Decorating and accessorizing are two different words with different motives. While decorating gives a new makeover to the place, or you can say it betters our life through the surroundings, accessorizing, on the other hand, builds a personality to the space. Believe me, your home is the greatest influence on your character, and people read your home to engage with you and know you more. In particular, I really liked one of the stories from India, which is quite close to my heart as it fits perfectly with my previous statement. Our beloved Prime Minister’s mother, Heeraben Ji, used to decorate her home with different sustainable things, even though they belonged to a humble or modest family in India. It itself speaks of how creative, well-disciplined, a quick fixer, and a good homemaker she was. To enliven any space through the modest use of accessories is best done by women, I think. Well, I am certainly not gender-partial, but let’s accept that ladies have the talent of bringing beauty to a home. Coming back to the article, the best accessory to give your home so that there is a personal touch range from wall art to family photos to flower arrangements to collectibles of favorite fragrant candles. And because most of this accessorizing happens on or around walls, let’s just include it as part of the complete wall decor. Now, hearing about wall decor, you might think it is easy-peezy, but trust me, accessorizing or decorating a blank wall can be challenging. Yes, you might find hundreds of ideas to accomplish this, but there is no right way to do it. Hence, to simplify and organize the blank wall decor through balanced grouping and give you some very clever tips, I am writing this detailed article so you finally stop asking how to decorate a blank wall on the internet. So, what are you still waiting for; let’s get started! Also, as I write this article, I dedicate it to all the women who always had a fine interest in making our homes better and aspiring for our well-being.
How to Decorate a Blank Wall in Easy Steps?
Walls speak for our tastes as they act as the shell we cover with colors and fill with furniture. Dressing them with accessories animates the room and gives it a purpose alongside finishing the look. There are hundreds of ways to do so, like using framed art, plates or platters, textiles, wall vases, or even baskets. But there are so many points to keep in mind while doing so because trust me, walls can give a great illusion to your mind with the right kind of decor. You have to balance the visual weight while using the space very rightly.
1. Find the Purpose, Space, and Dimensions.
The first thing to do before you find your way to decorate a blank wall is to discover the purpose. And then, when you plan for a particular look, you need to make sure that your wall art or elements that you are using for its decor are in proportion to the space you want to fill.
For instance, you already have an antique hutch and a built-in bookshelf. And in between these two, you have a wall that you want to accessorize. Then, the easiest way to make a bold statement is to add paintings. You can use my ultimate guide about choosing art for your home for help with this too. In wall decor, after finding a purpose, you have to make sure that there is always a balance in terms of the visual weight of other components.
So, you need to ask yourself what things you want to display on your wall or simply what vibe you want it to portray. Once you have decided that, all you need to do is find dimensions so that whatever you buy for your wall fits into it completely. The first step is always about asking, planning, and discovering things. And once you have figured out all of this, trust me, you have everything.
You have to make the walls of the room as attractive as possible and to do so, you have to create a focus point in them. Some walls can have natural focus like the fireplace, or built-in or windows framing mesmerizing outdoors. However, to design well-accessorized focal walls, you need to have a perfect design scheme, which I will explain in the next steps.
Besides, don’t forget to consider the mood and style of the wall you want to achieve. Hence, before anything, write down the things you expect to bring through your blank wall decoration.
What is a Focal Point?
In easiest terms, the first thing you notice upon entering your room or is easily the center of attraction is a focal point. It might be a fireplace, window seating, or even a textured wall.
Quick Knowledge Before Decorating a Blank Wall.
1. Symmetrical Wall Arrangement.
There are step-by-step instructions for you, telling you some secrets to create a balanced look for your blank wall decor. To clearly understand these, let’s take a reference of a blank wall over a sofa.
- For building a wall display, you have to follow the Three-Element Design Principle. First, you have to position the largest component (about 6 inches above the center of the sofa), making it an anchor of your display. Next, center a small framed piece above it and top it with a visually lightweight contrasting element. I will tell more about these components in my next steps. It might be art, dish trays, or others.
