Can’t figure out how to decorate a large wall in the living room? You’re not alone. It’s one of the most common design dilemmas we hear from homeowners, and we can see why.
It can be intimidating to stare at a blank wall and try to decide whether to hang a piece of artwork or experiment with other wall decor ideas, like a cool mirror or a tapestry. After all, you want to make sure whatever you fill your empty wall with not only looks good but also goes with everything else in your living space and shows off your personal style.
Don’t let fear stop you in your wall decor tracks. To inspire you, we’ve rounded up 21 simple and stylish decor ideas for your living room to help you ace decorating large empty walls. See them all below! (Bonus: Most of these interior design ideas work for blank dining room walls, too!)
1. Large Piece of Art
Hanging a large-scale, statement-making wall art piece above your sofa is the easiest ways to decorate empty vertical space in your living room. It’s a great way to add a central focus to your space, and the larger the scale of your artwork, the more color, texture, and visual appeal it will bring to your room. Consider an oversize painting, photograph, or a diptych, like this space, for high-impact options.
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2. Eclectic Gallery Wall
If you can’t land on a large-scale art piece, create a curated gallery wall instead. It’s one of our favorite large wall decor ideas for living rooms because it works in any size living room. Start with an eclectic mix of drawings, paintings, or photos, then lay them out on your floor to come up with an arrangement. We like to use artwork in different sizes for some contrast in scale.
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3. Grid Gallery Wall
For a more tailored and organized gallery wall, try this themed grid approach. It’s a symmetrical and streamlined artwork display that looks right at home in polished and classic style living rooms. This is perfect if you have a collection or a series of art pieces you want to hang. Or take a cue from this grouping of botanical prints, which is one of our favorite gallery wall ideas.
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4. Statement Mirror
When it comes to wall decor ideas that don’t involve a single piece of artwork, a unique sculptural mirror is one of our favorite ways to decorate a blank living room (or dining room!) wall. Not only is a mirror great for reflecting light, they also open up rooms by giving the illusion of a large space. Choose a mirror with a bold or fun shape, which will make it feel like a wall sculpture—that’s also super functional!
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5. Wallpaper
Few wall decor ideas add all-around impact like wallpaper. No matter your space, a wallpapered room sets a vibrant tone and is guaranteed to be a focal point in your home. Pick a fun pattern or a paper that mimics natural textures, like marble or wood graining, for a clean, layered look. If you’re not ready to commit, start with removable wallpaper that can be swapped out as needed.
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6. Wall Mural
For something that’s just as captivating and elegant as art or wallpaper, hang a paper mural. Think of it as a large piece of wall art but more affordable because you don’t need to frame it. A garden or nature mural is a beautiful way to add richness and texture. The best part is that it doesn’t have to be permanent, so you can switch it out for other wall decor down the line.
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7. Bookcase System
Sometimes art and other hanging decor just aren’t enough to fill entire lengths of walls in the living room. If that’s the case for you, consider a full bookcase system, whether it’s a series of matching tall bookshelves or floor-to-ceiling built-ins. Store and style your favorite reads and objects into cool vignettes that become different focal points for your room. In terms of living room decor ideas, this nails style and function in all the best ways.
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8. Sconces
Wall lighting can be a simple addition to a living room wall that adds bold visual appeal. A pair of sconces flanking a large painting, TV, console cabinet, or mirror will bring a sense of symmetry and balance to your living room. Seek out sconces with interesting shapes and finishes, giving your wall some sculptural appeal.
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9. Hanging Tapestry
Much like large artwork, wall tapestries make for a gorgeous, unique wall decor idea that brings a touch of soft natural texture to a room. Because tapestries are not big heavy pieces, they’re pretty and practical wall art in family homes with kids. Plus, they’re usually very affordable, so you can try a pair that have complimentary patterns for some visual variance.
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10. Hanging Plants
One or two hanging plants alongside a gallery wall can be super impactful. A planter or two of trailing leafy greens, hung from your ceiling, can add a lush look and an organic touch that balances out framed artwork.
