How to Decorate a Big Blank Wall: 19 Creative Ways

Inside: Stuck on what to hang on those big bare walls? These 19 best ways to decorate a large wall will solve this common decorating problem. Great large wall decor ideas and tips for all big wall spaces including two-story walls, stairwells, and hallways!

Do you know what one of the most common decorating dilemmas is?

What to put on a large, empty wall!

The pressure is real—this big blank canvas is often positioned as the focal point of the whole room and can anchor the entire design. We wonder, will what we hang there get lost? Or look like we cheaped out? Do we have to fork over a fortune for a massive piece of artwork?

It’s not as scary as it seems. If you’re hitting a (blank) wall as to what to do, I’ve collected 19 solutions for how to style a big empty wall, including ideas that work for tall two-story walls, long connecting walls like hallways and walkways, and awkward stairwell walls.

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Assess the Area First.

Many of these ideas work for all large walls whether they’re overly tall or really long, but there are a few things to consider that can make or break what you choose.

Scale, Proportion, and Balance.

The decorating mistake most people make according to interior designers is hanging decor that’s too small on these expansive walls. (Remember, these are standard guidelines to get you started and it’s okay to break them as long as you’re going larger. )

Scale: How much of the wall should you fill? For a large wall space, it’s hard to go too big. If you’re using artwork or wall decor, the bigger the better is usually best.

• On a blank wall, the starting point standard is for the artwork or grouping to take up 1/2-3/4 of the wall.

Proportion: Keep in mind how wall hangings will relate to what’s around them.

• On a wall with furniture, the standard is the wall decor should be 1/2-3/4 as wide as the piece it hangs above.
• Above a fireplace, the standard is to make the art the width of the opening.

Balance: This is how the wall decor will harmonize with other things in the room. Decide if you want the wall to be a focal point and how much attention you want it to draw.

• For a dramatic focal point, tip the balance toward this wall. Exaggerate the size of the wall decor, use more color, and feel free to use as many pictures or collection items as you wish to make the “artwork” area LARGE. Any of these will make this wall feel heavier visually and draw the eye.
• To blend in more and balance with the other walls, use more neutral colors in the wall decor and limit the number of pieces to make it less busy.

Still confused about what scale and proportion in decorating are? Read my layperson’s rundown in the post “Scale + Proportion: The Design Pro Secret to a Pretty, Pleasing Room“

Continuity and Flow.

Does the wall connect to another room? These long walls are an excellent opportunity to create continuity between the spaces. To make them make sense together, match the color palette and design style in your wall decor.

The View.

How will the wall be viewed—in passing, to the side, or as a straight-on focal point of a seating area? This can help you decide how much attention the wall should draw.

Negative Space.

Just because there’s a wall, doesn’t mean you must hang something on it. The eye needs a chance to rest in the room. If you identify that the length of time a wall will be viewed is small, consider leaving it blank.

How to decorate a two-story wall.

I’m calling out this special kind of large wall separately because it’s a real decorating conundrum for many. Any of the ideas below will work for this soaring space. But here are some guidelines for the two-story room:

• Hang the bottom of the artwork or wall decor as if it is a normal-height room.
• If you want to go for drama, draw the eye up with tall wall decor groupings. Or depend on tall drapes around two-story windows to do the job.
• To bring the eye down to make the room cozier, divide the wall with a piece of trim or molding into upper and lower sections, and treat them separately. For example, install molding to define the upper third of the wall, hang art or wall decor underneath, and use a different paint color above.

Large Wall Decor Ideas.

1. Oversize Statement Artwork.

The first thought we usually have to decorate large empty walls is a huge single piece of artwork. If you go this route, take care not to go too small. Remember that the size of this piece will draw your attention—make sure you love it.

The classic painting in my friend’s home below fills this blank wall and all the requirements for a single piece of artwork. It’s an investment piece that’s BIG, timeless, and fills the wall with her love for the beauty of Texas. She’ll never get tired of it and it brings her personality to the room:

Oversize artwork is out of the budget for many of us, but there are some affordable options. Check out stores like Homegoods, thrift stores, estate sales, and FBMP. And by making your own DIY canvas, you can tailor the artwork to your taste, color scheme, and design style.

2. Uniform Art Sets.

A set of artwork can act just like one large piece of art. Hanging a coordinating set of matching art not only creates a cohesive look, the arrangement possibilities are endless. And even better, it usually costs less than one massive piece!

What’s the right height to hang pictures and art on your walls? See easy tips for the perfect placement in the post “How High to Hang Pictures and Artwork (with Printable Guide)“.

Make your art set more meaningful by framing family photos or pictures from your travels like this gallery of photos below. Matching the frames and printing the pictures in black and white keep it looking uniform.

SH&H Tip: Always use oversized large mats when framing photos to hang on the wall. These matted frames from Target are an affordable option. And these gallery frames from Pottery Barn are a favorite of home decorators.

This consistent, symmetrical look is a beautiful option for stairways! It’s neutral and streamlined, yet dramatic in size:

3. Gallery Wall of Photos or Art.

A gallery wall of pictures is probably the most popular because of the flexibility in filling awkward spaces. It adds a curated look, a personal touch, and it can be easier on the wallet than oversized pieces of art.

SH&H Tip: A gallery wall is usually more organic and unstructured with unmatched frames in different sizes. If you want to make it a bit less busy, add continuity by using equal spacing between the frames, and theme the artwork or print all the photos in black and white.

