32 Wall Décor Ideas Designers Swear by, From Hanging Plates to Oversized Artwork

Add color, texture, and interest to blank spaces with these simple solutions.

colorful decor accents living room
Credit: Sara Tramp

Adding wall décor to a space is like adding accessories to your favorite outfit—it provides the perfect finishing touch to polish your overall look.

But facing an empty wall—with no clear idea of how you want to fill it—is not for the faint of heart. But fear not! The ideas on this list offer a variety of inspiration to match any decorating style—maximalist gallery walls, understated natural textures, simple paint techniques, couldn't-be-easier potted plants, and more—so you can find a pretty, practical, and painless way to fill your home's blank spaces.

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Display Pretty Plates

ceramic plates with plant and animal designs on wall
Credit: Stephen Kent Johnson

A collection of ceramic plates decorated with flora and fauna pops against dark, floral wallpaper. Plates don't have to be the same size or shape—here, the plates (by Astier de Villatte) have different edges and borders, with scallops, pearls, and smooth round sides interacting with each other.

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Frame a Favorite Location

shelter-island-home-interior-details-07-022-d111623.jpg

Whether you choose a vintage map of your hometown, a guide to your favorite city's subway system, or a wood-cut elevation of the beach town where you spent your honeymoon, a framed map can add a personal touch to any blank wall.

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Hide Your Screen

fireplace art hidden television
Credit:

Bess Friday

Kelly Finley of Joy Street Design helped her clients accentuate a favorite abstract painting—and hide their television—by creating a hidden space behind the bookshelf; the artwork slides to the right, revealing the flat screen for movie nights and Saturday morning cartoons.

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Show Off a Favorite Quilt

oversized quilt framed on wall
Credit: Sidney Bensimon

An heirloom quilt from your grandmother, the double wedding ring-style coverlet you received as a wedding gift, a throw blanket made from sentimental t-shirts: All of these (and any other cherished quilt) deserve a spot on your walls, not tucked away in a chest.

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Hang Wall Planters

white and copper wall planter
Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

A set of wall-mounted planters allows you to bring the outside in and better connect with nature in every part of your home.

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Cover With Fabric

modern living room hutch
Credit:

Brian Wetzel

A textural fabric wall covering, like the tropical-inspired print from Élitis in this modern living room—is a tactile alternative to traditional wallpaper, while large-scale prints mimic the look of a mural.

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Make a Mirror Gallery Wall

sofa with a gallery of mirrors above it

Turn the traditional gallery wall on its head with a mirror gallery wall. Mirrors of various shapes and sizes, with different (but complementing) frames, beautifully fill a wall with added dimension.

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Make Fashion Functional

front porch with rustic outdoor dining room
Credit: Jessica Antola

Display your favorite clothes and accessories in a bedroom, closet, or foyer—instead of hiding them in a drawer—to appreciate them as works of art. Choose a collection of items in various materials (all your necklaces or all your purses) or hang just a few of your most striking favorites.

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Frame Fabric

framed patterned textiles
Credit: Frank Frances

Mat and mount vintage blanket segments, heirloom linens, single quilt blocks, and fabric scraps in your favorite patterns to create a custom gallery of beautiful textiles.

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Show Off Your Bottles

Under the stair wine storage
Credit:

Laura Brophy Interiors

Visible wine storage turns your favorite reds, whites, and rosés into an integral part of your décor—consider each label a miniature work of art.

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Install Paneling

bold orange board and batton
Credit:

Amber Guyton, Blessed Little Bungalow

A bold color and geometric paneling frame this bold bedroom's opulent headboard and lush textiles. With such beautifully heavy paneling, the wall itself becomes décor.

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Use Contrast to Showcase Art

contrasted wall paneling
Credit:

Victoria Holly Interiors

A deep navy paint that could otherwise overwhelm a small room is balanced by three-quarter-height white wainscoting. The rich shade makes a strong statement and perfectly shows off two gold-framed artworks.

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Match Wallpaper to Art

Bedroom with illustrated wallpaper
Credit: Courtesy of Chasing Paper

Art arranged on a painted wall can make a splash, but art arranged on patterned wallpaper can really make a statement. While finding the balance between dynamic and over-busy may take quite a few wallpaper samples, the end result can be stunning.

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Opt for Graphic Pops

living room rug ideas
Credit:

Justin Cole for NJA Interiors

Hang several oversized pieces with abstract shapes and a high-contrast color scheme to make a strong impression—without overwhelming the rest of your room.

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Mix Art and Objects

Floor to Ceiling Wainscotting
Credit:

Amber Guyton, Blessed Little Bungalow

The bright colors in this triptych of framed art pop against the slate-colored wall. Molding painted in the same color breaks up the wall, while the asymmetrical layout and mixed materials in the wall arrangement complement the furniture.

