Plain white walls can be daunting. Unless you're an ultra-minimalist who prefers a blank look, empty wall space can feel like a big flashing light that says “unfinished.” Decorating your walls with art and decorations is often the final piece of the puzzle to making a space truly feel like home, but there's more than just filling the walls and actually making the décor look intentional. Striking the balance between can be difficult. We love gallery walls, but they're not always the right choice for every space. Sometimes you need to be creative to find a solution that truly fits your home and personality. Below, we've compiled eight wall decor ideas that will get you thinking about new decorating possibilities (and seeing your household items in a new light).
hang pottery
Shira Berg
New York City-based potter Sheila Berg (who created the ceramic piece pictured above) is a big believer in three-dimensional wall art. “Wall-mounted installations add dimension, texture, and pieces that literally pop off the wall,” she says. “They add literal and figurative depth to a space.” Berg says she follows three rules to keep wall decor interesting. “For every three pieces of her artwork that are two-dimensional, such as paintings or photographs, there is one piece of her that is three-dimensional or textured,” she says. Whether you're hanging small sculptures for wall decoration or converting decorative plates into wall art, ceramic can add an unexpected element to a flat wall.
use beautiful wallpapers
Wallpaper is a quick and sure way to completely transform your walls. Also, beautiful wallpapers will take you to a completely different landscape. Whether you choose a painterly design or a whimsical storybook style, beautiful wallpaper can stand alone, eliminating the need to add other decorations to your walls. It can also help breathe more life into spaces that lack windows or natural elements.
Wall decor is often added to complement a room's existing design and style, but scenic wallpaper can also be used in reverse. For example, if you're furnishing a room from scratch, you can choose a bold mural-like wallpaper as a starting point and design the rest of the room around it.
Frame the unexpected
You'll be amazed at how much art it can turn into just by putting it in a frame and hanging it on your wall. One of our favorite examples of her DIY content creator Ashley Poskin is the framed vintage swimsuit that she displays in her wallpapered bathroom. Retro swimwear serves as a marker of a certain moment, and her 1960s-inspired interior design helps complete the story of her style. To envision more unique items that can be repurposed as wall art, visit your local antique shop and check out the kitchen section. Hang brass utensils and enameled colanders on the walls to create a rustic, country kitchen feel.
Combine storage and decoration
westerum.com
One of the effective and functional ways to fill empty wall space is to install hanging shelves. This not only allows you to divide wasted wall space, but also provides more space to store and display items. Turn your storage into an extension of your decor by choosing a shelving unit that matches your interior design style. For example, this wood shelving unit from West Elm fits perfectly into a mid-century modern design.
Use a large wall mirror
Mirrors bring a variety of effects to your interior. They reflect light throughout the room, making the space appear larger, and can be used in place of wall art. A large, decorative mirror can set the entire mood of the room. Another option? Instead of a traditional gallery wall with framed artwork, create a wall display full of charm with an eclectic mix of vintage mirrors.
Add sculptural lighting
ikea.com
Lighting can (and should) be considered an art. While the main lighting sources in your home have more of a functional purpose, wall lamps and sconces are just as important in not only illuminating the room but also adding decoration to the space. Modern sculptural lighting is a great alternative to framed artwork on your walls. IKEA's recent VARMBLIXT collection, filled with statement lighting by Dutch-New Zealand designer Sabine Marcelis, perfectly illustrates why we should start looking at lighting through the lens of art.
choose large scale art
Instead of trying to curate the perfect collection of wall art to fill your walls, invest your time (and money) in finding large-scale pieces of art that can stand on their own. In some cases, a single piece of art that ties a room together can make a much bigger statement than multiple artworks combined.