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It’s 2023 and with tutorials from YouTube, Joanna Gaines, and Pinterest always at the ready, even the truly uncreative, the unhandy, can master the art of DIY.
That means it’s time to take on those drab white walls you’ve loathed since you first moved in.
Give your walls a designer feel for a fraction of the cost. With DIY decor, you can personalize and customize. Enjoy an added sense of satisfaction and pride every time you lay eyes on your finished walls.
Get inspired, grab some friends, and prepare for some DIY fun. Here are the 13 best DIY wall decor ideas to transform your walls from “blah” to “ooh la la!”
1. Hang reclaimed wood floating shelves
Add instant visual interest to your walls by hanging reclaimed wood shelves. These gorgeous shelves can serve as stand-alone wall decor. Or, top them with pretty decorations.
Factor in their environmental friendliness, versatility, and rustic charm and you can see why these shelves are extremely popular. To add more texture you can also opt for reclaimed wall paneling.
Place two or three short or medium shelves directly above each other, or stagger them for added interest. One or two long reclaimed wood floating shelves are stunning under a mounted TV or over a kitchen counter.
Consider hanging floating shelves on adjacent walls to fill a void corner of the room.
If you don’t happen to have old barn wood laying around, you can purchase reclaimed wood from a nearby lumber yard, check out antique stores, or order from a reclaimed wood vendor online.
When you build your own floating shelves, you can customize the length, wood color, and spacing to fit any space or style.
2. Cover your wall in mirrors
Instantly add beauty and interest to your walls by hanging lots of mirrors in your choice of shape and style. This super simple technique will fill blank walls while also reflecting light and opening up the room.
Choose mirrors of the same shape but varying sizes, such as medium and small circles or rectangles. For a tidy look, stick to one frame color. Try black or white frames for a classy aesthetic, or go for bright pinks or teals for a fun pop of color. If you prefer an eclectic vibe, look for mirrors with elegant, detailed frames in varying shades of gold or bronze.
3. Decorate with frames
Speaking of frames, frames have a way of adding a professional, designer look to just about anything.
Create a gallery wall of your children’s framed, simplest artwork for a minimalist look. Or choose their brightest pieces to infuse vibrant, colorful energy into your room. Coordinate the frames to pull it all together.
With a DIY gallery wall, you can decide the layout. A grid layout with careful, even spacing is always a safe bet.
4. Frame pretty fabrics
Look for lovely pieces of fabric or even wrapping paper. Mat and frame them, then lean them against your wall. Overlap the frames for added interest. Or, hang them for a colorful gallery wall. The color and design possibilities are endless.
5. Hang an empty frame
You can even decorate your wall with empty frames. Center one large rectangle piece just as you would hang a painting, or hang several in gallery-wall form. Try charming, antique frames with lots of character. This look is especially attractive when positioned on a wall with a pretty paint color.
6. Display your books in colorful, cubed floating shelves
Cubed floating shelves are a great way to add style to a plain wall. Paint them your favorite vibrant colors, or keep their natural wood color. Style with books, photos, or small plants.
7. Create a book wall
Hang several DIY cubed floating shelves to sophisticate your plain wall. Fill most of the shelves with books. Place some books so the spines are vertical and others with the spines horizontal. Leave space to style one or two shelves with a plant or vase.
8. Decorate with pendant lights
Add pizzazz and elegance to your wall by hanging several DIY pendant lights to one side. Choose lights of varying lengths, colors, and shapes for added visual interest.
9. Hang shelves of plants
You can never go wrong by styling your wall with plants. Hang several floating shelves and display a variety of small, succulents with fun shapes and sizes.
10. Hang a pallet with plants and lights
DIY a gorgeous living pallet wall with a pallet, plant lights, and your favorite herbs or other greens. Indoor plants are proven to reduce stress and boost mood, and they don’t collect dust like artificial tchotchkes do. In fact, plants actually filter out toxins and purify your indoor air! All while beautifying your space!
11. Decorate with a ladder
For a super simple, trendy look, fill your empty wall space with a stylish wooden ladder. Prop it against your wall and drape a blanket over it. Voila!
Or, for a variation of this look, choose a ladder with wide rungs and place small indoor plants on one or two of the steps. Make a statement with a boldly painted wall and minimal decor.
12. Paint the wall a bold color
A boldly colored accent wall speaks for itself. Try a bright teal or bold yellow. No further decor required.
13. DIY Art
Channel your inner artist. Thanks to the world wide web, you can learn to create your own contemporary art pieces from the comfort of your own home. Try some of these beginner-friendly, DIY art techniques. Frames instantly add a bought-this-from-an-expensive-art-show-feel.
DIY abstract art with pretty watercolor paints. Or, you really can’t fail with an oversized splatter painting, and this can be a fun, no-pressure project to do with the kids!
Finally, if you’re truly paint-a-phobic, pick up a wallpaper you love, apply it to a large canvas, and add a frame. The wonderful thing about this DIY wallpaper canvas idea is that if your tastes change over the years, you can easily switch it out without the hassle of removing wallpaper from a wall!
Your walls – your way
DIY is meant to be fun and personal.
Remember: wall decor never has to be permanent. You can change it up as your tastes and preferences change, and when you make it yourself, you don’t have to invest a fortune in every piece. So, get creative, have a great time, and style your walls your way.