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Display a Mini Gallery

picture frame molding
Credit: JOHNNY MILLER

If you find that an extensive display of framed art and photos overpowers your space, choose a few favorites to hang as a mini gallery. Accent molding helps define the individual paintings for a classic art museum atmosphere.

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Make It Big

gambrel-maidstone-0417-s112310.jpg
Credit: Eric Piasecki/OTTO

Hanging large, oversized artwork can make for a striking focal point in a room. Here, a print that looks like raindrops hitting the water stands out against neutral walls and neutral-colored furnishings.

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Hang Empty Frames

mpa103292_0907_frames.jpg
Credit: Sang An

Most gallery walls are designed to show off what's inside your collection of frames. But painting the frames themselves in a palette of similar hues and hanging them sans artwork allows the shapes, details, and craftsmanship to become the art.

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Paint (and Fill) Your Bookshelves

Wall lined with bookshelves
Credit:

decorvow

Show off your bookshelf wealth with a vibrantly painted shelf—which serves as a decoration itself—filled with your favorite novels and nonfiction. Arrange the books by color or size for a cohesive look, or let the mixed tones contrast with and complement each other.

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Hang Woven Art

modern fireplace
Credit:

Studio Mellon

Instead of a traditional mantel and hearth, this smooth fireplace wall offers a natural stone backdrop that complements an oversized fiber wall hanging.

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Choose Eye-Catching Sconces

arched fireplace trim
Credit:

Tracey Ayton Photography

Wall-mounted sconce lights—like the dynamic gold fixtures flanking this fireplace—do double duty as both a practical lighting solution and standout wall décor.

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Install a Floating Shelf

desk with floating black and gold shelves above
Credit:

Alberto Strada

Wall shelves are practical (and pretty) ways to turn essential objects and favorite items into décor. Upgrade the entire vignette with a shelf that's stylish all on its own, like the gleaming, gold-accented version in this office.

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Cover Every Inch

kettle cove home tour dining room art gallery
Credit:

Justin Levesque

Go maximalist with a gallery of artwork that covers several walls. Mixing sizes, frames, mats, and media into a cohesive array allows you to show off your entire collection of paintings or photographs.

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Display Outdoor Items

playful outdoor touches beachy

On a back porch, in a beach house foyer, or at the entrance to your lakeside cabin, colorful oars are a playful accent alongside a combination of natural materials—including a stone bench, fresh flowers, and wood paneling.

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Bring a Photo Into Focus

Houston home kitchen with colorful accents
Credit:

Molly Winters Culver

A single, oversized photograph serves as the focal point of this dining room. The white-and-gold sconce and bold, emerald drapes also help dress up the blush-colored walls.

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Install a Clay Wall

rob diaz home tour bedroom with natural light
Credit: Courtesy of Todd Goodman of LA Light Photo

A neutral bedroom doesn't need dramatic artwork; instead, a fluted clay wall adds visual interest and texture to create a restful space that's simple and soothing.

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Highlight Décor with Color-Block Paint

Small orange bedroom
Credit:

Courtesy of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab

A color-blocked paint design is an easy way to dress up walls, especially in a child's, tween's, or guest room. Use the darker tones closer to the floor to ground the space; lighter tones near the ceiling make the room feel airier. And then use it as a backdrop for favorite décor items.

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Get Reflective

Mirrors under stairwell
Credit:

 Kerry Kirk

A collection of matching mirrors in varied sizes and with an asymmetrical layout adds light and decoration to a foyer, stairwell, or other small space.

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Employ a Statement Mirror

Deco mirror over a black fireplace
Credit:

DANA GALLAGHER

Vintage mirrors add instant charm and character to a home. Here, an oversized vintage mirror is the focal point above a black fireplace and mantel.

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Mix, Match, and Add Artwork

Black Wall Paneling in Nursery
Credit:

Amy Switzer

Pair two different wall coverings for an unexpected contrast. In this modern nursery, black slat wall paneling and plaid wallpaper serve as a high-impact background for colorful artwork and white furniture.

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Frame With Sconces

kettle cove home tour living room nook home decor
Credit:

Justin Levesque

Sconces are beautiful pieces of wall décor in their own right, but they can also be used to frame artwork and other collectibles. In this home, brass sconces sit on either side of a piece of art, as well as a series of blue-green vases.

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Go for a Natural Look

Bedroom with woven basket decoration above bed
Credit: Lauren Miller

Biophilic design is all the rage these days, and natural finishes like wood and rattan are gracing homes everywhere. This home applies that approach to wall décor too, hanging a series of wicker baskets above the bed for a subtle-yet-impactful touch.

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