“Where utility ends and decoration begins is perfection.” -Jack Gardner
You’ve picked out the perfect fixtures, rug, furniture, and lighting. But you’re not done yet. Take a look around, and you’ll realize the walls of your home are bare. While this could be purposeful if you’re going for the minimalist look, it isn’t how most of us want to decorate our homes.
These creative wall decor ideas will help you find the perfect pieces to decorate your home’s empty walls. Whether you have a small or large wall, these finishes are a beautiful touch for your home. Say goodbye to the empty wall space and hello to a fully decorated home.
1. DIY Wall Decor Ideas
The walls in your home should be a reflection of you and your family. So what better way to do this than by hanging DIY wall art? You’ll have unique pieces that no one else will have, and they’ll mean more because you’ve put time, effort, and passion into creating your home’s decor.
Start with a hobby or artistic endeavor that you’re interested in. You could take photos or paint something and have your artwork framed. If you like to cross-stitch or punch needle, you could hang the pieces you’re most proud of in a mini gallery.
Macramé is popular right now. You could learn this new skill and create a wall hanging. If you like to work with wood, you could build a floating shelf, shadow box, or rack with hooks.
Get creative with your wall art so that it serves two purposes. It could be a custom piece, used for its beauty, but it could also include a wall clock or place to hold a plant. Now your decor is both pretty and functional.
2. Master Bedroom Wall Decor Ideas
Your bedroom is your personal space that should help you relax at night and feel motivated to face the day in the morning. An empty wall isn’t going to do either of these things. There are a few things that you can add to your bedroom walls, no matter what design aesthetic you’re going for.
Start by creating an accent wall behind your headboard. Choose a decorative wallpaper with a repeating pattern, bold, large scale design, or photorealistic scene. Paint the rest of the walls a single color, and your bedroom instantly has life and design.
The next things you should add are floating shelves and at least one mirror. A large wall mirror will let you check out your entire outfit when getting ready. At a minimum, you should have one that lets you see your upper half.
If you still have a bare wall or two, you can add wall art that you find appealing. You could create a wall collage of the places you’ve visited or hang framed prints from your favorite artist.
3. Kitchen Wall Decor Ideas
One of the easiest ways to decorate your kitchen is with cooking utensils. They’re on theme with the room and add a sense of authenticity to the space. You could hang baskets, spoons, cutting boards, knives, potholders, measuring cups, or anything else that you find beautiful. Copper pots are one of the most popular things to decorate with because of their rich, warm color.
Another great way to decorate your kitchen is with food. Stick with flavored olive oils, preserved fruits and vegetables, or fresh herbs. These are shelf-stable, colorful, and cooking staples.
You can break up the kitchen supply decor with an inspirational message or family-centric framed print. If you don’t want to commit to a single message, then check into chalkboard paint. You could create a mini chalkboard or paint it directly onto a portion of your wall. Now you have a blank canvas that’s ready for your grocery list, reminders, or recipes.
For more kitchen decor ideas, click here.
4. Living Room Wall Decor Ideas
When deciding on your living room wall decor, start by choosing a focal point in the room. This will help you decide where you should place the majority of decor. If you have a fireplace, this could be the mantel above it. Or you could choose the large wall space above your couch. Whatever space you choose, this will be where you place the largest and most eye-catching decor.
A popular large wall decor idea is to hang one big piece. If you decide this is right for you, the piece needs to be big enough to be proportional to the wall. Too small or too big will look unbalanced on the wall. This can create a challenge because now you need to find something you like enough to be the only thing on the wall and have it be the right size.
Another easy option is to hang several pieces. Then you aren’t limited by size. For a creative display, try using more than one type of art. You could have photographs, prints, a clock, wall decals, a shadow box, and three-dimensional items. This creates depth and layers with different pieces. If you can’t find wall decals that you like, you can always create your own designs out of washi tape.
For more living room decor ideas, click here.
5. Office Wall Decor Ideas
When decorating your office, you need to keep productivity in mind. This space needs to help you stay focused and motivated. One way to do this is by eliminating clutter. You could hang shelving or cabinets that give you storage space and hide your clutter. Another smart idea is hanging a calendar or bulletin board. They can provide a space to keep important reminders, notes, documents, and dates. Skip the boring old cork board, though. Decorate yours by painting it or using washi tape to give it a custom design.
Paint your walls with a rich color or apply wallpaper. A bright and vibrant shade will add energy to the space. If this is too much color, keep the walls a softer hue and hang art pieces that are bright and rich in color. They’ll keep the energy balanced without becoming too overwhelming.
Don’t forget to add some natural green with plants. This makes the space more welcoming and encourages you to stay longer. Plus you get the added benefit of cleaner air and increased oxygen.