- If the budget allows, add elements of different shapes and textures. You can add an iron scroll, flowers, and candle sconces to offer a curving contrast to the straight line of the framed prints. Add a candle sconce on both sides as a part of the lighting here. Now, leave 5 inches between all these new components to avoid crowding.
- To add more texture and shape, you can use rectangular platters below the sconces and balance them with a pair of plates above. The platters will create a strong horizontal base line which will tie everything together.
Hence, when you create a look, you need to achieve a balance if you are going for a symmetrical wall arrangement. I am telling you this in the first step itself as there are a lot more things to learn in the coming steps.
2. Asymmetrical Wall Display.
The asymmetrical wall display is about showing a display of balance through teaming different objects of similar weight. It will only come together when they are carefully planned. Let me explain how to create one through steps.
- To build an asymmetrical balanced wall, you need a blank wall above a chest or table. Now, start with a basic mirror or an artwork at the center of the chest. The painted frame or this mirror will bring some colors to the wall, emphasizing the clean lines of the chest.
- Now add a long cylindrical wicker wall basket on the right side of the mirror. This cylindrical wicker basket will fill the wall space while contrasting with the rectangular mirror. Keep a distance of 5 inches between them. Stuff it with fluffy bloom flowers.
- On either side, use two floral design plates to balance the visual weight of the basket. Here, you have used one larger object on the right to balance two smaller objects on the left with the largest object at the center. This is the perfect example of the Three-Element Design Principle.
You can always create more looks with your choices. And if you have difficulty getting complete looks, I recommend you to read the book, Christi Carter’s Art of Accessorizing by Christi Carter.
2. Do the Unexpected to Bring Creativity.
A creative outcome always comes from doing the most unexpected things, you never knew you were capable of. In terms of decorating a blank wall, you can use numerous ingenious solutions to make your space more beautiful. For instance, treat the back of your bookshelf as a wall space and hang a painted tray on one of its shelves instead of any framed print. You can always finish up this decor with a mesh basket flat on the ground with a cozy rug to let the space stand apart.
One more creative way of decorating a blank wall can be hanging your special moment’s cutlery with date night or aesthetic black and white pictures. Maybe this sounds odd, but with the right color coordination and planning, the wall will look more homely and interesting. To understand color coordination, refer to this article about interior color palettes.
Another engrossing way to make your walls appear more emphasized is to display your shell or coin collection through larger frames paired with a smaller still-life painting. For more additions, you can always finish it up with a woven basket on the ground to add a subtle texture. I will give you a few quick tips later in this article to create a perfect wall decor inspiration while being balanced throughout the process.
3. Personalising Signature Accessories to Give Autographs to Your Home.
The best tip to decorate a blank wall with ease is to invite signature accessories to your room, which will not only go well with your interior decor standard but will also signify your personality in it. It embodies your outlook on the living room or your individualistic take on your home as your family’s haven.
Now, collections can always form a signature accessory because they reflect the good things from your past, which nobody wants to forget. Each of the objects has a story, which you always want to remember.
Arranging them into pleasing visual displays is a way of getting yourself into pleasant memories while you give a personal touch to your space.
Now, these signature accessories can be different kinds of clocks, jewel boxes, or even books. All you need to do is highlight them through a lamp on the cabinet top to create a foreground of your amazing collection on the wall display. I will tell you to pair side tables to engage in your wall decor in later sections.
Adding royal touches to your wall decor can be as simple as adding a small table against the wall and hanging some family photographs. You can keep some candles or floral arrangements on this small table, along with your favorite piece of glass jewelry holder. Now, this jewelry box or crystal bowl can be your grandmother’s or mom’s. The key is to personalize through artifacts and pictures.
Aside from pictures, you can go for traditional decorative items, like figurines, vases, art objects, or even uncommon treasures. For instance, you can turn urns into umbrella stands, your grandmother’s china gravy boats into pencil and pen holders, and toast racks into letter holders. It’s all about coordination and imagination. Let me give you an example by taking a look through signature accessories in step by step.
