How to decorate a long wall in family room

How to Decorate a Large Wall in Your Living Room

Get creative with art, wallpaper, or accent furniture, say our experts.

Caroline Biggs, Freelance Writer portrait

By Caroline Biggs Updated September 29, 2022

A large, empty living room wall can quickly turn into an eyesore, but a nuanced, artfully arranged one can upgrade the space as a whole. "A thoughtfully decorated wall in a living room is essential," says interior designer Nikki Klugh of Nikki Klugh Design Group. "An especially large wall can serve as the focal point, so it's crucial to make sure it's designed in a way that makes an impact."

Fortunately, with a little prep work and the right decorations, interior designer Beth Diana Smith says you can turn any partition into a curated display. "Without proper planning, there can be awkward gaps in the placement when you hang wall art or décor," she says. "To avoid putting numerous holes in your wall, I recommend tracing out each art piece on kraft paper, laying everything out with kraft tape, and then moving the kraft paper around as needed until you get the placement just right. "

Stylish and scandinavian living room interior of modern apartment with gray sofa, design wooden table, black table, lamp, abstrac paintings on the wall.

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Hang Oversized Artwork

If you're searching for some wall décor for a living room and want to keep things feeling fresh, but curated, Smith suggests hanging up a few pieces of oversized artwork. "For this look, I recommend using a few pieces that are the same size to make the space feel thoughtful and expensive," she says.

Modern flat interior with gallery wall

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Go for a Gallery Wall

Can't find (or afford) any large-scale artwork to hang on your wall? Klugh says creating a salon-style display with smaller pieces is the next best thing. "Filling up your living room wall with a collage allows you to bring multiple pieces together to create one big art piece," she says. "Depending on the sizes you are working with, the collage can be linear or organic—just remember to plan it out before putting it on the wall to ensure you achieve the desired effect. "

stylish living room interior with green painted walls

Credit: AsiaVision / Getty Images

Add Photos to Shelves

If you have floating shelves in your home, consider lining them with your favorite photos. "Adding floating shelves to the walls will allow you to use the space for storage," adds Sara Barney of BANDD DESIGN. In addition to photos, you can use the area to show off pieces of art and other decorative accents in a functional way.

BLUE SOFA room with wallpaper accent wall

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Apply Patterned Wallpaper

A little wallpaper can go a long way. "Patterned wallpaper turns the entire wall into an art piece," says Smith. "If you don't want to commit to wallpaper, my favorite solution is to buy some funky or fun gift wrap and then frame pieces of it in a series, which gives you flexibility to change your wall décor often and play around with new aesthetics without breaking the bank. "

Leather couch in living room

Credit: KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images

Create Architectural Interest

To introduce depth and dimension, Klugh recommends adding an architectural element, like baseboards or crown molding. "Buy some wood planks from your local home improvement store and install them on the wall in the pattern of your choice to add a layer of interest," she says. "Adding an architectural element to your wall will help infuse some character into your space." If you can't add trims or moldings to your wall, Smith says floating shelves are a smart (and storage-savvy) alternative.

traditional living room with fringed rug

Credit: Getty Images / alvarez

Integrate Accent Furniture

For an alternative approach, Smith says you can always count on accent furniture to help fill a wall space. "Adding in a sculptural table, an accent chair, or even a decorative ladder is a great way to break up the space," she says. "In my own home, I have a wooden ladder that I use to layer woven blankets, creating a stylish storage solution that minimizes clutter."

How to Decorate a Large Wall (10 Ways!)

Stumped on how to decorate a large wall? Instead of looking at it as a vast, bare area that has to be covered, think of it as a blank canvas. An opportunity. Today, I’m sharing 10 wall decor ideas and examples of each across our home, along with a few tips and considerations as you start your projects!