6. Rustic Wall Decor Ideas
Rustic decor is all about finding pieces that once had a specific use and are now getting repurposed as wall decor. Look for pieces that have seen use with wear and tear. Reclaimed wood is a perfect example of this. You can use reclaimed wood to create your own decor, shelving, picture frames, racks, or anything else.
To create the perfect rustic charm, look for authentic pieces. Faux rustic pieces tend to look fake and make your decor look like you’re trying too hard. There should be an easy hominess and lived-in feel to it.
Look for pieces that you can repurpose. Consider hanging an old door or window frame. Try creating a wreath made out of cowbells. Old baskets on the wall can create storage spaces. Mason jars make great herb and bloom vases.
For more rustic decor ideas, click here.
7. Bathroom Wall Decor Ideas
Adding floating shelves to your bathroom increases your storage space without decreasing the size of the visual space. It also gives you a place to add some decorative pieces. You could place a plant on the shelf. Choose one that thrives in moist environments so that it’s low maintenance and freshens the air. You could also place a candle that will both look and smell lovely.
If you have a sense of humor, you could add a cheeky sign or two. There are plenty of humorous bathroom signs that will give people a chuckle when they use the facilities. If bathroom humor isn’t your thing, then add artwork that follows the rest of the bathroom’s design.
For more bathroom decor ideas, click here.
8. Farmhouse Wall Decor Ideas
When creating a farmhouse feel in your home, look for pieces made out of reclaimed wood or use natural materials. Try to incorporate flowers, grains, and greenery. Add pieces that you’d find in a traditional farmhouse. This could be a vintage food scale, glass bottles, or shelves made of reclaimed wood.
Try hanging a wreath or placing blooms in the glass jars. This adds color to the room and keeps the space feeling fresh. You can change them out with the seasons to keep them relevant.
If you’d like to hang farmhouse art, you could use inspirational messages about family or vintage signs. Another option is to hang prints or paintings of farm scenes. This gives your decor a sense of authenticity and defines what type of farmhouse you’re trying to emulate.
9. Dining Room Wall Decor Ideas
Before you start picking out decor for your dining room, decide how formal you want it to be. A more casual eating nook could look great with homey decor and a continued theme of cooking utensils from the kitchen. A more formal eating space should have elevated decor to match. You could hang vintage porcelain dishes in an artful arrangement. A large mirror with a glamorous frame will add elegance and make the room feel larger.
Add decor that speaks to your eating habits. If you love wine, you could have art made out of corks. Or if you’re vegan or just like to eat well, you could use photos of produce and grains.
10. Gallery Wall Decor Ideas
Sometimes you have a ton of pictures and want to use them all. That’s ok! Don’t force yourself to edit. Instead, find a large blank wall in your home and create a gallery. Plan to cover the entire wall that you choose, so this will become the focal point of the room. If you don’t have a room where this will work, then look beyond. Maybe you have a hallway, staircase, or entryway that has blank walls. These transition spaces are the perfect place for your gallery to call home.
When designing your gallery, plan ahead. Do you want all of the frames to match for a uniform look? Or would you prefer a more organic and bohemian look with a variety of frames? Do you want each piece to be the same dimensions, or would you prefer a variety?
Once you have made these decisions, you’ll need to plan your arrangement. Do this on the floor before you start making holes in the walls. This prevents unnecessary holes and ensures you achieve the perfect balance.
Wall Decor FAQs
What if I have a specific interior design aesthetic in mind?
All of the ideas we’ve discussed can be used in a wide variety of design aesthetics. Just style the piece to match the rest of the decor. For example, a bedroom mirror in a French country design could have a gold gilded frame. While a rustic bedroom would have a mirror with a reclaimed wood frame. A modern bedroom could have a frameless mirror or one with a sleek and minimal metal frame. Craftsman-inspired bedrooms may have the mirror in a carved wood frame and attached to the top of an art-and-crafts style dresser.
Can I combine wall decor ideas?
Yes, you can! You could apply patterned wallpaper to the wall. Then hang a gallery collage with a mirror, art, and homemade pieces. This creates a custom display that looks polished but not overly put together. Mirrors work in rooms other than your bedroom to make the space feel larger. Wallpaper works to add color in any room as well.
What if I don’t want to hang things on the walls?
If you prefer a minimalist look, then you shouldn’t add a lot of decor. However, even minimalist walls have something. Choose a single large mirror or one art piece to hang on your white wall. Avoid choosing a bright color by sticking with neutral colors for the decor. Only add decor to one or two of the walls in each room and leave the others blank. This creates a focal point without adding clutter.
