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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.)

20 Creative DIY Wall Decor Ideas | 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.

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

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.

stairway gallery wall using black and white frames
grid gallery wall

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.

gallery wall layout ideas

2. Mirrors

Make a gallery wall from several mirrors or hang/lean one large mirror to make a big statement in a room.

make a gallery wall using thrifted mirrors
lean an oversized mirror and bounce light from a blank wall

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.

Add a vintage map as large wall decor

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.

using wallpaper on a focal wall in a bedroom is cheaper than adding it to an entire room but adds interest

6. Plates

Another great “thrift store hunt” kind of wall decor project, especially for a kitchen or dining room.

a corner plate gallery wall in a dining room as thrifty DIY art

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:

using molding to add interest to walls

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.

shelves as living room wall decor for added storage

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.

using oversized art as a large wall decor idea to make a room feel bigger
using oversized art as a large wall decor idea to make a room feel bigger

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.

A simple DIY Wall Decor Idea to use brushstrokes as an interesting focal wall

Source: Curbly

11. Command Center

Might as well put your walls to work and make them functional for the day-to-day.

using a calendar, shelf, cubbies, memo board, and hooks as DIY wall decor ideas in a kitchen to help the family stay organized

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.

Inexpensive DIY Wall Decor Ideas | pressed flower art

Source

13. Hooks

They don’t seem like much but hooks totally count as wall decor. Their functionality is a perk. 😉

a diy wall decor idea to add hooks to a laundry room for organization

14. Stencil

If wallpaper intimidates you, stencils are a great alternative. Can you believe this is from a stencil?!

adding a wall stencil as an inexpensive alternative to wallpaper on bathroom walls

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.

engineer prints of storybook pages as diy wall decor ideas

16. Chalkboard

You don’t even have to write anything on it, unless you just want to.

chalkboard as dining room wall decor

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.

baskets hanging on a bedroom wall above a bed

Source

19. Cutting Boards

This is so perfect for a kitchen!

cutting boards hung as a kitchen gallery wall

Source

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.

framed handwritten recipes hung on a kitchen wall

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

How high should you hang a picture on a wall?

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.

How far apart should picture frames hang in a gallery wall or grouping?

When hanging two or more artworks together in a grouping, it’s best to position them 3″ to 6″ apart.

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20 Creative DIY Wall Decor Ideas | 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.
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