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11. Painted Accent Wall
Sometimes all you need to liven up a blank wall is a fresh coat of paint. Before you pick up that paintbrush, do some quick research on accent wall ideas to see what color is right for your living room. A brighter paint color will turn your wall into an instant focal point while a softer color can shift the attention to your furniture pieces. You can hang some art over your accent wall or leave it blank, but either way, this is the simplest trick to punch up your walls and give it some depth and dimension.
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12. Floating Shelves
Another one of our favorite ideas for blank walls is to use floating shelves for artful displays. Instead of hanging wall art, lean a few large art prints and mix in small objects and tiny plants on the shelves to create visual interest while showing off your personal style. Just remember that less is more when it comes to styling; you want the shelves to appear curated, not cluttered.
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13. Woven Baskets
For an alternative to the gallery wall that doesn’t involve art or plants or shelves, we love a display of hanging woven baskets as large wall decor ideas for living rooms. They add tons of natural texture to any blank wall, and they’re a nice contrast to boxy windows and clean-lined furniture. Hanging wall baskets also often come in gorgeous color combinations, so they’re perfect accents for enlivening neutral or white rooms.
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14. Sculptural Lighting
For those of you who love minimalist and streamlined spaces with unadorned walls, leaning into sculptural lighting designs can help keep your room from feeling spare and sparse. Here, it’s about using your empty walls as a backdrop to amplify shapes and forms of sculptural light fixtures and floor lamps. For instance, against a white wall, a cylindrical ceiling pendant will draw the eye up and visually fill out the negative space created by blank walls.
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15. Folding Screen
Think of the folding screen as a standing sculpture piece. What’s great about folding screens is that they act as wall decor without needing to be hung or installed. Line one along a blank wall or in a corner of your living room for a sophisticated focal point. They become instant statement pieces wherever they’re placed, and one with shelving gives you the added bonus of storage.
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16. TV Wall
Sometimes filling the largest blank wall in your living room is as simple as hanging your TV there. You want to make sure it’s the best spot for your TV also, especially if you plan on using your living space for family movie nights or marathons with friends.
But why stop after the TV is up? As far as what to do with the wall behind your TV, try working in other wall decor ideas to round out the entire space, like adding a pair of sconces or a floating shelf. They’ll add function as well as balance out the boxy lines of the TV.
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17. Hanging Bar
Don’t have room for a bar cart or cabinet? A hanging bar can fill up blank wall space while adding some practicality to your living space. This is a great option for those who love to entertain, as it keeps bottles and glassware near your conversation area. If you have an open living/dining room, it’s also a great way to bridge the two spaces! The hanging bar can be small or large depending on your needs and the size of space you’d like to fill.
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18. Plant Wall
Are you a plant lover? A large blank wall can become a plant wall, adding additional greenery to your living room! The wall hangings pictured here have wood pallet backing with built-in planters. (These also conveniently come with faux ferns so you don’t have to worry about drips on watering day!) Hanging plants directly on the wall adds a ton of visual texture while filling that open space.
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19. Floor Mirror
A large living room wall can be decorated with a decorative floor mirror. When sitting on the floor and leaning against the wall, a large mirror reflects light to make your living room feel larger and brighter. It can also offer some practicality—letting you make quick outfit checks before leaving the house if your living room is close to your entryway.
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20. A Leaning Ladder
Large walls are a great place for decorative wooden ladders. They take up a lot of vertical space, so they visually fill a large blank wall—and they can be used to hang throw blankets, which adds a practical touch. You could also get some S-hooks and hanging planters and create a vertical hanging garden—a different take on a plant wall! Leaning ladders can be used in homes of many styles, but we especially love them in rustic, minimal, and Scandinavian spaces.
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21. Leave It Blank!
Finally, there are also times when a blank wall just needs to be left as is. We love this in living rooms that are decorated with furniture pieces that all have unique shapes and forms. Here, it’s about embracing the negative wall space and leaving the focus to be with the materials, details, and other standout design elements in the room. If you’re a staunch minimalist, this is for you!
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