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Wall Decor Tips

Before you start filling a wall with *all the things*, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Scale: Go big. If it’s a big wall, you need something that won’t disappear into the wall. We’ve all seen big walls with tiny-by-comparison-art — if it isn’t the correct scale, it can look cluttered, disappear, or may even look like an unintentional blemish of an afterthought.
Expense: But if it’s bigger, won’t it be more expensive? Larger art and wall decor can get pricey but it doesn’t have to be. If there’s a piece you love, save for it and purchase it in the correct scale. But, I’m sharing some budget-friendly alternatives throughout the post!
Continuity: Plan your walls to compliment your decor and surroundings — even from room to room if you have an open floor plan.
Repetition: While you may have a favorite go-to for bare walls (for me, it’s mirrors), you don’t want to use the same “trick” over and over; keep your solutions diverse.
Meaning: I am not the “special meaning” police. If I see a canvas that I think is pretty at HomeGoods, I’ll totally buy it! I love when we are able to incorporate pieces or works that have special meaning or remind us of a special time, but liking it, in itself, is reason enough for me! Just don’t feel like you have to “settle” with a bunch of stuff from one trip out that you don’t really like but think it “may go”.

Now that we’ve covered the bases and what I try to keep in mind when I’m planning wall decor, let’s get into 10 different ways to decorate a large wall!

1. Gallery Wall

If you’re trying to avoid dropping a lot of money on a huge piece, you can create a wall of art that can serve as one big piece for a fraction of the cost by hanging a gallery wall. There are tons of approaches and tons of options to make these totally you. You can opt for a collected, diverse assortment or go the more uniform route. In the breakfast nook, I used the same Ikea frames to showcase iPhone photos of some of our travels.

Each photo is a different state and is a landmark/landscape snap I grabbed on my phone. Memorable and special and while it captures memories from 12 different trips, it acts as one, monochromatic piece of art. Notice it also takes up most of that wall, too 😉 Go larger than you think you need to when you’re framing photos.

Another simple “gallery” of sorts that acts as one piece are the wall baskets on our screened in porch. They are all the same but three different sizes. I just quickly positioned them in an organic shape and called it “good!”

All porch sources can be found in the porch reveal HERE.

The sunburst gallery wall in our front room admittedly doesn’t flow with the rest of our home these days and will be seeing a revamp soon. But, it’s a great example of sticking to one them while using eclectic pieces and mixing metals.

Sources: Ottoman

My office has an art arrangement that I’m calling a “gallery wall” — I positioned the large piece, along with three identical foil prints that I just rotated as I hung, into one big square. While the pieces are different, they do have the same frame.

There are some gorgeous galleries mixing black and white with color photos, same frames and mats in different sizes, and even all different frames, mediums, etc. If you’re looking for easy and for something that’s a little more calm, go more cohesive. If you’re adventurous and looking to make an artful statement, mix it up.

2. Console Table

Sometimes, it isn’t just art your space needs (or could use). This space was big and barren and while I wanted a console table, it is somewhat of a walkway. I was still able to find a piece on the more narrow side and create a whole “moment” in the living room. Not enough room for a console table? You can do the same with a bench or set of stools!

3.

Large Scale Art

Ok, I feel like this is probably the most obvious but when I say “large”, I mean large. I don’t want a piece of art to look like something I hung on a wall; I want it to become part of the wall — does that even make sense?! haha This whitewashed wood carving is 48″x48″…

And this piece above Eliza’s bookshelf is 30″x40″.

The art on this living room wall is 40″x54″ and while it’s huge in person, there’s actually a size that’s still larger!

Sources: Large Wall Art | Sofa | Coffee Table | Round Accent Table | Rattan Tray

4. Set of Art

I love pairing art together as a set, especially when I only want something hung on the uppermost portion of the wall. It will also save some $$$ as two smaller framed pieces are usually less than one big one. This framed pairing of song lyrics above Eliza’s crib ended up being the best “second option” — I’m so glad the wall basket I was waiting on originally never arrived ;). — a total happy accident. I get tons of questions about these; the actual Etsy shop who printed these lyrics closed shop shortly after the reveal but you can find a similar option HERE. The frames I chose are in the 16″x20″ option, but that’s actually the size of the photo within the mat. The actual frame sizes are 23″x28″.