- Let’s continue from the asymmetrical look we created in Step 1. You have to add more things to complete the look. The first thing you are going do is place a lamp of practical and aesthetic value on the right side of this setting. For instance, you chose a bronze lamp. Keep it at a little distance from halfway of the mirror frame. If you have a more formal setting, you can choose to have a detailed lamp.
- Now, to balance a tall lamp, use two urns (one smaller and another a bit bigger), filled with lacy ferns on either side. Compared to the lamp, these vessels are chunky though they provide a visual heft of the wall basket to balance the composition. Add a long tray for keys, mail, or sunglasses at the center of the table to fill in the horizontal lines across the tabletop.
- If you need another look, skip the second step completely. Instead of balancing the lamp with urns, use books standing in an upright position (thicker and thinner) on either side. And to go for horizontal filling of lines, use an iron tray and put small pots of greenery on it. In this way, the mirror will act as a frame for the greenery.
You can always use different things and create a look but the key is balance.
4. Accessorize through Flowers and Vases.
This step is about creating a natural visual balance on whatsoever element of your blank wall decor. You know that flowers and plants enliven any area or space through their exceptional accents and ability to soften anything. Their imperfect twists and turns counterbalance your stiff and hard space of the room.
Whether you wish to add real flowers, dried or polysilk, they just add color and graceful flourish to anywhere you keep them. These need not be costly or luxurious, as they can even come from your garden. The most inexpensive foliage and flowers will bring similar effects to your home; delightfulness. Living greenery and flowers can make your room come alive, but if you want a hassle-free look without investing daily, then you can have poly silk florals that resemble the look of real flowers. With these polysilk florals, you can even blend them into different shapes or forms.
If you love using fresh flowers, here are some ideas for flowers to do so. Also, I have written an article on flower arrangement, which you can refer to for a more detailed look.
- To add a touch of spring, you can use glass vases with little water and pop some daffodils or tiny grape hyacinths for a flowery affair. Use a maidenhair fern to add some softness to the look.
- The best idea to add a touch-up through flowers and foliage is using daisies. Plant them in pots, repeating the white and yellow colors of the bloom, and add some sprigs of ivory to soften the arrangement. You can always use three different-sized pots to do so to fit in the Three-Element Design Principle.
- For a romantic look, you can use roses. Instead of going for bigger, use small vases or dish trays of different shapes. Add the flowers to your chosen vessel and enjoy your view.
- Use Fragrance and Lighting to Give an Extraordinary Sense.
5. Use Fragrance and Lighting to Give an Extraordinary Sense.
The final step for blank wall decor is all about including fragrance and lighting to give an actual and complete sense of that place. To create a better ambiance or mood, you have to include candlelight or soft accent lighting, pleasing scents, or even music. They not only create a welcoming atmosphere but also give it a purposeful look. Always go for fragrant candles as your space is defined by that one scent.
A burning candle is the easiest and most effective way to impart a mellow and inviting mood to the room. However, you can always use lamplights as a replacement if you don’t want candles to be ordered again and again. On the side tables, chairs, and sofas, make sure to include warm pools of light through standing lamps or table lamps so that their shade defines the boundaries of the display. To further help you, I have composed a guide about end table decor that you can refer to as well for ideas on decorating your side or end tables.
Once you know these steps, you will decorate a blank wall like a pro. All you need is wise thinking and imagination.
Some Exceptional Ideas For Wall Decor.
I earlier told you that the sole basis of wall decor lies in the question of what you want to depict. That’s true but sometimes you might have no idea, what must go on a wall. To confront those confusions, I am dedicating this section to the anonymous ideas, which can bring your walls alive.
