Courtesy of VeryGayPaint
Looking for wall decor ideas to refresh your space? Those empty walls are filled with possibilities—and a few additions can make a house feel like a home. If you’re ready to turn those stark, bare walls into stylish centerpieces, keep reading. No matter your style, we’ve got the tricks that can amp up your walls and bring out your personality and taste. Whether you’re an art collector, a nature enthusiast, or a book lover, your walls can be customized so that you can be surrounded by the things you adore. Discover 39 wall decor ideas that are sure to add style to your home.
1. Go for large-scale art
Max Burkhalter
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 space or add color with a vibrant abstract piece, as pictured above in Taylor Rooks’s Manhattan bedroom. (Check out our guide on to where to buy art online to source striking and affordable pieces.)
2. Curate a gallery wall
Simon Watson
Nothing adds personality and color quite like a gallery wall. Display a collection of art or photographs, or add wall hangings and other ephemera. Opt for simple, cohesive frames or bring in an array of ornate variations to mix things up! Pro tip: Extend the gallery wall to the ceiling to create the illusion of a larger space.
3. Incorporate an accent wall
In addition to displaying objects on the walls, think about decorating the walls themselves. Try out a bright and bold paint color to create an accent wall, or bring in pattern with wallpaper, stenciling, or other decorative paint techniques. (Think about transforming your ceiling while you’re at it!) These decorative accents can have an even bigger impact in a small space.
4. Showcase a fabric
A tapestry or wall hanging can add a pop of color and pattern, as well as a sense of softness to a neutral space. Consider framing vintage scarves or other pretty textiles. Bonus: These are a lot easier to move than framed paintings when it comes time to head to your next home.
5. Hang up mirrors
Mirrors reflect light, helping a small space to feel bigger and brighter. Try hanging an oversized mirror, or display several smaller pieces salon-style.
6. Paint a mural
Courtesy of VeryGayPaint
Let your walls transport you to another place by adding a mural. Whether you hand-paint it or choose a wall covering, the motif will make a big impact.
7. Install shelving
The unexpected design of the shelves is thanks to Starrett, who drew the system out and passed it off to a carpenter. (Photo: Jessica Antola)
If you’ve run out of floor space for bookshelves, take your collection to the wall. Install floating shelves and display hardcovers, small sculptures, and other odds and ends.
8. Hang plates
Matthieu Salvaing
Why hide your fine china in the cabinet when you can show it off? Use wire plate hangers to display your favorite dishes and serving platters. If you’re a collector of any design object, this might be the move for you–we’ve even seen breadboards as pieces of art on the wall of a Brooklyn brownstone.
9. Display sculptural 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 to bring in light and style.
10. Go greener
Plants don’t just have to sit on the windowsill. Try hanging or wall-mounted planters to add a bit of greenery to your space and nature to your walls. If you’re not big on water, you can opt for a high-quality faux plant (and no one will probably ever be the wiser).
11. Tap into texture with macramé wall art
Those ’70s macramé wall hangings have come back in a big way. The weavings add texture and warm up stark walls. Shop for them on Etsy, or try your hand at making your own.
12. Or try beaded wall art
This wall hanging is made using the Maasai beading tradition. We love the minimalist black-and-white design. The stunning piece is handmade in Tanzania using glass beads sourced from the Czech Republic.
13. Hang an oversized wall calendar
A large calendar works especially well on an office or kitchen wall. Keep track of your events while also adding a standout element to enliven your room. Try bright and bold calendars with sans serif fonts to create a modern look and add a pop of color.
14. Set the tone with a giant whiteboard or chalkboard
A big board is a perfect functional addition to an office, playroom, or even a kitchen. A chalkboard lends a rustic air to any room, while a whiteboard is the contemporary alternative—and you don't have to stick to just white (they’re available in a variety of shades and prints). You can take it to the next level and paint an entire wall with WriteWallPaint, which creates a writeable surface.
15. Create a basket wall
A pair of Serena & Lily hanging rattan chairs hang in the living room. Custom Beni Ourain wool rug. (Yoshihiro Makino)
Here’s another wall decor idea: Add baskets to your wall! Whether you want to go colorful or neutral, you can liven up any negative space with an assortment of baskets in different sizes and textures.
16. Document your travels with a personalized map
Add a large word map to your room's decor. You can order a personalized map of a city, state, country, or the world in just about any color palette. You can make it ultra personal by adding pins to the places you've visited or plan to visit.
17. Mount your television
Another way to go? Mount your television. Adding a flat screen to your wall can be a great way to free up space on top of your media cabinet, enhance your wall, and update the entire look of your living room or bedroom. Plus, televisions like the aptly named "The Frame" are designed to look like artwork when they’re off. With Samsung and you can put your television in ambient mode to showcase the images of your choosing.