I also like to search for art series and choose two favorites to configure together as a set. These were old lily pad art pieces from ZGallerie, about six years ago. Here’s a pro tip — I love browsing Minted for art. While it isn’t easy to “spot” a set, they typically number their prints within a series with Roman numerals. In the search bar, I will search “II”, indicating a “2”. When the results are run, I check “art” in the filters so it only gives me art (instead of cards, stationery, etc.) Most everything that filters from there is part II of an art series. If you find a piece you like, tap on the artist’s name and you can browse their other work. Nine times out of ten, if they had something labeled with a II, there is also a I (sometimes a III and IV).

Sources: Chandelier | Dining Chairs (similar)

5. Wall Treatment/Moulding

A more involved (but statement maker, for sure!) way to “decorate” large walls is to make your walls art, themselves. Adding trim and moulding is something we have done to customize several spaces throughout our house and while you could add art on top, they can totally stand on their own without any extra embellishments. In Eliza’s nursery, we added five single boxes of picture frame moulding, but in our bedroom, we added two rows of boxes around the entire room. We even added a trim detail around the vaulted ceiling. I had a contractor do all the work but using shoe moulding and sticking to simple boxes directly on drywall and topping with paint kept expenses down on projects that could add up quickly.

In the living room, I have a huge wall where the kitchen cutout looked pretty naked. I had a faux half-column added to match the columns on the other side of the living room…

and added this detail which wrapped under the bar, around the corner to meet the new column. Functionally, it’s also helped with being able to clean scuff marks where feet tend to kick that wall; before, the flat paint would just end up looking bad. The semi-gloss finish of the wall detail is way more scrubbable!

Sources: Bar Stools | Pendant Lights | Cabinet Pulls

While I’ve stuck to more picture frame moulding in my rooms, there are tons of pretty options if you explore board & batten or horizontal/vertical shiplap, too.

6. Wallpaper

I only tiptoed into the world of wallpaper earlier this year and… I’m totally obsessed. I started with our small powder room where it’s way easier to be more bold and adventurous and I think the risk totally paid off. I also stuck to only wallpapering the upper 1/3 while I went with a moulding on the bottom 2/3. I don’t have a single piece of additional art and I’m now trying to determine what space I can wallpaper next!

If you don’t want to commit, there are also a lot of pretty peel and stick options that are fairly easy to apply. I actually applied a faux brick in our master bathroom’s toilet room a few years back!

See all the details of this makeover HERE.

7. Large Mirror

I mentioned early on that my easy and first go-to inclination is to scope out a statement mirror. Like large art, the size you choose makes a BIG difference. This mirror is 48″ but works with the scale of the wall.

In contrast, prior to a few updates in the breakfast nook, I had this round mirror that in hindsight was far too small for the look I wanted to achieve…

Pretty big difference, right?

In our dining room, I used a huge mirror but positioned it vertically to draw the eyes upward. I even wrote a post about opting for vertical over horizontal mirrors HERE a few years ago.

I use several large round mirrors in our home, over dressers, like in Eliza’s nursery and this guest bedroom.

And when I can, I love to add floor-length mirrors to bedrooms — even guest bedrooms for an extra thoughtful touch.

8. Tall Plants

This method of “decorating a large wall” doesn’t actually involve decorating the wall at all — but positioning some of your decor in front of the wall which takes up wall space. In Eliza’s room, I used several methods we’ve talked about from art pairs to wall moulding, but I also relied on a tall faux fiddle leaf fig tree to make a corner statement. The same can be said for tall floor lamps or privacy screens, too.