1. A Clever Unconventional Wall Adorn.
It’s not always necessary that wall decor must look expensive as you can even try to do a functional decor with used items. For instance, you have a kitchen wall that is too empty to put anything. What you can do is take two old golden frames without any coverings and place both of them on a cabinet, as if you are adorning your wall color or texture. Now, what you can do is use your favorite holiday picture and just stick it on the wall inside this framed space. You don’t need a full-size picture instead use a regular-sized image. Now, take a jar, a small beaker, and a drinking glass of glass add a few flowers to them, and place them according to the symmetrical arrangement. Fill up the space with a pile of cookbooks, a hand sculpture, and dishware. You can always place it in this order- a pile of books, a glass jar, a small dishware, a small beaker, a hand sculpture, and then a glass. (Note that you can always use rosewater bottles with old-fashioned labels or old glass jars for a cluttered look in balance).
2. Creating a Retro Look.
If you aspire for a retro look in your minimalist home, then you can simply use a black-framed, black-and-white Marilyn Monroe picture or any other artist from the time. Pair it with an interior color palette frame and it’s done. On this cabinet wall, you can simply balance the decor by adding a typewriter or retro lamp and dishware.
3. Displaying Pictures and Textiles With a Twist.
The only things you need to decide when you put together pictures or textiles are what type of light you want on that object and whether you wish to distribute these textiles and paintings into one large or different small groups. While pictures can be teamed with textiles (like a fine old damask behind an old master painting), to avoid confusion and create an influential identity, they are best separated.
How Should You Make a Perfect Picture Wall?
So many of you ask this question and here’s the quick answer. What you need to do is give all your pictures a matching frame and hang them an inch or so apart. Please note that each picture has a pattern and should be in a group, there will be a second pattern, but to harmoniously blend them, you have to bring some diversity in them.
You can create diversity through the different pictures or even frames if the pictures are too similar and look bland together. But remember, you don’t need to conform to the same period or style but they do need a point of contact so that they are harmonious but unique. For instance, you can use any black-and-white etchings with dashed-off charcoal sketches, still-life paintings, or even mathematical sketches. You can create even personal memories like this. Not all pictures must be perfect. Some of them could be blurred, some black-and-white, some disappointing, and others happier, paired with some sketches of your personal importance.
4. Adoring Your Complex Furniture.
If you have a heavily carved cabinet, then you can simply add identically framed black and white pictures to adore the simplicity of the pictures while emphasizing the complexity of the chest. This similar tip applies to any kind of antique or vintage furnishing.
5. Having a Flea Decor Wall.
If you are an avid shopper from flea markets, then you can always search for different antique frames, old paintings, or a photo (an appealing one, not necessarily expensive). Now display these empty frames on the wall with different shapes whether oval, small circles, rectangles, etc. Now, combine them with vases or simple bird cages and even crockery plates to create a visually appealing space. Note that any arrangement must be done in either a symmetrical or asymmetrical form.
Final Words.
The process of organizing the blank wall decor is really difficult as you have to assemble everything in balance with the decor style. Now, I know this guide is not enough because there are several ways to achieve an interesting wall decor. So to know more options and detailed options, you can refer to Christi’s book. Trust me, no book explains better than hers. Now all I hope is that you experiment and create fantastic looks for your walls and that this guide was helpful to answer how to decorate a blank wall.
Resources.
- Christi Carter’s Art Of Accessorizing by Christi Carter.
- Featured Image by Timothy Corrigan.
Frequently Asked Questions.
There are hundreds of ways to decorate a blank bedroom wall, but unlike in the living room, it must not have any boldness with its look. Instead, bedrooms need a personal touch. You can always do so by choosing patterned backgrounds like a shutter, simple yet convincing artwork, few aromatic candles paired with your favorite books, jewel boxes, and pictures.
A blank kitchen wall is the easiest wall to decorate as it is meant to be purposeful. You can always use a still life painting over the wall balanced by a worn wood shelf with a display of cutleries, jars, and pots. Juxtapose hard against soft and fibrous against silky to direct visual flow and better shelf arrangement.
You can always combine furniture against your blank wall, and decorate it with signature accessories. It boldly declares or reveals the essence of who you are. You can combine bookshelves or nightstands and combine them with accessories around the room while giving attention to colors, patterns, forms, and textures.
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