34 Creative Wall Art Ideas to Fill Blank Spots with Personality

01 of 34

Furniture-Framing Arrangement

kohlhepp house living room wall art — Credit: Erin Kunkel

Use artwork to draw extra attention to a piece of furniture, such as a buffet or dresser. To fill up the entire space, plan to align the outer edges of the gallery wall with the furniture. Gather a collection of pieces in a similar color palette or style for a cohesive look.

02 of 34

Textural Interest

grid of caned wall art above table — Credit: Blaine Moats

Using a mix of textures is a wall art idea that adds dimension and impact. Consider creating DIY art using fabric scraps, woven materials, and other interesting textiles. This wall art arrangement showcases bits of cane material in frames made of wood squares and plexiglass.

03 of 34

Floating Shelf Display

Piano with shelf filled with frames, artwork, and photos — Credit: Ann VanderWiel Wilde

An expansive floating shelf is a wall art idea that adds character to a blank wall and allows you to change up your art easily. Layer framed prints or pictures and favorite accessories along the shelf. If you have a larger wall, hang several shelves and stagger their heights. Here, colorfully painted frames that stand out against the white wall are a creative wall art idea.

04 of 34

Stylish Silhouettes

Dining area nook with silhouettes — Credit: Jessica Klewicki Glynn

Decorate a dining nook or breakfast banquette with framed family silhouettes. This wall art idea stands out against the wall with crisp black frames and clean white matting. Arrange the portraits in a neat, balanced composition with even spacing between each piece.

05 of 34

Vintage Wall Art Idea

bedroom with teal walls botanical gallery wall — Credit: David A. Land

Use inexpensive or vintage frames to display collected artwork in this budget-friendly wall art idea. Browse thrift shops or the dollar store for wood frames and customize them with paint. Spruce up some frames with black paint and then distress them with sandpaper to complement the look of the rustic dried botanicals they display.

06 of 34

Small-Space Wall Style

Green brick kitchen with shelves that hold decor — Credit: Adam Albright

Don't let a small kitchen space stand in the way of your decor. Hang a pair of floating shelves on a blank wall or in a tight corner and fill them with frames and ceramics with pretty patterns. To make the display pop, paint or stain the shelves a color that contrasts with your walls.

07 of 34

Themed Artwork

Dining area with shadow box artwork and blue walls — Credit: Marty Baldwin

Dress up a bare area with variations on a single-themed wall art idea. The small print hanging directly above this dining table inspired the beach vignette. A collection of artifacts in shadow boxes, including seashells and a framed bathing suit, draws attention to the dining area and ties together the whole look.

08 of 34

Typographic Decor

Hallway with piano, photos, and "Love" sign — Credit: James Nathan Schroder

Use letters or words to create an personal arrangement. Use a variety of sizes, colors, and materials in this wall art idea. For example, combine prints of your favorite word or phrase with three-dimensional artifacts in shadow boxes.

09 of 34

Big Statement Piece

Dining area with California flag artwork on wall — Credit: David Tsay

A single piece of art can be the solution for an entire blank wall, especially if it's a dramatic size, like this oversize print of the homeowner's state flag. Add emphasis to a solo artwork by installing a decorative pendant overhead. To make your large artwork, stretch printed fabric around a canvas frame, available at crafts stores.

10 of 34

Creative and Cohesive

Bed with colorful pillows and wall artwork — Credit: Jay Wilde

Dress up your walls with variations on a single theme. Pick a wall art idea you love. This homeowner's interest in birds is repeated in a collection of paintings, prints, needlepoints, and more. If you crave a little continuity, frame all your pieces in the same style.

11 of 34

Kids' Art Gallery

Living room with artwork filling walls — Credit: Adam Albright

Add a touch of childhood whimsy to any room in your home by framing your children's artwork. Hanging the items in high-traffic areas will make kids feel special. Choose traditional gallery-inspired frames to help the artwork blend easily with its surroundings.

