What to Do With an Empty Wall in Living Room?

A blank wall in your living room might feel like wasted space, but it’s actually a golden opportunity for creativity. That empty expanse represents unlimited potential to add personality, function, and visual interest to your most important gathering space. Whether you’re working with a small section between windows, an expansive feature wall, or wondering what to do with an empty wall in living room design, there are countless solutions for every style, budget, and room layout.

Empty walls can make a room feel unfinished or sterile, throwing off the balance of your living room layout. By decorating them thoughtfully, you can add warmth and character, create visual focal points, showcase your personal style, and improve storage and functionality. Your living room walls are more than structural elements—they’re canvases waiting to tell your story.

What to Do With an Empty Wall in Living Room

Understanding Your Wall Space and Style

Assessing Your Empty Wall

Before diving into decoration ideas, take time to evaluate your space. Consider the wall’s size, lighting conditions, and relationship to existing furniture. A large empty wall above your sofa calls for different treatment than a narrow corner space.

Key factors to consider:

Wall dimensions and proportions
Natural and artificial lighting
Traffic flow around the area
Existing color scheme and decor style
Budget and timeline for the project

Identifying Your Design Aesthetic

Your wall decoration should complement your overall interior design style. Whether your aesthetic leans toward modern minimalism, rustic farmhouse, or eclectic bohemian, understanding your preferences helps narrow down the best options for your empty wall.

Creative Wall Art Solutions

1. Create a Stunning Gallery Wall

Gallery walls remain one of the most popular and customizable solutions for blank spaces. This versatile approach allows you to showcase personal photographs, artwork, and meaningful pieces in a curated display.

Tips for Gallery Wall Success:

Choose matching or complementary frames for cohesion
Mix sizes and orientations for visual interest
Lay out your arrangement on the floor before hanging
Start with a focal piece and build around it
Maintain consistent spacing between frames (2-3 inches works well)
Use painter’s tape to plan your layout first

Pro Tip: Use floating shelves to make the gallery easier to update over time, allowing you to rotate pieces seasonally.

2. Make a Statement with Large-Scale Art

Sometimes a single, large piece of artwork can transform an empty wall more effectively than multiple smaller pieces. One large-scale piece fills the wall effortlessly and becomes a bold centerpiece.

Types of Statement Art:

Abstract paintings or canvas prints
Large photography prints
Metal wall sculptures
Textile art or tapestries
Vintage maps or architectural drawings

The key is selecting pieces that serve as your room’s focal point and tie together your entire color scheme.

Functional Storage and Display Solutions

3. Add Floating Shelves for Style and Function

Floating shelves offer the perfect marriage of form and function, providing display space while adding architectural interest to your empty wall. They’re both decorative and functional, making them ideal for styling with books, plants, and personal collections.

Benefits of Floating Shelves:

Space-saving design
Easy to style and restyle
Perfect for minimalist or Scandinavian designs
Versatile for any room size

Styling Tips:

Follow the rule of odds—group items in sets of three or five
Vary heights and textures for visual appeal
Include live plants to bring life to your wall
Mix books both vertically and horizontally
Leave some empty space to avoid clutter

4. Install Built-In Storage Solutions

For a more permanent solution, consider built-in shelving or custom storage units. While requiring a larger investment, built-ins dramatically increase your home’s value while solving storage challenges.

Popular Built-In Options:

Floor-to-ceiling bookcases
Entertainment centers with media storage
Window seat storage combinations
Custom cabinetry with display areas
Modular shelving systems

5. Create a Home Library Wall

If you’re a book lover, a full library wall is both beautiful and functional, turning your empty wall into a literary showcase.

Library Wall Essentials:

Floor-to-ceiling shelving or modular systems
Integrated lighting for ambiance
Decorative bookends and plants
Mix of books and decorative objects
Consider IKEA hacks for budget-friendly options

Mirror Magic and Lighting Solutions

6. Try a Statement Mirror

Mirrors serve multiple purposes in living room design—they reflect light to make spaces appear larger, create the illusion of additional windows, and serve as decorative focal points.