18. Add shiplap wall paneling
The living room (Photo: Courtesy of Cody Ulrich/HarperCollins)
Shiplap paneling will infuse your space with a fresh coastal feeling—and it works in any room. Whether your dining room, bedroom, entryway, or even bathroom walls need a refresh, consider adding the wooden boards typically used as exterior siding.
19. Mount your bike on a wall
Creating a stylish and sleek wall-mounting system for your bikes will give you more floor space and create an eye-catching focal point that will transform your blank wall. This is one of the most fun and functional wall decor ideas out there.
20. Try removable wall art
Both Minted and Etsy have extensive collections of grown-up, sophisticated removable wall art. The adhesive murals have a luxurious matte finish and come in a variety of styles. Removable wall art is perfect if you're renting and don't want to damage the walls.
21. Get an ethereal, whimsical look with paper lights
Like sconces, hanging lights set against a wall are a beautiful blend of form and function. Not only do they light your space but they add an unexpected design element that adds an enchanting soft-focus feel to a room.
22. Put rugs on the walls
Minna's Moon Rug Grey Mixed Shag. (Photo: Courtesy of Minna)
We love a good rug, especially one with an abstract design. And while they’re great on the floor, they can also do admirable double duty as wall decor. Two-by-three-foot picks stand out when hanging above a fireplace. Or, you can go bigger and cover larger space. The possibilities are endless and unexpected, and we’re here for it.
23. Taxidermy, but make it vegan
Get yourself an animal head made out grass palm stems. The unique design is handcrafted in Morocco, and is available in the shape of an elephant, a sheep, or (pictured) a goat. Best of all? No animals are harmed in the process of making this striking home decor.
24. Add planking to create "stripes"
Photo: John Woodcock
We love the playfulness that planking adds to this children’s room. The stripes were made by applying 12-inch-wide reclaimed-walnut planks. The effect brings to mind summer camp as a kid but is sophisticated enough to grow up with the young boy.
25. Create constellations
Photo: John Woodcock
Design a mini-universe above your headboard. Seen here in a child’s bedroom, this could easily work with any age. It’s an impactful but easy DIY project: Just make a template, tape it to the wall, and string white yarn between roofing nails (painted white to resemble stars).
26. Think outside the box
Wall decorations can be anything, really. Case in point: This fun trio of skateboards. The bright color scheme will energize any room, and is perfect for a contemporary aesthetic.
27. Show off your headwear
Nicole Franzen
Short on closet space? Why not show off your finery and create a practical display with visual interest? Install hooks or a pegboard and hang hats in a cluster.
28. Wall mount a fold-up surface
The hinge desk and Murphy bed combo in this guest bedroom/office is the secret to making the tiny space feel big and open. (Photo: Michael Druce)
Here, the bed is tucked away and the office is ready for working. (Photo: Michael Druce)
If you have a lot of wall space and nothing in particular to fill it with, one particularly useful option is to add a wall-mounted fold-up surface. As you can see in this Chicago home by Paige Wassel, it’s also a great option for spaces that are short on space. For extra credit, pick a surface that’s a fun color or wallpaper the bottom of it to add visual interest when it’s not in operation.
29. Add a ledge
Robin Anderson, who is relocating to Switzerland in the fall, plans to use jumbo gingham fabric by Beata Heuman to skirt the sink in the farmhouse her family is renting. “This was my practice run!” she laughs. (Photo: Sabrina Cole Quinn)
To add depth to your space without taking up too much square footage with architectural details, add a slim ledge. You can use this ledge to place framed photos and tchotchkes, as in this Robin Anderson–designed home. It’ll ultimately be easier to switch things out and freshen the space up this way than if you created a full-on gallery wall. And the ledge itself can fill up more blank space than a couple art pieces alone could.
30. Choose art that matches your color scheme
“In the bedroom, we used a calm color palette as a continuation of the living space,” Fanny Abbes says. Parachute bedding and a Tala table lamp encompass that relaxing theme. Photo: Will Ellis
Picking out art pieces can be difficult, but if you narrow your wall art ideas to include only pieces that match your room’s color scheme, it can be much easier. We love that the two art pieces in this room by Fanny Abbes match the black-and-white boho-ish bedding that dominates the space.
31. Add a wall of bookshelves
Finding a way to integrate storage while embracing the way her belongings would play within the design was part of the process for Ryan Brooke. “I thought about how our belongings would participate in a way that doesn’t feel forced,” she says. “Part of the design process was anticipating those other layers that are going to bring color and form on a different scale.” (Photo: Steve Freihon)
To fill an entire living room wall, add a wall of built in bookshelves—or standalone bookcases—like in designer Ryan Brooke Thomas’s own Brooklyn apartment.
