In an effort to make your house a home and turn a blah space into a chic and cosy retreat, one of the simplest changes you can make is getting rid of that empty wall.
Empty wall spaces offer endless possibilities, and you don’t even need to spend a fortune to change the way your whole room feels. From framing prints you love to potted plants, here are our favorite ways to DIY your empty wall space and turn your room from bare to bliss…
1. Create a Gallery Space
You don’t need to splash the cash and become a serious art collector to enjoy images on the wall. Collect up your favourite postcards, drawings, and small prints and get them framed. Buy your frames from Ikea or even hit the thrift stores and buy old paintings and use those frames on your own pictures.
If you want to bring a splash of colour into your eclectic gallery wall, you can even paint the frames in gorgeous block colours or whatever shade suits your space. Hanging different sized frame prints is a great way of bringing a personal charter to a blank wall space.
Here’s where to get it:
Ikea for cheap and cheerful photo frames in different styles
Etsy for every frame imaginable, including some cool creative ones too
Another pro tip? We say raid the local thrift stores and antiques to find vintage frames that rock.
2. Hang Photo and Art Shelves
Hang some floating shelves on your empty wall space and print out and frame your favourite photos. As most of our photos are kept in digital format these days, we rarely have the pleasure of looking at them. By printing them out, not only can you put them on display but you can create a magical memory wall of all your favourite people and life moments. Add a bright plant or two and you have a cosy homely space in seconds.
Here’s where to get it:
Urban Billy is for those who want handmade artisan style shelves
Walmart is where we go for budget screw and fix bargains
You can also just hit up your local timber or good yard and see if they can sort you out with some scrap planks if you are handy.
3. Drape Fine Fabric
Sometimes a swathe of fine fabric can be equally as glorious as a piece of art (not to mention a lot more affordable). Find a fabric you love and hang it as a wall tapestry to break up space. Whether it’s a piece you picked up from your far-flung travels or simply something you grabbed at a haberdashery, the aim remains the same – showcase it.
Here’s where to get it:
Etsy have a whole host of fabrics for you to choose from
Mood Fabrics have a great selection too
SHOP SOZY
4. Hang Hats
If you are the type of gal who loves a good hat, then get them out on display. Hang storage hooks from your wall and literally hang up your hats. This works great for those billowy summer hats and brings a bright and coastal mood to your house. It especially works well when you place straw hats against a pastel-coloured backdrop for vintage spring vibes that instantly put you in a good mood. This is always a great idea for cottage style home decor and creating a romantic bedroom wall.
Here’s where to get it:
There's only one place to get glorious straw hats - vintage stores, thrift stores, and costume departments.
5. Add a Flower Display
Fake flowers these days aren’t the old-fashioned plastic pieces they once were. You can curate gorgeous sophisticated displays using fake flowers. If you still can’t accept fake flowers into your life, then dried flowers can also work wonders. Otherwise, you can also opt for branches and leaves to make a beautiful natural display. Bringing the outside in is an enchanting way to wave farewell to dead space and turn it into something bold and lively.
Here’s where to get it:
Afloral has some beautiful faux flowers and leaves that look like they've been plucked from a fairy forest
Amazon has some more cost-effective options
Bed, Bath, and Beyond are always here for your artificial floral needs
6. Drape Fairy Lights
If you want to warm up that wall and bring a sense of magic to your space then there’s no easier or more cost-effective way than opting for fairy lights. You can also use small clothespins and add photos to your fairy light wall or hang a mirror and drape your fairy lights around that. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most inspiring.
Here’s where to get it:
Amazon has a huge range of fairy lights for the choosing
You can also get these mini clothespins if you want to add photos
7. Buy a Wall Hanging
Boho beautiful rugs, quilts, and blankets can all double up as wall hangings. Whether a simple patchwork blanket or an intricately woven rug from someplace special, hanging it on a big blank wall will instantly transform the space. The beauty of wall hangings is the fact that they take up so much space.
If you don't have a lot of wall space to play with, you can always look for a smaller rug. These hangings can look extra special when woven from natural fabrics. As an extra PS if you pick thick quilts and blankets you can also enjoy some extra sound-proofing so you no longer need to listen to pesky neighbors. Score.
Here’s where to get it:
Rugs USA have some bohemian rugs that can double as wall hangings
Etsy have a ton of handwoven blankets
8. Make Some Art
OK, so even if you aren't the next Jackson Pollock, that doesn't mean you can't create great wall art. All you need is a large pre-stretched blank canvas, some acrylic paint, and some abstract minimalistic art references (you can just Google it). You grab a big paintbrush and try to copy it as best you can. Even if it ends up a poor imitation, there's little room to go wrong when making abstract art and it will always create visual interest way more than a blank wall. Just make sure that you love the colors. Play with how you hang your art until you find the combo that works for you.
Here’s where to get it:
Walmart have plenty of blank stretched canvases for you to choose from
9. Create an Accent Wall
There are so many pretty wallpapers out there! Sometimes doing a whole room in one of these wallpapers is a tad too much, but just papering one wall can solve all your problems. Not only do you get to use the wallpaper you love without the overwhelm but you also get to cover up that bare wall with something beautiful.
Papering one wall in a gorgeous patterned wallpaper like botanical prints can also create an eye-catching focal point for the room. if you don't want to make a major change to your interior design, you can always buy removable wallpaper that is basically just stick and peel to make it easier.
