How to Decorate a Large Blank Wall

Artwork can break up the monotany of a large blank wall.

While many may see blank walls as something to dread, they provide space to create a palette of art and interest. To eliminate the feeling of a large, overwhelming space, think of the wall in terms of sections divided according to how you've laid out the furniture in your room. Knowing how to arrange pieces on a large wall will give your room a special look and feel guests will envy.

Instructions

1. Keep items or groups of items balanced. You can hang anything on your walls, from very large to small pieces, but these objects need to be a part of something else in your décor for the best effect.

2. Hang a piece of fabric or a rug or tapestry on the wall. Surround the fabric with smaller objects. Keep the objects close to the rug to avoid the items looking scattered across the wall.

3. Hang a large piece of art or mirror on the wall. If you have a sofa, desk, headboard or chair against the wall, hanging a large piece of artwork above that item will bring a sense of unity and harmony into the room. The furniture piece and the item on the wall blend instead of the artwork or mirror looking as though it is floating in space.

4. Paint a mural on part of the wall. This does not need to be an intricately drawn landscape. You can easily make your own mural by drawing geometric shapes on the wall with a pencil and painting within the lines. You can also use tape to section off blocks of space with different colors. Use colors that blend with the color palette of your room.

5. Attach shelves or shelving units to the wall. Attaching shelves to any wall will add visual interest as well as functionality. Place the shelves in convenient places and consider what they will look like in a room filled with furniture and other accessories.

6. Hang wall boxes and display some of your favorite objects. Keep the grouping large enough so the boxes do not feel lost in the large wall and space the boxes close enough together so they look like a group.

Tips & Warnings

• Objects that are bright and bold in color can stand alone in a large space even if they are not very large. Bright colors feel heavier than lighter colors and these objects can sometimes stand alone within a section of a wall.

• Keep objects grouped together on a large wall.

References

• Better Homes and Gardens: Arranging Art
• Elle Décor: The Art of the Mural