32. Layer pieces
“Many rental apartments don’t have a true entry, they just open right into the main area,” Molly Torres Portnof explains. Because the awkward space was not large enough to accommodate an actual console, Molly had this racetrack mirror shelf custom made by JB+DG to create the feeling of an entryway moment. “It’s a great small-space solution for your keys and bags as you head out the door,” she says. (Seth Caplan)
Another interior design trick for adding depth even in shallow spaces is layering a number of pieces. Here, designer Molly Torres Portnof added hooks, a mirror, a ledge, and an artwork to create a distinct decorative moment in what otherwise could have been forgotten space next to the apartment’s entry.
33. Use wallpaper
“I really love the bedroom,” Trish Andersen says. She found the vintage Schumacher wallpaper on eBay—in the perfect amount—for cheap. “That room was originally inspired with the Goodnight Moon palette in mind.” Michael (Porten) made the headboard for the bedroom. “He has a CNC machine, so he cut out the shape, and I upholstered it with fleece from Joann’s,” she adds. “Nothing fancy, but I love the color pop, and it’s so soft!” The textile art on the bed is called Veronique by Diane Hoffman. The art hanging over the bed is by Kevin Sabo, and Michael created the pieces in the corner. The sconces are from Article, the cat pillow is from Aelfie, and the rugs are from Anthropologie. (Photo: Chia Chong)
Vintage Schumacher wallpaper in the bedroom of fiber artist Trish Andersen makes the space feel like you’re inside of a gift box in the best way. Andersen added artworks on top of the wallpaper and painted the trim in a contrasting color, doubling the impact of the dramatic wall finish.
34. Display your clothes
A touch of blue was added to the custom walnut chest of drawers to create a visual connection with the Jan Kath Spacecraft 11 rug. The black clothing rod that hangs from the old growth fir ceiling contrasts with the brass hangers from Bocci / OAOWorks. (Chad Falkenberg)
This might not be the most sophisticated wall decor idea; but for those of us clotheshorses, we’d rather look at our collection of clothing than artwork any day. Especially if you don’t have tons of closed storage space, displaying your clothing is a wonderful way of expressing your style even when you’re at home in sweats. The black clothing rod in this Falken Reynolds–designed home also accentuates the space’s enviable ceiling height—bonus points!
35. Mount your instruments
This couple already owned a Kallax bookcase from IKEA, which they thought Ahmad AbouZanat would tell them to donate, but instead he used the bookcase to create a wall of storage for Nick’s music collection. Ahmad notes that millwork is expensive, so this budget-friendly solution meant he could splurge where custom work was a must-have. Two of Nick’s prized instruments are on display—and kept out of the way when he’s not playing them—thanks to their wall mounts. The handy sea-foam pouf, which can be moved around the apartment as needed, is from Burke Decor. (Photo: Joe Kramm)
Another great option if you’re short on storage space and want to display your interests: mount your instruments on the wall! Whether you play the guitar, the keyboard, the ukelele, or something else all together, consider mounting your piece on the wall to get decorative power and convenient storage all in one, like in this guitarist’s apartment by Project AZ.
36. Add coloring posters or a chalkboard
The artwork above the kids’ beds are coloring posters by Omy. Though Caroline McKeough is known for her love and use of black and white, the 1920s twin beds (Etsy finds) were a great moment for color, painted in a Benjamin Moore green. The geometric quilt (seen at the foot of the bed on the left) was made by Caroline’s sister, Libs. (Alexandra Rowley)
For a family home, or a space with a resident doodler, consider adding a place for people to draw. In this apartment by design couple Caroline and Tim McKeough, coloring posters were the move, but you could also add a chalkboard or a butcher paper roll.
37. Get a dramatic headboard
The primary bedroom is something of a showcase for the built-in geometric headboard that dates back to the ’60s, complemented by a simple Floyd bed frame and Noguchi lamp. (Seth Caplan)
If the room you’re looking to refresh your wall decor in happens to be a bedroom, then getting an over the top headboard—like this one in the Silver Lake primary bedroom of Rachel Traub and Todd Banhazl—is the perfect solution.
38. Add candle sconces
This couple leaned into rustic touches throughout their Catskills, New York, home. (Photo: David Krause)
When you don’t have hard wiring for sconces but you crave the sophistication they add to a room, try candle sconces instead for a moodier touch. As displayed in the above photo, homeowner David Krause combined his candle sconce with regular candlesticks, but you could also use a pair of candle sconces to frame out a space.
39. Add a pegboard
“People can get kind of myopic about where they shop,” says the collection specialist. “I’d maybe offer advice on being open to shopping in unexpected places.” Case in point: the wooden pegboard hanging in the kitchen, found at Maisonette, a children’s boutique. (Seth Caplan)
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.