I love that the frames in this hallway gallery wall are similar soft metallics. I believe this family photo gallery was designed in Framebridge. If you’re not familiar with this site, you upload your photos, choose a layout, and they send you the framed photos along with a hanging template. It’s not cheap, but you’re assured it will look lovely and all the work is done for you.

4. Mirrors.

Mirrors are one of my personal favorite timeless wall accessories. An oversized mirror on a blank wall is a great way to reflect light, making spaces feel bigger and brighter.

Another great option to fill a big blank space is a floor mirror. The viral Anthropology Primrose Mirror that has been all the rage on social media fills this wall below:

This beautiful mirror makes the whole room! If you don’t want to invest in the Anthro mirror, I’ve read that Costco has a similar mirror for much less that people are losing their minds over (which means there’s a good chance it will be out of stock).

5. Wall Molding.

If you have the budget or DIY skills, wall molding and trim add gorgeous timeless interest and character to a room.

And there are countless options depending on your style: board and batten, wainscoting, beadboard, picture frame molding, chair rail, and even the so-in-it’s-now-going-out shiplap.

The 16-foot tall walls in this room above are a perfect example. The Tudor paneling brings the tall walls down to make the room more intimate in this open-concept area. And she has the option to hang smaller layering artwork, or just to leave the wall plain.

This fretwork wall treatment is stunning enough to forgo the artwork!

6. Wallpaper as Artwork.

Wallpaper is a perfect way to make a statement and turn a large expanse of boring wall into an artist’s canvas.

Wallpaper the full wall as a focal point accent wall, like behind this bed:

Or use in combination with wall molding to break up the walls like this drop-dead gorgeous study. The wallpaper is the artwork.

Frame out the wallpaper by applying it inside picture frame molding like in this magical nursery:

And you don’t have to commit with this framed wallpaper idea. It makes for wonderful large-scale artwork!

7. Furniture.

Hanging decor on the walls isn’t the only way to fill the empty space. Furniture is also a great way to break up a blank wall!

Use a functional large piece of furniture on a large living room wall like bookshelves or armoires. In the dining room, place a sideboard or china cabinet on a large wall.

For high-traffic areas, try a console with a few accessories and art above. Anchor art in an entryway with a bench.

8. Shelves and Art Ledges.

Shelves are not just for storage—open wall shelves are perfect for displaying your favorite books, plants, or collectibles.

And picture ledges? They’re like art galleries for your walls, easy to swap out and rearrange.

Both wall shelves and picture ledges add visual weight to pictures and collections, and allow you to fill the wall area with different kinds of items.

9. Architectural Finds.

Adding a vintage or architectural element to your wall gives your space character. And thrifting these items is especially budget-friendly!

This empty dining room wall is filled with an interesting collection of thrifted vintage windows:

And to fill this tall space and draw the eye up in our family room with 12-foot high ceilings, I salvaged this iron gate from our living room remodel:

10. Built-in Bookshelves.

If you have the budget, built-ins add functionality, decorating area, and value to your home. Isn’t this full wall of built-in bookcases made from Ikea bookshelves amazing? When I visualize this wall being blank with a picture hanging there, this is so much better!

11. Textiles.

Think outside the picture frame. Using rugs, tapestries, or fabric panels as wall decor brings interesting texture and warmth onto the walls.

12. Murals.

Murals are a beautiful way to make a bold statement and fill a huge empty wall. Murals are having a moment again, and it’s easier than ever with so many wallpaper options including removable wallpaper.

13. Collections.

Show off your treasures! Whether it’s vintage plates, hats, or baskets, curated collections tell your story in a visually appealing way and allow you to fill an unlimited amount of space.

My friend’s plate wall goes from floor to ceiling in this amazing organic flow:

The plate collection turned this niche into a focal point. If you’re looking for ways to decorate a recessed wall niche or alcove, see the post 25 Creative and Useful Ways to Decorate a Wall Niche.

14. Chalkboard.

Chalkboards are not just for kids—they can add a touch of creativity to your space. Customize them with inspirational messages or make them functional. It’s easy to make your own with a thrifted or DIY frame and some chalkboard paint.

15. Drapes.

For a large wall with a window, fill the extra wall space with drapes. Hang them from ceiling to floor, and cover as much of the wall on either side of the window as you’d like. (When using curtains to fill a wall, they‘re usually decorative and non-functioning as a window cover).

In this bedroom, the window you can see is the actual entirety of the window, but you’d never know it!

16. Tall Accessories.

Oversized accessories can help fill vertical space on a wall.

Decorative accessories that sit on the floor include floor vases, large plants or trees, sculptures, floor lamps, tall plants, and blanket ladders.

Or fill console tables and sideboards with big vases and branches or greenery, tall candlesticks, and large lamps.

17. Plants.

Wall-mounted planters can add life to your walls, quite literally. Add a collection or gallery of matching pots like this wall:

This branch with hanging eucalyptus takes up a large space in a lovely creative way, plus it’s cheap!

18. Decorative Accessories.

As an alternative to art or photos, consider other decor accessories for the walls to add visual interest and mix things up—like large wall art in wood or metal designs:

Wall sconces or clocks:

And for a clever budget-conscious idea, thrift a room divider screen, take it apart, and hang the panels on the wall:

19. Mixed Collages of Decor and Artwork.

Mix up decor accessories and artwork on the wall to create a collage that’s uniquely you.

The entire wall in this hallway above is filled floor to ceiling with a combination of artwork, photos, and decorative items that speak to the owner for a space with curated personality:

I hope I’ve removed some of the fear of how to fill those daunting large blank walls in your home. Did you find something in this list that inspired you? How did you solve this decorating road block? Share with us in the comments!

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