12 of 34

Filling the Space

living room gallery wall with modern chair and foot stool — Credit: David Tsay

Have you found the perfect piece of artwork but discovered it doesn't fill the wall space the way you'd like it to? Hang it with smaller paintings to make the arrangement feel more robust. By placing smaller images around this abstract canvas, the collection is proportionate to the surrounding wall space.

13 of 34

Soothing Images

Table with lamps and multiple framed landscapes — Credit: Brie Williams

Prevent a blank wall from looking stark by filling it with small prints. Soft landscapes like these look soothing placed against a white wall. Search for images of similar sizes and arrange the frames in a grid pattern on the wall to create a cohesive composition.

14 of 34

Artwork Headboard

Blue-themed bedroom with blue artwork — Credit: Adam Albright

Use framed prints to fill the blank space behind a bed. This wall art idea doubles as a headboard. To create the gridlike look, use square black frames and hang them close together, leaving about 2-3 inches between the frame edges.

15 of 34

Reflective Artwork

living room with white fireplace and chihuahua on chair — Credit: David Tsay

Looking for a quick but stunning wall art idea? Try an oversize mirror. This once-dull corner comes to life with a floor-length mirror in a matte black frame. The mirror adds style to the room and reflects light around the space, making it feel larger.

16 of 34

Chalkboard Paint

Child's dining area with colorful artwork — Credit: David A Land

Add a gallery installation to your living room, basement, or den using nothing more than chalkboard paint. Section off a wall portion and paint it with chalkboard paint. You may need several coats. Store a bucket of chalk nearby and unleash your kids' creativity with DIY wall art.

17 of 34

Vintage Poster Art

poster holder holding pink floral poster — Credit: Brie Passano

For a classic country look, search local flea markets for vintage posters. For a simple framing technique, use poster hangers that allow the piece to slide into the frame and hang it with a ribbon. We made this magnetic poster holder using inexpensive pine boards.

18 of 34

Alcove Art

Bathtub with organized artwork in frames — Credit: Emily Followill

It can be easy to overlook small spaces when designing a room, but tucked-away spots, such as a niche for a bathtub, are great places to add an ensemble of prints. Group harmonious prints on a blank bathroom wall with frames that match or complement the room's finishes. Choose small-scale pieces that won't overwhelm the tight space.

19 of 34

Art with Dark Walls

Office area with dark blue walls and large artwork — Credit: Jay Wilde

Colorful graphic art pops off deeply saturated walls. Frame music or movie posters with white frames to make them stand out more. This wall art idea is trendy but sophisticated, a successful polish for a home office.

20 of 34

Kid's Art Corner

Chair next to shelves storing books — Credit: Ann VanderWiel Wilde

Enliven a corner of a nursery with whimsical prints both child and parent will appreciate. Finish the look with a pair of picture ledges. Children's books are known for their colorful illustrations; select your favorite covers and display them as art that you change as the child grows.

21 of 34

Bookshelf Borders

Living room with blue table and framed artwork — Credit: Ann VanderWiel Wilde

Filling a long wall in a living room can be a design challenge. Start by hanging a series of prints with complementary color palettes above the sofa. Coordinate the wall art with colorful decor elsewhere. Bookshelves create a natural border for wall art. Display decorative items and small framed artworks on the shelves to complete a pulled-together look for the entire room.

22 of 34

Storage Display

Box shelves with books and storage — Credit: Ann VanderWiel Wilde

Collect and paint wooden boxes and crates to fashion a storage solution that's also an eclectic art display. Use the lower bins to hold photo albums, crafting supplies, or family heirlooms. Hang boxes on the wall so they appear to be floating and fill with decorative items. Finish with a simple frame and a special piece of art.