Mirror Ideas for Maximum Impact:

Round or arched mirrors for softness
Oversized mirrors for dramatic effect
Framed mirrors to match your decor style
Collections of smaller mirrors in various shapes
Sunburst or starburst mirror designs
Antique or vintage mirrors for character

7. Incorporate Accent Lighting

Wall lighting can transform your empty wall into a dramatic feature while adding both function and visual interest.

Lighting Options:

Wall sconces for reading areas
Picture lights to highlight artwork
LED strip lighting behind floating shelves
Statement pendant lights at varying heights
Uplighting to create ambient wall washing

Architectural and Textural Treatments

8. Add Wall Molding or Paneling

Wall paneling instantly elevates your space and gives dimension to flat surfaces, creating instant character and sophistication.

Popular Paneling Styles:

Board and batten for classic charm
Picture frame molding for traditional elegance
Shiplap or wood slats for texture and farmhouse appeal
Modern vertical slat walls for contemporary spaces
Geometric wood panels for artistic flair

Paint paneling the same color as your wall for subtle texture, or use contrasting shades for dramatic effect.

9. Transform with Wallpaper or Bold Paint

Sometimes the simplest solutions create the biggest impact. Wallpaper is back in a big way, and accent walls using bold colors can instantly transform your living room’s atmosphere.

Paint Ideas:

Deep, moody colors like navy or forest green
Warm neutrals such as terracotta or sage
Geometric patterns using painter’s tape
Ombre or gradient effects

Wallpaper Options:

Peel-and-stick designs for renter-friendly solutions
Geometric patterns for modern appeal
Botanical prints for natural beauty
Grasscloth or natural fiber textures
Murals or abstract designs for artistic impact

Technology Integration

10. Mount a TV with Style

Wondering how to decorate a large wall in living room with TV? Turn your media setup into a stylish focal point rather than an eyesore.

TV Wall Design Ideas:

Frame the TV with built-in shelving units
Create a gallery wall around your mounted TV
Use wooden or stone backdrop panels to highlight the TV
Install floating shelves for media components
Add LED backlighting for ambiance
Design a custom entertainment center

11. Add a Wall-Mounted Fireplace

Electric fireplaces are trending for their ease of installation and immediate visual impact. They create a cozy focal point and can often accommodate a TV mounted above for the ultimate entertainment nook.

Living Elements and Natural Beauty

12. Install a Vertical Garden or Plant Wall

Greenery instantly livens up your space while improving indoor air quality. Vertical gardens or living walls create stunning focal points that bring nature indoors.

Plant Wall Ideas:

Wall-mounted planters in geometric arrangements
Ladder-style plant shelves for easy access
Hanging gardens with trailing plants
Faux greenery for low-maintenance homes
Moss walls for modern, sculptural appeal

Plant Selection Tips:

Choose plants that thrive in your lighting conditions
Mix textures and sizes for visual interest
Include trailing plants for dynamic movement
Consider maintenance requirements for your lifestyle

13. Showcase Large Floor Plants with Wall Backing

Sometimes the solution isn’t on the wall but in front of it. Large floor plants like fiddle leaf figs, rubber trees, or bird of paradise can fill empty wall space while adding life to your room.

Creative and Artistic Displays

14. Showcase Decorative Wall Hangings

Move beyond traditional art with unique decorative elements that add texture and personality.

Creative Wall Hanging Ideas:

Macramé for bohemian charm
Woven tapestries for texture
Metal or wood sculptures for dimension
Decorative plates arranged artistically
Vintage hat collections
Cultural artifacts and travel souvenirs

This approach works especially well in boho, eclectic, or globally-inspired spaces.

15. Hang a Large Wall Clock

An oversized wall clock blends style and function beautifully, especially in traditional, farmhouse, or industrial interiors. Choose designs that complement your decor while serving as functional art.

16. Install a Chalkboard or Whiteboard Wall

Great for families or creative minds, a chalkboard wall adds both charm and utility. It’s perfect for family messages, kids’ artwork, or brainstorming sessions.

