It’s time to conquer that big, blank wall staring back at you with these wow-worthy wall decor designs.
An empty wall is a blank canvas just waiting to be filled…and large walls can be filled and filled! Do you opt for simplicity with a wall mural? Maybe floating shelves stacked with treasures? Or go for a grand gallery wall with portraits, paintings, prints, and more? Before you jump in, take a look at these five ideas for decorating a large wall, all inspired by some of the top wall decor shops on Etsy.
1. Create a gallery wall
SHOP: Clementine oil paintings for gallery wall from Krista Kim Studio, from $35
Start your gallery wall with decor you already own, or curate all sorts of wall art from Etsy sellers, including original works, large wall prints, vintage posters, and wall sculptures. You’ll even find ready-made, downloadable gallery wall sets featuring anywhere from two to 30 or more prints. Send the downloads to your local print shop and have them made into large canvas wall art.
Before you start hanging your gallery wall, decide on the position of the pieces. Clear some space on the floor that’s roughly the size of the wall, spread out your artwork, and move things around until they look just right.
Alternatively, cut out pieces of paper that are roughly the size of each artwork, and temporarily tape them to the wall. Rearrange them until you’re happy with the layout, then hang the pieces on the wall using a small level to keep everything even.
2. Display your collections
SHOP: Wood wall display from KARVD walls, $139
Adding items that you already love to your walls adds 3D interest and can be an eye-catching option, from vintage baskets to heirloom china to ceramic vessels from your travels. Much like planning a gallery wall, gather your collections together and see which pieces work best together visually. You can choose a few items or go full maximalist and include your entire collection.
Looking for a way to show off your lovely wares? Decor that doubles as storage is a one of the newest wall decor trends. Try installing architectural wall shelves to make use of all that vertical space. Top them with woven baskets for tucking items out of sight, or leave them more bare for an airy, modern wall decor idea.
3. Hang a single large painting
SHOP: Large wall art from Bodasca, from $459
An affordable way to decorate a large wall is a single, statement-making painting. If you’re not sure how large to go, follow these easy steps for hanging a large painting. They’ll give you an idea of the best dimensions for your wall.
- An oversized painting should take up around 60-75% of a wall’s available space. Measure the width and height of your wall, then multiply each by 0.60 and 0.75 to give you the range of sizes your artwork should be.
- When you’re hanging a large painting over a couch or bed, it should be between 2/3 to 3/4 of the width of your furniture. For example, if your sofa is 6 feet wide, multiply 6 by 0.66 and then by 0.75. The result is that your piece of art should be between 3.6 and 4.5 feet wide.
- Ideally, your artwork should be at least 2 feet or more above any furniture that sits against the wall.
4. Install a removable mural or wallpaper
SHOP: Seamless Chinoiserie wallpaper from WallHalla, from $10
Who says decorating your large wall has to involve decor at all? Make any wall an instant work of art in its own right with wallpaper. An all-over print can act as an accent wall, and a wallpaper mural or decal doubles as art and wall covering all in one.
The best wallpapers add tons of color, texture, and visual interest without a lot of fuss–and some types of wallpaper are removable, a perfect pick for renters or chronic redecorators.
5. Add texture to your walls
A popular wall decor idea embraced by many Etsy shops, tapestries and macrame wall hangings add a warm, textural element to a large wall. Incredibly inspired weavers on Etsy create large wall tapestries in a variety of materials and motifs. Colors, textures, and corded accents come together to create a tactile textile that cozies up a large space.
For the opposite effect, add large mirrors or stained glass elements to help make your space look even bigger, with the added benefit of bouncing the light off of your walls just-so. Vintage mirrors create a bold old-world intrigue and act as artwork all on their own—just ask Parisian decor experts.
You can use the gallery wall concept to display a large collection of textile wall hangings, or you can hang a single, massive piece in the center of your wall for a major dramatic effect.
