to leave the walls undamaged.”
27. Position art playfully
Last on our DIY wall decor ideas list is an invitation to have some fun. You don’t always have to centre art on a wall. In fact, having some fun with the placement can make for more interesting results. “Think about your art beyond the constraints of its frames, and how the subjects might relate to each other,” Potts suggests. “You can [position] a figure in a painting [to] look toward a window, as one example. If you have art with similar shapes or colours, find a way to make them relate to each other, and be bold with placement.”
