20 Creative DIY Wall Decor Ideas for Your Blank Walls
A round-up of 20 of the best DIY wall decor ideas plus tutorials and tips to pull off the look easily and get the designer look for less.
Decorator’s block. I swear it’s a real thing.
Like writer’s block when you stare at a blank screen and that blinking cursor just mocks you while you try to rattle around in your brain for words to spill out on a page?
But instead of a blank screen, it’s a large blank wall. And what’s worse is there are soooooo many blank walls in a house that it’s really easy to give up.
To heck with it! Call it minimalist style.
But what’s the fun in that? (I mean I like the idea of minimalist style, but I need something.)
Whenever I ask the question, “What is one thing about decorating that you struggle with?” for the Simplified Decorating series, I always get a flood of the exact same answer, “I need help decorating my walls!”
So just for fun, I rounded up 20 GREAT DIY wall decor ideas to get your creative juices flowing so that you can fill those blank walls with tons of personality.
20 Creative DIY Wall Decor Ideas for Your Blank Walls
1. Gallery Wall Frames
Yes, they’re still in. And no, they don’t have to look like a mish-mash of random clutter nailed to your sheetrock. There are so many possibilities for different arrangements of your frames.
I love sticking to black and white photographs to keep it simple. Or hang art groupings with a similar color scheme. If you love being eclectic, vary your color palette to a wider array for visual interest.
And if you need a few great hacks, this is my method for making it perfect every time. And this is my trick for putting the nail in the perfect spot every time without any “oopsie” nail holes.
Here are a few gallery wall decorating ideas for arranging layouts that could help. The general rule is keep your frames between 2-6 inches of each other so they look like an intentional grouping.
2. Mirrors
Make a gallery wall from several mirrors or hang/lean one large mirror to make a big statement in a room.
Source: Shabbyfufu
3. Oversized Map
Make it extra sentimental by choosing a map of where you live, the city/state you grew up in, the country of your heritage, etc. Etsy has tons of them or you can find free ones by Google searching public domain images.
4. Hats
I loooooove hats as wall decor ideas for adding texture and warmth to a space. Keep your eyes peeled at the thrift store and you’ll be able to pull it off for super cheap.
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5. Wallpaper
No art is necessary when you have pretty wallpaper stealing the spotlight. Some of my favorite wallpaper patterns are here and here.
6. Plates
Another great “thrift store hunt” kind of wall decor project, especially for a kitchen or dining room.
Source: Design Sponge
7. Molding
When you have chunky molding with plenty of character, it’s beautiful all on its own. Wall decor optional. Find tutorials for several different wall moldings here:
8. Floating Shelves
I love the way floating shelves can make an accent wall feel laid back and allows opportunity for lots of texture. Check out tips for styling shelves here.
Source: McGee & Co.
9. An Oversized Painting
Sometimes just one simple but statement-making focal point piece of art is all you need. Bonus: It helps make a small space appear larger. Or you can DIY large scale art yourself using this trick and a poster / engineer print.
10. Brushstrokes
If you want to save a few bucks but still get a wallpaper effect, this project is so simple and inexpensive to do.
Source: Curbly
11. Command Center
Might as well put your walls to work and make them functional for the day-to-day.
12. Pressed Flowers & Feathers
Go foraging through your yard for flowers, leaves, and feathers you can press to put into a float frame. It’s totally free and a fun little project.
13. Hooks
They don’t seem like much but hooks totally count as wall decor. Their functionality is a perk. 😉
14. Stencil
If wallpaper intimidates you, stencils are a great alternative. Can you believe this is from a stencil?!
Source – In My Own Style
15. Engineer Typography Prints
Type up your favorite song lyrics, quotes, or lines from literature, print on engineering paper, and make a statement on bare walls.
16. Chalkboard
You don’t even have to write anything on it, unless you just want to.
Source: Amber Interiors
17. Old Windows
This one is so clever for a window-less room to take the feeling of having a window.
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18. Baskets
Another good one to add texture and pull off wall hangings on empty walls for just a few bucks from thrift store finds.
19. Cutting Boards
This is so perfect for a kitchen!
20. Framed Recipes & Letters
If you have any handwritten treasures from loved ones or ancestors, preserve them using this UV film method and stick them in a frame to remember always.
Whew! That’s all I can come up with. I’m sure there’s more.
But if that’s not a great starting point to fight some wall decorating woes in interior design, I don’t know what is. 😉
Hope it helps anyway! Be gone, decorator’s block.
Frequently Asked Questions
The general “rule” is to hang pictures at eye level approximately 60″ to 63″ above the floor to the center of the picture. Use that measurement as a starting point to adjust as needed for your ceiling height or if the picture needs to hang above a piece of furniture.
When hanging two or more artworks together in a grouping, it’s best to position them 3″ to 6″ apart.
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