23 of 34

Statement Wallpaper

Vanity and floral wallpaper — Credit: Sarah Dorio

Framed prints aren't the only way to make an artistic statement on blank walls. There's a vast array of stunning wallpaper designs that will elevate the look of any room. Wallpaper in a bold color or oversized pattern is a wall art idea that can energize a space.

24 of 34

Furniture as Art

Multicolored geometric cupboard with hanging artwork — Credit: Scott Little

Flex your DIY muscles and refinish an old piece of furniture to display as a work of art. This dynamically repainted piece sets the tone for the room. Connect stylish furniture to the display with one leaning piece gently resting against the wall.

25 of 34

Attention-Grabbing Art

large typography print transparent console table — Credit: Laura Moss

Draw attention to unique accessories with an oversized piece of artwork. This massive print embraces the contemporary typography trend and draws the eye toward a modern transparent console table. To keep the arrangement looking grounded and intentional, it's flanked by a pair of industrial-style sconces.

26 of 34

DIY Botanical Prints

colorful botanical prints above mantel — Credit: Greg Scheidemann

Update the classic look of botanical prints with this easy DIY flower wall art idea. Lay silk or plastic greenery on a blank canvas and use spray paint to create the reverse silhouette. In this wall art project, a special material called frisket (available in the model-building section of a crafts store) gives the pieces a unique, irregular border.

27 of 34

Upper Wall Art Gallery

gallery of picture frames above window — Credit: John Bessler

Create a gallery of frames above a large window or along the soffit above kitchen cabinets. Use matching frames for your collection and fill with favorite snapshots and fun prints. If you have a colorful room, use black-and-white images. Or, if your space leans more neutral, like this breakfast nook, opt for artwork with color.

28 of 34

Mirror Wall Decor

several shapes of mirrors on wall — Credit: Dana Gallagher

Group several smaller mirrors together for a lighter alternative to a large mirror. The result is a subtle yet stunning wall arrangement. Use mirrors in different shapes, such as the ones pictured, for a sophisticated yet eclectic look.

29 of 34

Basket Art

wicker baskets hanging on wall — Credit: Brie Williams

For a casual cottage look, hang shallow wicker baskets along a wall as artwork. Here, the woven baskets add texture to the wall, and the natural material stands out against cool blue walls. Simple decor in neutral shades keeps the focus on the artistic wall art idea.

30 of 34

Small Space Walls

tight arrangement of landscapes on wall — Credit: Erik Johnson

Fill blank wall space with a tight arrangement of eclectic selections above a fireplace or mantel. To keep this wall art idea from looking cluttered or random, make sure the artwork has a similar feel. Here, landscapes with similar colors and neutral frames fit snugly yet stylishly on a small dining room wall.

31 of 34

Flea Market Finds

faded vintage landscape blueprint on wall — Credit: Edmund Barr

Search antique shops and flea markets for vintage landscape blueprints that double as wall art ideas. With its soft color palette and faded paper, this print blends easily with a country gardening motif. Hang it over a small console table and accessorize with rustic accents for a cohesive theme.

32 of 34

Colorful Matting

yellow matted prints on dark wall — Credit: Laura Moss

Introduce a new color to a space with brightly-hued picture mats. These yellow-matted prints highlight the bed, making it the focal point. The yellow mats serve as a vivid contrast to the purple bedroom. Repeat the mat's hue somewhere else in the room for a polished look.

33 of 34

Book Art

framed book covers on wall — Credit: Robert Brinson

Round up a collection of worn or unreadable books with artistic covers. Remove and hang the covers in frames for a literary-theme wall art installation. Or, if you want to keep the books intact, scan the covers and print them on photo paper.

34 of 34

Art in Nature

butterfly prints couch pillows — Credit: Edmund Barr

Bring the great outdoors inside with nature-inspired artwork. This sunny sitting room includes a large bay window offering magnificent outside views, making these small butterfly prints blend on a blank wall. The bright colors on the butterflies' wings add a needed splash of color to the mostly neutral room and coordinate perfectly with other accessories and decor.