70 Genius ways to decorate a blank wall
It doesn’t matter whether you live in a small city apartment or a sprawling country estate—or whether your personal style skews minimalist or maximalist—everyone is eventually confronted with the difficult decision of what to do with that large, windowless wall. Admittedly, many people have a complicated relationship with blank walls. Sometimes, a bare wall can feel refreshing—especially when a room is filled with bold furniture, printed area rugs, and plenty of objets. But more often than not, a blank wall can appear neglected and, let’s face it, boring. So do you want to bring style to every square inch of your space, walls included? Check out these designer-approved ways to give all of your walls the attention they deserve. From statement-making artwork to whimsical wallpaper and everything in between, every idea here is packed with visual intrigue.
1
TURN FAMILY PHOTOS INTO ART

No wallpaper? No problem!, designer Sean Anderson used his collection of Polaroid photos taken on family vacations and events to cover the blank space surrounding the door frame.
2
EMBRACE SHAPES

Paolo Castellarin and Didier Bonnin used two “portholes” in a dividing wall between the living room and dining room to open up the space in their apartment. The vases on the piano are by Gaetano Pesce.
3
PAINT A MURAL

In the home of Florie Hutchinson, designed by Atelier Davis, the family commissioned the artist Mariel Capanna to paint a wall mural in a narrow hallway. The mural includes depictions of the family and their day-to-day life.
4
LACQUER THE WALLS

Designer Fabrizio Casiraghi used a custom green color to lacquer the walls throughout a loft. The artworks, which include paintings by H. Craig Hanna and a 19th-century club, add even more intrigue.
5
GO CRAZY WITH PRINTS

In the upstairs kitchen of designer Ramsey Lyons’s home, patterned Schumacher wallcovering gives the garret a maximalist garden feel.
6
ADD TEXTURE

In lieu of a flat paint, designer Augusta Hoffman covered the walls of her bedroom with a tweed wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries.
7
ADD HUMOR

Designer Jacques Grange applied resin wall art by Jean-François Fourtou to otherwise blank walls in a home.
8
MATCH THE FURNITURE

In a County, home designed by Ken Fulk, the walls, shades, and ceiling were matched to the sofa and cushion fabric.
9
GO BOLD

If the walls are blank, don’t be afraid to go bold. Designer Delia Kenza painted the blank walls and ceiling of a bedroom an inky black.
10
MIRROR, MIRROR

Mirrored wall panels not only enliven a blank space, but also enhance the natural light from windows. Gabriel Hendifar used bronze mirror panels in the dining room of his apartment. Read More...