9. Curtain Panels

In the downstairs guest bedroom, the layout is a little tricky. There’s one blank wall, one wall with both a closet and bathroom door, one wall with a huge window, and one wall with French doors. For both functionality (and to address what could be kind of awkward blank walls), I added huge curtain panels on long rods to create walls of curtains. If you order custom, you can specify how wide you want your curtain panels; each of these panels are the full width of the openings they are intended to cover. (You can see all the details of this space HERE).

10. Built-In Shelving

We have built-ins that frame the fireplace and tv in our living room but the space we added them in after we were living in our home was in the office. This is more of an investment project, too, but down to the filing cabinets under the window sill to the roll-out printer drawer, it’s one of my favorite additions we’ve made. If you don’t want to go the built-in route, you can get two units to flank your window — or even hang rows of symmetrical floating shelves.

The bottom line — don’t overthink it, mix it up, and remember… scale matters! It doesn’t have to be expensive to be fabulous but by the same token, if there’s a statement you’re dying to make, save and do what you really want. A powerful wall statement can make or break a room — I know from trial and error and from plenty of my own hindsight mistakes 😉 For upcoming posts, space reveals and tips, be sure to subscribe to my emails HERE.

20 cool ideas, 100 best examples - INMYROOM

Interior decor

Outline cards, Cameroonian hats, positive inscriptions - we will tell you how to decorate an empty wall and turn it into a real art object

Walls are an ideal space for creative ideas. Just wallpapering or applying a coat of paint is the easiest solution, but and pretty boring. Feel like an artist, let the canvas be free surfaces - we have prepared for you 20 original ideas for decorating the walls in the house.

Idea #1: original wallpaper

Let the wallpaper be a self-sufficient element of the interior, not requiring additional decor. Choose a wallpaper with an interesting print in the form paintings, posters, with the effect of book pages. In order not to get tired of the bright drawings, glue only one wall with them, and leave the rest white.

Idea #2: decorative plates

Create an arrangement on the walls with plates, brought from vacation as souvenirs or left over from old sets. Choose plates in the same color scheme or in the same style, but in different sizes.

Idea #3: watch collection

As you know, “happy hours are not watched”, but use them as decoration. Display a collection of cuckoo clocks on the wall or with a large dial. With such a decoration, you are definitely not afraid of being late! stick same style: vintage pieces will look out of place next to the work of contemporary designers.

Idea #4: contour maps

Avid travelers are advised to decorate the wall with maps and pages from atlases, they will bring the spirit of adventurism and romance into the interior. Hang physical map of the world, only a specific country or just a blueprint cities. Cards can be artificially aged and placed in an elegant baguette.

Idea #5: mirror exhibition

Mirrors visually increase the space of the room, use this practical property and hang several copies on the wall. curly mirrors do not need to be framed if you use simple rectangles and squares, it is better to arrange them in a thick wooden baguette. Also now frames that look like the sun with rays are gaining popularity.

Idea #6: wallpaper panel

The remnants of bright wallpaper will become a stylish decoration of the room, stick them on the wall and close the joints with plaster or wood molding. More one option is to arrange small pieces of wallpaper in a baguette and hang them like paintings.

Idea #7: empty frames

Think outside the box - you can not insert photos into the frames, but simply leave them empty. Paint them all the same color or group them by shape - such a composition will look more advantageous on a plain wall.

Idea #8: wall sticker

Use special stickers as wall decoration - they can be easily removed from wallpaper and painted surfaces. Choose original interesting images that will complement the interior of the apartment: decorate the walls ornaments, flowers, animals or trees.

Idea #9: art gallery

Display your favorite artists and illustrators. Do not hang pictures in one row - it looks boring. Better position in the center one or two large frames, and around them create a composition of more small jobs.

Idea #10: ethnic motifs

A Cameroonian hat will become a bright and memorable detail. handmade from feathers attached to a raffia base. Even the simplest and a modest room will be transformed with such a spectacular decor.

