Decorate a Big Wall

For many, a large wall is a great thing. However, it can be very tricky to decorate it properly. There are many different ways you can approach this task; therefore, you should take the time to understand how to do this well.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Changing the Appearance of the Wall

1. Make it an accent wall.^[1] If all of the walls in the room are the same, neutral color (e.g. white or off-white), you could choose a bolder color to paint this wall.^[2]
   • For example, cooler colors, such as blue and green, will provide a calming feel.^[3] For a more energizing feel, choose warmer colors.^[4]
     EXPERT TIP

     “Try painting your living room a fun accent color, add a wall stencil or wallpaper, or make a 3D look out of shiplap or board and batten.”

     

     Katherine Tlapa

     Interior Designer

     Katherine Tlapa is an interior designer, currently working as a Design Specialist for Modsy, a design service based in San Francisco. She also runs her own DIY Home Design blog, My Eclectic Grace. She received her BFA in Interior Architecture from Ohio University in 2016.

     

     Katherine Tlapa
     Interior Designer

2. Use an interesting wallpaper. If you don’t want to paint the wall, you could choose a bold wallpaper to make the wall more interesting.^[5] For example, you might find an interesting argyle pattern or one with a vintage pattern that will give you something to look at besides a plain wall.^[6]
   
3. Utilize color blocking. Color blocking means choosing two or three completely different colors, and then putting them together to create something that looks interesting.^[7] For a wall, this can mean painting the wall with different colors, or hanging squares (or whatever shape you would like) of each color. It can even mean simply choosing posters that are made up of one primary color.^[8]
   
4. Place a mural. You can do this by having a picture that you like blown up to a very large, and having it printed as a poster that you can hang on the wall, or having it made into a wall decal you can stick onto your wall.^[9] This will make the wall very interesting to look at.
   
   • Alternatively, if you don’t already have a picture in mind, you can visit home decor stores, which commonly sell pre-made wall murals. Typically, these are applied as decals, which make it easy to stick to the wall.
5. Create a two-tone wall. This is done by painting the bottom part of the wall in one color, and painting the top part of the wall in a different tone of the same color. Typically the wall is divided in half, but you can do it however you like.^[10]
   
   • If your wall has wainscoting or bead boarding, which is the decorative paneling that is sometimes present on the bottom portion of a wall, you can use this as a guide to help you decide where to divide the tones.^[11]
   • You can also have wainscoting installed to help break up the wall, if you don’t have it already.
6. Use Washi tape to decorate the wall. Maybe you rent, and aren’t allowed to paint or nail into the wall, or maybe you want to be able to change your decorations easily. Either way, Washi tape offers a way to decorate your wall in whatever way you want.^[12]
   
   • Washi tape is essentially masking tape with different designs on it. It comes in many, many different colors and designs.
   • You could try taping large stripes on the wall, or creating a design of your own in the center of the wall.

[Edit]Adding Furnishings

1. Turn it into a bookshelf. If you have a lot of books, or a collection of figures you’d like to display, shelves can really make the space look sophisticated.^[13] You can purchase a book shelf, and secure it to the wall, or you can install shelves directly on the wall.
   
   • You can then decorate the shelves with books, figurines, vinyl records, or a combination of many different things.^[14]
   • Make sure you clean the shelves often, as they tend to collect a layer of dust rather quickly.
   • Try organizing the bookshelves with symmetry to add some interest to them.^[15]
2. Install sconces. For a more regal look, you can install wall sconces.^[16] A sconce is a decorative wall bracket for holding candles or lights. These come in a number of different designs, and may have electric lights or a place to install a candle that you can light. Installing one or two large sconces will give your wall a new look, especially if you also install a large portrait or photograph.
   
   • Be careful when burning candles! Do not leave a lit candle unattended.
3. Place tall items in front of the wall. If the wall is very tall, you can use tall furniture to help break it up. For example, by placing chairs or sofas which have high backs against the wall. These pieces will help break up the wall because they provide something interesting to look at, and take up some of the wall space.^[17]
   
   • You can also try placing one or two tall plants next to the wall. These will have the same effect as the furniture, but make sure the plants can survive with the amount of light they will receive in that area.^[18] Be sure to keep the plant healthy and well-pruned! If the plant is brown and wilting, it will create an eye-sore in the room.

[Edit]Using Decorations

Before you do anything with decorations, make sure you plan what you want to put up and where it will go!

1. Add a huge poster or picture. You can either hang the picture or you can set it on the floor, if it is big enough. This offers a good alternative to painting or wallpapering, but still makes the wall more interesting.^[19]
   
   • You could also do this with a large mirror.^[20]
   • Be careful if you choose to hang the picture! Some walls may not be able to support the weight, if it is heavy.
2. Display photos. Choose photos that you like of varying sizes, and put them in frames. Hang the photos in the center of the wall.^[21]
   
   • The photos can be of anything you like. It could be family photos, vacation photos, photos of animals, anything!
   • You can buy frames that all match, or you can choose various funky frames to mix it up a bit.
   • On a large wall, it is recommended that you hang the pictures somewhat asymmetrically.^[22] Try arranging the photos in a mixed pattern on the floor before attaching them to the wall.
     EXPERT TIP

     “Try creating a gallery wall with family photos, or make a themed gallery with different art prints and wall décor.”

     

     Katherine Tlapa

     Interior Designer

     Katherine Tlapa is an interior designer, currently working as a Design Specialist for Modsy, a design service based in San Francisco. She also runs her own DIY Home Design blog, My Eclectic Grace. She received her BFA in Interior Architecture from Ohio University in 2016.

     

     Katherine Tlapa
     Interior Designer

3. Hang framed maps. You could choose a map of your city, of places you’ve visited, or of places where significant life events have occurred (e.g. where you were born, where you got married, etc.)^[23]
   
   • More generally, you could consider looking for a map wallpaper, and install that instead.
4. Hang unframed drawings.^[24] If you are a skilled artist, or know someone who is. You could hang the drawings on the wall in a symmetric fashion.
   
5. Install upholstered panels. For some, using posters or photos might be too obvious. You can also try creating large panels and covering them in fabric.^[25]
   
   • Be sure that you install the panels securely to the wall!
6. Add texture. Try hanging a tapestry on a large wall.^[26] The nice thing about this, is that tapestries come in hundreds of colors and designs. When/if you get tired of a particular design, you can change to a new tapestry.
   
   • Tapestries can also help to dampen the noise of a room, which can be helpful if you have an especially large room.
   • Be aware, though, that if the tapestry is hung on a wall that receives direct sunlight for much of the day, that it can fade the tapestry over time.^[27]
   • You can occasionally clean the tapestry using a soft, dry brush.^[28]
7. Make a grid photo. If you want to hang a large photo, you can have it printed into a grid (usually 3 or 4 photos, that when put together, make up the whole photo).^[29]
   
   • This will require you to visit a professional photo printer, who can help you blow up the photo of your choice, and print it on canvas or paper.

[Edit]Tips

• If you are considering one or more ideas, you can browse home magazines or the internet to get an idea of what something might look like in reality. It might also help you find color schemes that you hadn’t thought of before.
• You can get washi tape at most craft stores and you can order mural decals online.
• Hanging tiles on the wall is another great idea for decorating big walls.
• If you have a large wall in a living room, more specific help can be found in How to Decorate a Large Living Room Wall.
• If you want to make your home look like a club, you can hang a neon light on the wall.

[Edit]Warnings

• Although it can be tempting to completely fill a large wall with many pictures, posters, or other decorations, try to resist! Filling the wall with too many things will make it look messy and cluttered.

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Decorate a Kid’s Room Without Painting

[Edit]References