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I receive a lot of questions about wall decor.
Most people fall into one of these categories (or multiple):
You have a very large wall and you’re stumped on how to decorate it.
You have small or uniquely shaped walls and don’t know what to do with them.
You’re on a budget but are desperate to freshen up your space.
If you identify with any of these, keep reading!
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Large walls can be extremely difficult to decorate, so we understand your struggle! The type of wall decor you choose greatly depends on your style. If you’re more of a minimal decorator, you can use larger pieces like mirrors, clocks, signs, or wall tarps to fill the space. For those of you that like a more elaborate, “filled” design for your homes, you can opt for a photo wall or gallery wall. There is an art to creating the perfect gallery wall so be sure to follow these guidelines:
Lay out your frames/photos on a table or the floor and arrange them how you’d like.
Cut pieces of paper in the size of each frame (or cardboard, whatever works).
Hang those pieces of paper on the wall in the arrangement you created so that you can visualize what it would look like.
My biggest tip is to find a statement piece (or pieces) that you love. Never hang anything on your walls that you don’t love - you’ll get tired of the decor quickly.
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Maybe you’re like me and you have a home with lots of character. While this is a great thing, it often means there are a ton of uniquely shaped walls that are hard to decorate! Let me comfort you with a reminder that you’re not alone!
One of the things that I’ve learned over the years is that you don’t need to fill every single space on your walls. Sometimes less is more (you’ll be relieved that you don’t have to worry about each wall in your home).
However, my rule of thumb for angled walls or small walls in your home is to focus on smaller, neutral pieces. Don’t put your “busy” or most vibrant pieces in these spots - the architectural angles and features will speak for themselves. I tend to use one or two similar wall hangings or some sort of hanging wall basket/planter on unique walls!
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As much as I love to freshen a space up with decor changes, there are super simple ways you can freshen up your walls without changing the decor. With the use of paint, trim, or wallpaper, you can drastically update your walls!
Paint is a great, easy way to transform your space. Typically I recommend neutral paint colors (whites, off whites, grays, soft beige, etc.) simply because it’s easy to decorate when you have a neutral canvas to work on. However, if you’re feeling a bit wild you can use darker, richer colors along with some trim detail like board and batten to achieve a really beautiful aesthetic. If you want to go this direction with your room, I would recommend enlisting the help of a designer to assist you in planning out all of your decor (as always, I’d love to be that designer!) Wall paper is also a very fun route to go if you’re wanting some significant patters or textures in your room. We used a peel and stick wall paper for my daughter’s room to give it a little pop of fun and whimsy, and we love it!
You’ve heard this before, and I’ll say it again - designing your home doesn’t have to be hard, especially if you pace yourself. If you really want to make a change in your space but don’t have room in your budget right now, try changing the wall color first and you’ll be amazed with the difference!
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I can be that friend - if you need one. I have a few people that I call/send photos to when I’m making design decisions and need help. We’ve all been there. Should I put a clock or a mirror here? Should I use lighter frames? Do you think this looks weird? You’ve probably asked one or all of these questions. Decorating can definitely be a fun, solo project, but it’s nice to have a little help every now and then. Don’t be afraid to enlist the help of a friend, family member, or an interior designer to make your space exactly what you want it to be (trust me, it’s worth it). Even the best designers need fresh perspectives every now and then.
And as always, take your time and enjoy the process - it’s okay if the transformation is slow.
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Awhile ago I had someone challenge me about home decor and why I cared so much about it. They expressed that it was all so materialistic and didn’t understand why people make such a big deal of it.
I’ll be honest, social media has made this question even harder to answer because so many home decor accounts showcase PERFECT homes - homes that are expensive and perfectly staged. Don’t get me wrong, they can be a source of inspiration and motivation, but more often than not, they feed our discontentment. When I was challenged with this question, my mind immediately went to the “perfection” of these instagram homes (I’m guilty of sharing my home in this light too). No wonder people feel intimated to decorate their homes when these are the standards and examples we see.
But here’s the thing: I care about my home decor because I care about my home. If you’ve been following me for any measure of time you probably know that I believe our homes encompass the day to day messes, the highs and lows, the gatherings and the chill nights in, the personal growth, the moments when we feel stuck, and everything in between. We get to build our lives within these walls and there is nothing insignificant about that.
I want my home to be warm, open, encouraging, cozy, and energizing, and a haven for my friends and family.
And I want the process of creating it to reflect my own growth process - a slow, intentional transformation.
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