What should I do with this empty wall?

Leah Deverett
by Leah Deverett
Ok Hometalkers, I really need your help with this one! I've been staring at this empty grey wall in my bedroom for literally MONTHS, and it's time to do something about it. I feel like there are so many possibilities that I just can't come to a decision. Different things I was thinking I'd like to display are inspirational quotes, a nature scene, my old photos.. but I'm really open to anything! Thanks in advance!

  26 answers
  • Moe Mernick Moe Mernick on Jan 10, 2017

    So many different ideas... What are your top options?

  • Cori Widen Cori Widen on Jan 10, 2017

    How about stenciling a design either in the middle or on the top? If you check out cuttingedgestencils.com, they have a LOT of stunning ones...

  • Johnchip Johnchip on Jan 10, 2017

    I would avoid stencils, words, bold color. You will get bored with such things. I use large or odd walls to show off collections; old shoe stretchers, feathered hats, small mirrors, bow ties, themed pictures, bird or horse objects; things you can change, objects with dimension, things that make your eyes move around, create imagination, stimulate your senses, and create conversation.

  • Here's an idea I did to create a gallery wall with FREE art! https://bachelorettepadflip.com/2016/08/03/this-old-house-artwork/

  • BabyBoomerSC BabyBoomerSC on Jan 10, 2017

    How about putting a nice upholstered bench against that wall that coordinates with your bedding. Above that, I'd put a variety of prints, all with the same color of frame to create unity. I live near the beach, so I filled my wall with beach type prints that I found on line and then purchased frames of various sizes but all the same color (distressed gray) that goes with my decor.

    • Leah Deverett Leah Deverett on Jan 12, 2017

      That's nice! I like that...variety of prints but keeping a consistent color frame. Maybe I can even go with white since my furniture is all white. Thanks!

  • RichandTammy Whiteside RichandTammy Whiteside on Jan 11, 2017

    Hometalkers can give you a million different things to do but the question is "What type of mood do you want to achieve?" I mean, it's your bedroom so I would think that you would maybe like to look at things that make you feel happy, peaceful, etc?


    You said that you like inspirational quotes, a nature scene, your old photos so why not take a picture of your blank wall and frame up a bunch of those things that you like to create an arrangement that is pleasing to you?


    This hometalker did something pretty awesome might get your creative juices flowing: http://www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/walls/bedroom-wall-gallery-25886998?scid=3514188#c-3514188



    • Leah Deverett Leah Deverett on Jan 12, 2017

      I absolutely love this! Never really thought of combining all the different ideas. Thanks for sharing!

  • C C on Jan 11, 2017

    You had the right idea with your pictures and mirrors. Now lay them out on the floor and try rearranging them into a grouping that is pleasing to Your eye. Then just hang them. If you want to use 3M hooks that are removable until you are positive that is what you want, then you don't even have any holes to repair if you are not happy with the outcome.


    Don't be afraid. Just jump in and do it.

    • Leah Deverett Leah Deverett on Jan 12, 2017

      Great idea to use removable hooks. Worst comes to worst I can take them down and rearrange. Thank you!

  • Mary Gendron Mary Gendron on Jan 11, 2017

    A friend once rented an apartment and one of the walls really caught my eye. The whole wall was a mural and it was surrounded by a frame of some sort making it look like a window fame, so you thought you had a wall size picture window looking out at beautiful scenery. By the way, the apartment was in the middle of the city.

  • Sophia,M.,McConnery Sophia,M.,McConnery on Jan 11, 2017

    What do you like.I used to have rock star posters all over.Now I have a combination of posters,paintings,and still photos in poster size!

  • Sandra Allen Sandra Allen on Jan 11, 2017

    Here is one of my favorite ideas. You can put faux flowers in some, family photos in some, mementos...well you get the idea.


    https://www.google.com/search?q=painted+empty+frames&rlz=1C1BLWB_enUS700US700&espv=2&biw=1024&bih=642&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj2zZHX1LrRAhWHgFQKHa37C28Q_AUIBigB

  • Bernadette Staal Bernadette Staal on Jan 11, 2017

    how about experimenting with some of the fantastic removal sticker art that you can get now, you could make a real feature of the wall

  • Ccc Ccc on Jan 11, 2017

    I see you are into music, free spirited. Have you checked out Wall Stickers? Wayfair has some pretty neat looking ones.


    those are just some ideas. Go to Wayfair.com and search wall decals, wall stickers or even 3d wall decals. Good luck!



