Decorating Vertical Spaces: Vertical Wall Décor

An artist may love a blank canvas, but for many of us, a blank slate can be intimidating—especially when it’s in your home. How do you fill an empty wall? There’s the standard fare of paintings, posters, and pictures, but there is a host of nontraditional options as well.

This article will cover (no pun intended):

• Fresh ideas for wall décor
• The art of framing and matting
• 10 tips for hanging art

Fresh Ideas for Wall Décor

Don’t get us wrong: we love anything in a frame. A painting, a family portrait, kids’ art, scarves, or wallpaper—you name it, and we’ll frame it. But that’s not the only way to dress up a wall. Consider the following options.

• Shelving: Break up a wall of flat art and/or photos with shelving or a structural bookcase on which you can display your accessories. You can also lean some of your framed art on the shelves to add dimension to a gallery.
• Found objects: Everyday items take on a new style when cleaned up and hung on the wall. Shop thrift stores for old wooden oars or skis. Hang up your baskets. Reclaimed wood and factory-inspired objects are in vogue. Clean them up and affix them to the wall for inexpensive, yet striking wall art.
• Mirrors: Mirrors can do wonders for a room. They add light and depth, expand a small room, and even bring the outside in if placed across from a window. Collect a variety of mirrors from thrift stores and garage sales. Hang them as is or paint the frames the same color and set them off against a wall in a contrasting hue.
• Rugs: Rugs are often considered “floor art,” but why not utilize their artistic sensibilities on the wall? They add color and texture and can easily fill a large, open space.
• Wall decals: Wall decals are a popular and inexpensive way to add art to a blank wall. They come in a variety of shapes and patterns, as well as literary sayings.
• Shadow boxes: Not sure what to do with all those seashells and starfish from your beach vacation? Arrange them in a shadow box and hang it on the wall. Shadow boxes are a great way to add dimension and to memorialize special memories or momentous life occasions.
• Flat art: All these fancy ideas aside, flat art endures as the perfect way to add a little oomph to a wall. But it doesn’t have to be the standard painting or picture. Consider:
  • Rather than buying someone else’s art for your room, create your own piece of artwork or frame your children’s art. Everything looks great in a nice frame.
  • Love a wallpaper pattern, but can’t afford to do the whole wall? Buy a sample and frame it.
  • Is your grandmother’s hanky too pretty to use? Frame it and hang it in a sweet spot.  
  • Need to fill a large space? Look for panel art, which adds interest and generally fills a larger space.

The Art of Framing and Matting

We said it before and we’ll say it again: we’ll put a frame on nearly anything. Look for frames at garage sales and thrift stores, clean them up or paint them, and frame all your favorite items. You’ll be surprised what a big impact it can have for very little expense.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Choose a frame that is 1–3 inches larger in dimension than the picture.
• Coordinate frame colors and styles with your existing frames and the overall look of your room.
• Avoid poorly made frames that will detract from your art. Check for corner gaps and flaking or discoloration of finish.
• Choose a mat shade and texture based on colors that stand out in the picture.
• To draw attention to a small piece of art, the mat should be at least six inches larger.
• Use matching frames or mats to unite a group of artwork that doesn’t have a common color or theme