Idea #11: natural materials

Wood is a great help in creating sustainable natural interior. Saw cuts arranged in a chaotic manner, branches of bizarre shapes, intricate driftwood will become an unusual decoration of the walls. This decor can find it yourself in the forest, just do not forget to clean it from pollution and Apply a protective layer of wood care product.

Idea #12: hats on the wall

Fashion designers come up with new models of hats every year, and designers find unusual uses for them. Hang a collection of straw or felt hats on the walls, they will become interesting art object.

Idea #13: artificial animal heads

Today, animal heads are in fashion, of course, not real ones. They are can be made from plaster, wood, or even papier-mâché. The main thing is not overdo it with their number, so as not to feel like in a zoological museum.

Idea #14: cozy handmade

Modern interiors are increasingly decorated with things made with their own hands, they bring comfort to the premises. Crocheted or knitted napkins, macrame panels, embroidered paintings will become the central element in decor and perhaps inspire your guests to their own creativity.

Idea #15: ceiling medallions

Original decoration for walls can also be decorative ceiling medallions made of polyurethane. Them easy repaint in any color to organically fit into the interior. Choose sockets different sizes and styles, such a voluminous composition will be the highlight of any rooms: kitchen, bedroom, living room.

Idea No. 16: positive inscriptions

Post an inspirational statement or favorite quote. Compose them from wooden letters or write with stencil on wall or canvas with acrylic colors. You can purchase or make your own posters and wooden plaques with memorable inscriptions.

Idea #17: large-format painting

Often, to achieve an impressive effect, it is enough one big picture - it will become dominant decor element. In a classic interior, hang a landscape or a still life, in a modern - abstraction, a bright poster or illustration.

Idea #18: wall photo album

Decorate your wall with photos. These may be old family cards, photos from the last photo shoots, printed "squares" from Instagram - create a collage that will be interesting consider.

Idea #19: focus on hobbies

Is collecting a hobby? Use it to decorate the wall, such decoration does not require any cost, it is easy to change. And it will be in a single copy, because your collection cameras or tennis rackets is unique.

Idea #20: book exhibition

Modern publishers produce books with such vivid covers that you don't want to hide them in cabinets. Put them on the shelves along walls or use special "invisible" shelves that create the effect books floating in the air. Pay attention to sorting books by color - such the composition will look very impressive.

How to decorate an empty wall: 10 ideas and hacks

Triptych

Three paintings or photographs connected by one idea will become an unusual accent in the living room. The image does not have to be bright, even unobtrusive abstractions in pastel colors will attract attention.

Fragment of the living room. The curbstone was made in a carpentry workshop in Moscow according to the project of Maria Mycenae. Ceramic tables and sculpture by Elena Orekhova, Savor Design. Ceramic vases and table lamp, Barcelona Design. The panels on the walls are covered with wallpaper made by Fun House Store based on a watercolor by Ekaterina Lobanova. Sculptural panels of Maria Mycenae.

Photo: YEVGENY KULIBABA

Project by Anna Mikaelyan.

Black and white photographs

More is not better. Sometimes monochrome images look much more expressive than canvases filled with bright colors. Black and white photographs give the interior a special charm and evoke a slight nostalgia for the good old days.

Daria Kurchanova's project.

Project by Irina Kryuchkova.

Mirror

As you know, mirrors can visually enlarge the space and fill it with light, reflecting the sun's rays. But for some reason, they are more often given a place above the sink in the bathroom or in the hallway. And what if you hang a mirror in the bedroom or in the living room, complementing it with an unusual frame? Try it! The result will surprise you.

Upper West Side bedroom, on a wall by photographer Marsha Lebedev Bernstein.

Living room in Casa Fornasetti, all mirrors are Fornasetti.

Painting in the fireplace area

The fireplace itself becomes the center of attraction in any home, especially on winter evenings. The final detail can be a painting located directly above the portal. The image can overlap with the overall gamut, or vice versa, be a bright “spot” in the interior.