    • See 2 previous
    • Judie Judie on Jan 12, 2017

      We had a closet full of well cared for records. I framed some of our old favorite music covers in sizes to allow for colorful matts and hung them in my art room. They look great and go all across my long wall; a nice reminder of the music we used to enjoy -- I also have a music set up so I can listen to the recordings as well; however I've since replaced them with photos of family. I am drawn o 12 x 12 square black frames and they go all the way across my long wall..love it!

  • Ccc Ccc on Jan 11, 2017

    http://www.dresslily.com/wall-stickers-c-261.html?lkid=1533022&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=direct&utm_campaign=1533022


       these are 3d look like you are actually looking out a window on to a beach or pink flowering trees, the first one is a giraff coming in the window.


    • See 4 previous
    • Leah Deverett Leah Deverett on Jan 18, 2017

      Thanks Judy! :)

  • Cindy Lovelace Cindy Lovelace on Jan 12, 2017

    I made my blank wall look like a cave wall. I painted it Eggplant. I used two large leaf (maple and fern) to make random light gray/beige paint leaves all over the wall. I just taped them to my hands and repeatedly stamped them in all directions on the wall. Some lighter, some darker, some over the others. The wall looks gorgeous.

  • Nnettat Nnettat on Jan 12, 2017

    It appears that the room is not wide since the bed appears to be against the long wall and the head under the gable ceiling and all furniture is lined up against this wall. So, why put shelves on a wall, even over the keyboard, when there is selves to the left of the keyboard. Other shelving is a possible head hazard over the bead.

    The very simplest that I can think of is words. Use fairy lights (sparkle lights) and create a word in script. Use those removable hooks to hang the lights. (So you can change the word as you want.) Words like 'a name', 'peace', 'life', 'love', and since there is already musical instruments in the room it could be 'music'. With the removable hooks you can change the word periodically. And it is easy to dust. The word doesn't need to 'fill' the wall but centered (or approximately centered due to the gable). Base line about the same height as the bottom of the second shelf.

    Don't like seeing the wires? Try putting a sheer, NOT a lacy sheer-just a sheer. I suggest a gray sheer to fall into line with the gray walls. Again, you can use those removable hooks to hang the sheers. (The sheers can be the grommets type, which you would hang a cord on the hooks for them to move on, or even the ones you would normally put on a rod which you would need to thread a cord through the top.) These sheers would not need cleaning any more often than the other curtains in your home. Hanging the sheers even under the gable would give it a uniformity, balance, so the word doesn't need to go all the way across the wall.

    But I suggest only using the sheers if the wires are a distraction to you since they will also fall behind the bed. Try the word first. I would not go for a bright white (or whatever color you choose) unless you might want the light in the room. There are varieties which will give a glow. (Some places may still have some on sale from Christmas.) Draw your word out with string on a floor or table. It will help you figure out how long the strand of lights to be and the number of hooks you might need.

    Besides, there is no reason why you cannot add pictures & etc around this word.

    Ok. This long winded lady is done. Please let us know how it turns out.

    Good Luck!

  • Nnettat Nnettat on Jan 12, 2017

    UPDATE: Maybe I should have gone to Pinterest before I got long winded. Here are a few things I found. Most involve canvas, some with lights and some with other simple techniques. Some may have a Christmas theme but the technique may be an inspiration.

    https://www.pinterest.com/explore/lighted-canvas/

    https://www.pinterest.com/tracilark/home-canvas-wall-art/

    https://www.pinterest.com/Mac3333333/canvas-lighting/

    https://www.pinterest.com/pin/476044623090323628/

    https://www.pinterest.com/pin/287597126178772674/

    https://www.pinterest.com/pin/115545546669430743/

    https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=lights%20canvas%20diy&rs=typed&term_meta[]=lights%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=canvas%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=diy%7Ctyped

    https://www.pinterest.com/pin/476537204299973363/ (30 Minute DIY Art Work)