Here’s where to get it:
Tempaper have some beautiful design choices for your feature wall
10. Hang Wall Baskets
If you want to make that large blank wall way more naturally beautiful, simply buy some hanging wall baskets. Of course, you probably won't be able to put anything in them as your stuff may fall out (feel free to try), but as a wall decoration idea, it's going to add gorgeous texture and rustic tropical charm to your room.
Opt for natural baskets woven in wicker and if you are a plant lover - you may be able to balance and house some trailing trellises and vines in there for added texture and visual appeal.
Here’s where to get it:
Made Trade have some awesome fair trade baskets to brighten your wall space
11. Mirror Mirror on the Wall
There are so many stunning mirrors out there, why not make a wall just for them? This can be an awesome take on the idea of a picture gallery, instead of paintings you dedicate the entire wall to different decorative mirrors.
Look for different shapes and sizes and go for mirrors that have a myriad of colors and patterns in their frames. Hung against a white wall in the living room or hallway, not only will it look great, but it will also reflect and throw out even more light into the room.
Here’s where to get it:
Etsy has some magic mirrors to choose from
12. Turn a Photo Into a Giant Print
As we love to make our lives into movie scenes, we can't get over how awesome this wall decor idea actually is. Whether it's a dream scene from your favorite vacay, a near-perfect portrait of someone you love, something completely abstract, or your beloved pet captured in their best mindful pose, blow that the hell up and hang it on your wall.
Here’s where to get it:
Shutterfly has a ton of design options for you to turn your pics to prints
13. Get More Furniture
if you are tired of staring at that empty master bedroom or living room wall and you don't want to hang artwork, you can choose to put a piece of furniture there instead. Whether it's an extra bookshop for displaying decorative items, books, and plants or if it's a gorgeous vintage armoire, or a tired cabinet painted and freshened up for fun, you can turn a dead space into something useful - hell, even something beautiful. If you don't have the floor space for extra furnishings, you can always look at floating cabinets and shelves instead.
Here’s where to get it:
Vinterior is the place to go for those vintage furnishing finds
14. Make a Mural
If you are a dab hand at drawing or if you have an artist friend, you can also create a mural on your wall. For those who aren't as art savvy as they would like or who lack the confidence to etch all over their walls, you can always use a projector to project an image on the wall and then simply trace over it. The image you choose for your wall mural can be as simple or complex as you like - there's little that can go wrong with tracing, it may just be more time consuming if it's a complex art piece on a big wall.
Here’s where to get it:
Amazon have a range of projectors at hand
15. Create a Boho Corner
If nails and hammers aren't your thing, you can still make the most of empty walls by turning it into a bohemian style corner. Simply lean a large mirror against the wall (the more gilded and glam the better) and place a couple of large throw pillows (in pretty patterns) in front of it.
This is an awesome way to totally charge and change up what was once a negative space into something totally chic and cool. Not only does this mean that you don't need to worry about your oversized mirror falling or pulling down your wall, but it can also bring lots of light and glamor to a previously dismal and dull corner.
Here’s where to get it:
Jungalow may be pricey but it's so so pretty
16. Play with Color
If you have bare walls that need brightening, another option that is low cost, low fuss, and can make a major change to the space is to simply paint some color onto it. We don't mind painting the whole large wall hot pink (unless you love it), but even just a little bit of masking tape and a different color or two can transform a blank space. Don't get too busy or fussy with this one, even just a few lines and shapes in different shades adds personality.
Here’s where to get it:
French Chic is making waves for its absolutely darling color schemes
17. Turn to Tiles
Grab inspiration from the likes of Spain, Morocco, and Portugal and decorate your blank walls with tiles. If this sounds utterly impractical, we have a shortcut readily available. Now, you can buy wall decals designed to look like tiles so it's as simple as peel and stick.
You don't have to cover the whole wall, you can just make a small space feature or frame a certain area. We suggest using these wall decals in a similar place to where you would use actual tiles to make it look more realistic - think bathrooms, kitchens, etc.
Here’s where to get it:
Etsy has some swoonable tile stickers
18. Place a Sculpture There
OK, this is for those of you who may own pieces of art. One of the best blank wall ideas is to keep the wall blank and place an impressive eye-catching sculpture in front of it. This can be a wall sculpture or art pieces and decorative objects on a console table. This way you are creating your own mini gallery and the blank wall will actually serve the purpose of not pulling away attention from the items and artwork you want to show.
Here’s where to get it:
Art and sculpture is all down to your own unique tastes and half the fun is in the finding
19. Make a Floating Office
If you haven't guessed by now, we love a good floating shelf. Instead of just hanging one and using it to showcase your framed art, you can take your decorating in a completely different direction and turn that blank wall into an office space.
A wall-mounted desk, a shelf or two, a chair, some plants and a pretty picture and you have instantly bagged yourself a wonderful work from home space. Exactly what everyone needs as a backup in a post-pandemic world.
Here’s where to get it:
Wayfair have some chic floating desks in a range of different styles
20. Charm With Ceramics
While you may think hanging plates belong back in your grandmother's era, they can actually be completely chic works of wall art. Hanging pretty plates and delicate dreamy ceramics is one of those gorgeous grown-up wall decor ideas that elevate the mood of your space. It's a great feature to add to a dining room or hallway to make a statement and show off your plates. We love birds, botanicals, but also Morrocan and Mexican style plates too.
Here’s where to get it:
Mex Decor can fulfil all your fabulously bright plate needs
In which ways do you welcome personal style to your walls? Are you all about the hanging decor or do you prefer framed prints, photo prints, or ceramics on show? How will you be dressing up your own blank and dreary walls? Share all your wall decor ideas over at our VIP Sozy community and let's wave farewell to large empty walls.
TOP
