Here's What 6 Designers Would Do With That Big Blank Wall In Your House

Styling a large wall is quite the design challenge. Leaving it empty is boring, but overfilling it can be just as bad. No one wants a space that makes you feel cluttered and closed-in. A gallery wall can work in some spaces, but it isn't the best choice for every room. So how should you decorate that large blank wall that's been waiting for some inspiration in your home? Interior designers from across the South weighed in, and here are some of their best styling secrets.

Add In Oversized Art or Patterns

Carolyn Cerminara, the founder and principal designer at Nashville-based Cerminara Design, likes to use large walls to make a big impact with pattern or color. "I love to use oversized art, which makes a bold confidence statement without clutter in the space. Wallpaper is also an excellent option for adding detail to the room." Finding the right art piece or fabric can take some scouting, but you'll be forever grateful for a statement-making focal point.

Play with Height

Marcy Kelman, a New Bern, North Carolina, interior decor expert for Church Hill Classics and author of several DIY design books, likes to use oversized walls as a palette for all kinds of interesting decor: "My solution for decorating a large, expansive wall is to design eye-catching accents at various heights."

Kelman uses the vintage prints, patterns, and decor she finds at thrift stores to take advantage of the sheer amount of height a large wall provides. Different items are placed at different focal points to create a wall that feels eclectic and visually interesting.

Showcase a Collection

Don't let your interesting collection never see the light of day. Take a page out of one designer's book and use your large wall as the canvas for a collection or two. Northern Virginia interior designer Darlene Molnar once used a client's oversized wall to display their antique mirror collection. "[It] made a big impact when displayed together," adds Molnar.

You can use shelving or glass-front cabinetry to display collections of smaller items too, like china or souvenirs.

Use a Ladder Shelf

Ladder shelves take advantage of the vertical space a large, empty wall provides while bringing in plenty of spots for linen storage and decor. Kelman likes to incorporate ladder shelves whenever she's designing an otherwise empty wall.

"The one element I always keep in the mix is my ladder shelf. This type of shelving is ideal, because it adds height and visual interest but is so compact that it won’t interfere with foot traffic patterns."

Try Floating Shelves

Floating shelves bring a modern touch to any space, and they're an easy way to use up all that wall space. Molnar likes to "create a simple compilation using floating ledges and a singular material or theme."

Use a few floating shelves to display small prints or pictures, or let them become a home for some family heirlooms and keepsakes. You could even keep some stylish or coffee-table-style books on them.

Install Paneling

Consider giving your large wall a textural makeover with the addition of wood paneling or slats. Chisana Rice-Smith, a lead residential designer at Greenville, South Carolina, firm In Site Designs, recommends this design choice as it's a subtle but interesting backdrop for other types of wall decor, like a gallery wall or an oversized print.

Wood slats are a better design choice for a modern, minimalist space, while wood paneling brings in the perfect vintage farmhouse touch.

Bring In Custom Cabinetry

Cyndy Cantley, interior designer and co-owner of Birmingham-based Cantley & Company, likes to give oversized walls plenty of storage with the help of some custom cabinetry. "In a kitchen, it looks great to do an entire wall of tall cabinets with floor-to-ceiling shelving and roll-out drawers tucked behind."

In the dining room, she recommends taking more of a decor-oriented approach by installing cabinetry with antique mirror doors, brass mesh, or a wallpaper covering.

Create a Gallery Wall

And of course, a large wall will always be a great spot for the classic gallery wall. But Atlanta interior designer Beth Webb advises taking a more planned approach to them.

"I love a large gallery wall but it does require quite a bit of forethought and a deft hand," says Webb. "Before hanging, we will either lay them out on the floor or elevate them in CAD to determine the spacing and final placement."

When deciding what should actually go on the wall, Webb likes to take a coordinated-but-not-identical approach. "Drawings, etchings, and black and white photography can all live very happily together, and I will choose frames that are similar but perhaps not all the same—variations on a theme, if you will."

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