    I like this one. Don't know how they did it and/or if you can put the holes in the wall to do this. But there is no reason why it couldn't be done on canvas. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/188095721908449637/


  • JESS JESS on Jan 12, 2017

    Paint it stark white. Then fill it ceiling to floor, every inch, with pictures. Create your own Gallery. Put whatever kind of art you like. Mix Match. It is YOUR Gallery.

  • Bwarner50 Bwarner50 on Jan 13, 2017

    Do some paintings - it really is easy - you could do a couple of canvases in ombre tones, or make collages. I made two canvas collages for my gallery wall in my living room - painted on the sky (background) with some clouds, painted a branch across the canvas and cut birds and leaves out of scrapbook paper and decoupaged them on. You could add an ampersand - very popular now - initials (make your own out of cardboard and cover them in yarn or twine) black and white pictures placed in oversize frames - oh, the world is your oyster! Experiment. You can always change things out seasonally - I have 4 (11x14") frames and I change the pictures in them seasonally and on holidays. Right now they're holding hearts and quotes for Valentine's Day, then I'll switch them to St. Patrick's Day, then spring/summer.

  • Eroque022810 Eroque022810 on Jan 14, 2017

    First what is this room used for? It has shelves and a key board so it family room or a bedroom? I ask because you do different style for different areas in your home. Can you put furniture there and change room around? Can you paint it maybe that's what you don't like, even if rest of room is same color make it the focal point of this room. Because of the vaulted wall maybe that's the issue. You don't have to fill entire wall unless you want to. How is rest of room if you put a chair next to bookcase and a table with a lamp you like so you can read and turn keyboard so it faces room not the wall then I just happen to think that it is silly to put art work on a wall you have your back to, so place a large circular item in the center of wall at eye level. It can be a clock or mirror or an old window you find this way your eye goes there and not to enire wall then buy or make other metallic items that have shapes you like you can keep in whatever metal finish they are or you can spray paint them all the same. Remember that wooden pieces as well. Or if you like wood then go with that,just don't take to top of vaulted ceiling stop at the level of the book case so eventually you will not even pay attention to it. You probably have all this in your home. Also add greenery that is alive such as air plants and they do require much work. They come in clear glass that you hang from ceiling usually the style of container shaped like a tear drop. You hang with clear string like what is used from jewelry making or even fishing string. Good luck but try to understand what you really hate?

    If it is a music room then you could place key board in center of wall facing room. Then take sheet music and frame it and hang on wall stick to odd numbers of frames. You can print off Internet sites. You can frame with favorite colors of frames. Then don't place in a straight line but rather stager them or make a geometric shape once again eye will be drawn to the then to wall itself.

  • Francis Xavier Francis Xavier on Jan 15, 2017

    Go for a live green wall with scientifically selected plants.it adds vibrance and life along with health.

  • BC. BC. on Jan 15, 2017

    I had grey walls in my bedroom (left from when my son grew up and moved away from home.) I really liked the grey but wanted to brighten it up a bit so I threw on some Pink Floyd and turned up the volume and went to town. I used chalk stick to give a bit of an outline and used white acrylic craft paint. I also cut a sponge into a couple size leaf shapes and lightly stamped a few leaves here and there. Eventually I hung some pictures of my kids and grand kids from the branches.

  • Beth C Beth C on Jan 15, 2017

    How about a nice gallery wall mixed with pictures, quotes, and a shelf or two?

  • Lindcurt Lindcurt on Jan 19, 2017

    Old sheet music has a lot of beautiful art work on the covers. It can be purchased pretty cheaply at thrift stores. Buy some Masonite board from the lumber yard that is larger than the sheet music. Maybe 4-6 inches, whatever looks good on that wall size. Paint the board and Mod Podge the sheet music onto it. Spray with an acrylic clear spray and hang.