Multi-Functional Spaces

17. Add a Reading Nook or Bench

If your empty wall is near a window, create a cozy reading nook with a small bench or built-in seat.

Reading Nook Essentials:

Comfortable seating with storage underneath
Throw pillows for comfort
Wall-mounted sconces for reading light
Small side tables for books and beverages
Window treatments for privacy

18. Create a Functional Drop Zone

If your wall is near an entry point, transform it into a practical landing space for daily essentials.

Drop Zone Components:

Hooks for coats, bags, and keys
Console table for mail and accessories
Mirror for last-minute appearance checks
Baskets for organized storage
Bulletin board for important reminders

19. Try Modular Wall Storage

Perfect for small spaces, modular systems combine display and organization in customizable configurations.

Uses for Modular Storage:

Media items and electronics
Home office supplies and files
Kids’ toys and games
Seasonal decorations
Collections and hobby supplies

Budget-Friendly and Rental Solutions

20. Removable Options for Renters

Renters need solutions that don’t require permanent changes to the space.

Renter-Friendly Ideas:

Removable wallpaper and wall decals
Command strip hanging systems
Freestanding room dividers as wall backdrops
Temporary wall treatments using fabric
Magnetic boards for organizational needs

21. Affordable Art Alternatives

Creating beautiful wall displays doesn’t require expensive artwork.

Budget-Conscious Options:

Print high-resolution images from online sources
Frame fabric scraps or beautiful wrapping paper
Create your own abstract paintings
Display collections of vintage items
Use family photographs in coordinated frames
Frame pages from old books or sheet music

Advanced Design Strategies

Combining Multiple Ideas for Maximum Impact

Don’t feel limited to one approach. The most successful wall treatments often combine several elements for a layered, sophisticated look.

Successful Combinations:

Gallery wall with floating shelves and accent lighting
Statement mirror with flanking sconces and plants
Built-in shelving with integrated TV and artwork
Accent wall color with floating shelves and wall art

Seasonal and Changeable Decor

Keep your wall decoration fresh by planning for seasonal updates. This approach allows you to refresh your space regularly without major renovations.

Changeable Decor Strategies:

Interchangeable artwork systems using picture ledges
Seasonal plant displays and arrangements
Rotating collections and decorative objects
Modular components that can be rearranged

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Scale and Proportion Errors

One of the biggest mistakes is choosing elements that are incorrectly sized for the space. A tiny piece of artwork on a large wall gets lost, while oversized pieces can overwhelm smaller areas.

Guidelines for Proper Scale:

Artwork should cover 60-75% of the furniture width below it
Gallery walls should extend beyond sofa arms
Mirror height should be positioned at eye level
Floating shelves should be proportional to wall width

Overcrowding and Visual Clutter

While it’s tempting to fill every inch of empty wall space, restraint often creates more impact. Allow breathing room around decorative elements.

Maintenance and Long-Term Success

Keeping Wall Displays Fresh

Regular maintenance ensures your wall decoration continues looking its best over time.

Maintenance Tips:

Schedule quarterly decoration assessments
Keep extra hardware for easy updates and changes
Maintain proper plant care routines for living elements
Clean mirrors, glass, and artwork regularly
Touch up paint and repair minor damage promptly

Final Words

An empty wall in your living room isn’t a problem—it’s a canvas waiting for your creative vision. Whether you’re decorating on a budget with DIY solutions or planning a full makeover with custom built-ins, these 20+ ideas can transform your space and reflect your unique personality.

The key to success lies in understanding your space, identifying your needs, and choosing solutions that enhance your daily life while expressing your personal style. Don’t feel pressured to fill every wall immediately—start with one approach that resonates with you, and allow your wall treatment to evolve over time.

Remember that the most successful wall decorations serve both form and function, creating beautiful focal points while meeting your practical needs. Whether you opt for a dramatic statement piece, a carefully curated gallery wall, functional floating shelves, or a creative combination of approaches, your empty wall represents an opportunity to create something meaningful in your home’s most important gathering space.

Choose what fits your lifestyle, budget, and aesthetic preferences, then start turning those blank walls into beautiful design features that you’ll love for years to come.