Project by Mia Karlova.

Photo: Sergey Ananiev

Style: Natalya Onufreychuk

Wood

Natural materials will always be relevant. Even in an apartment in the center of the metropolis, wooden panels or slats will create a peaceful atmosphere of a country house. The shade of wood can be matched to the color of the furniture, combining the interior into a single whole.

Apartment in Moscow. Salmon Lair studio project.

Photo: Mikhail Loskutov. style: Yes We May

Villa in Ibiza. Designed by Studio Maison Numéro 20.

Photo: Francis Amyand

Decorative plates

Antique and souvenir plates will look organic on the wall in the kitchen or dining room. They will decorate the interior, giving it the charm of antiquity, and remind you of exciting travels.

Interior of an apartment on Kutuzovsky prospect. Designed by architect Pavel Zheleznov.

1 of 7

Wall plate Thistle", Thun1794

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Diameter 19 cm

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2 out of 7

Plate "Venus", "Dolyana"

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Diameter: 21.8 cm

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3 out of 7

Plate "Javlon", "Dolyan"

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Diameter: 21.7 cm

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Plate, Alena Rakova x DVKB

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Diameter: 32 cm

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Plate “Forest fairy tale. Owl, Lefard

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Diameter: 19 cm

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Wall plate "Sunflower", Thun1794

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Diameter: 27 cm

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Decorative plate "Birds", "Souvenir plates"

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Diameter: 20 cm

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Bookshelves

A white wall in the living room can be diluted with simple shelves that can be placed anywhere: above the sofa, bed or desk. And the books, candles or pots of flowers placed on them will add coziness to the interior.

Project by Jamie Drake and Caleb Anderson.

Carpet

Yes, a carpet on the wall, a symbol of the Soviet era, can look stylish and unusual. Woven fabric with large flowers, abstractions or national ornaments can decorate the interior of any room. Also, carpets absorb sound well, so forget about the neighbors behind the wall.

Project by Ulyana Boikova.

Project by YUN Architecture.

Volumetric panel

Volumetric panels or wall sculptures will be an interesting addition to the decor of the living room, hallway or bedroom.

How to decorate a long wall in family room

How to Decorate a Large Wall in Your Living Room

Hang Oversized Artwork

Go for a Gallery Wall

Add Photos to Shelves

Apply Patterned Wallpaper

Create Architectural Interest

Integrate Accent Furniture

How to Decorate a Large Wall (10 Ways!)

Wall Decor Tips

1. Gallery Wall

2. Console Table

3.

4. Set of Art

5. Wall Treatment/Moulding

6. Wallpaper

7. Large Mirror

8. Tall Plants

9. Curtain Panels

10. Built-In Shelving

20 cool ideas, 100 best examples - INMYROOM

Idea #1: original wallpaper

Idea #2: decorative plates

Idea #3: watch collection

Idea #4: contour maps

Idea #5: mirror exhibition

Idea #6: wallpaper panel

Idea #7: empty frames

Idea #8: wall sticker

Idea #9: art gallery

Idea #10: ethnic motifs

Idea #11: natural materials

Idea #12: hats on the wall

Idea #13: artificial animal heads

Idea #14: cozy handmade

Idea #15: ceiling medallions

Idea No. 16: positive inscriptions

Idea #17: large-format painting

Idea #18: wall photo album

Idea #19: focus on hobbies

Idea #20: book exhibition

How to decorate an empty wall: 10 ideas and hacks

Triptych

Black and white photographs

Mirror

Painting in the fireplace area

Wood

Decorative plates

Wall plate Thistle", Thun1794

Plate "Venus", "Dolyana"

Plate "Javlon", "Dolyan"

Plate, Alena Rakova x DVKB

Plate “Forest fairy tale. Owl, Lefard

Wall plate "Sunflower", Thun1794

Decorative plate "Birds", "Souvenir plates"

Bookshelves

Carpet

Volumetric panel

Learn more