If you're wondering whether you should decorate every wall in each room, the simple answer is that when it comes to hanging pictures and art, no, you don't need to fill every wall space with pictures. Empty wall space actually enhances your decor and can be a crucial design element in many cases. These wall decorating tips will help you know when you should and shouldn't decorate every wall in the room and how you can design your interior walls like a professional.
Knowing How Many Walls in a Room Should Be Decorated
There are very few instances when you need to place a picture or art on every wall in your home. The art of deciding what should go on the wall involves considering other décor elements.
Furnishings and Pictures Complement Each Other
The pictures you add should blend in and feel like a natural part of your home and decor. Furniture pieces create natural breaks in a wall and present empty wall spaces that may be ideal for art. Examine the shapes and patterns that the furnishings create around the empty wall space. Decide whether the space should be filled or if it would be better left empty.
Adjacent Walls
Consider the furniture and any architectural features on adjacent walls and how these break up wall space. Often, you'll want to skip adding a picture or art on the adjacent walls. For example, you may decide a full wall shelf filled with decorative objects is all the design element you want for an adjacent wall.
Window and Door Walls
Window and door walls can offer interesting picture opportunities.
Room-by-Room Guide to Decorating Walls
Before you hang pictures or art, consider the room layout and the ratio of exposed wall space. Architectural features can limit or present opportunities for creative displays of art, frames, and other wall decor.
Foyers and Back Entrances
Most foyers are small compared to the rest of the home, accommodating only a few decorative details and one or two accent furniture pieces. For this reason, it's often best to only decorate one wall of an entrance area.
Staircases
A staircase is an opportunity to get creative with wall decor and transform a standard wall into a true art display.
Living Rooms
Once you have the large furniture pieces placed in your living room, stand back and asses the wall space. This blank canvas is your opportunity to elevate the style of the room and add personal flair to the space.
Dining Room
The dining room offers several possibilities for placing pictures. Keep in mind the furniture on each wall and how it relates to the empty walls and the surrounding space.
Kitchen and Breakfast Nook
Kitchen walls are typically covered with cabinets and pantry doors. The key to adding pictures here is choosing appropriate picture sizes for exposed wall space.
Hallway
Hallways are an opportunity to display some of your favorite art collections or most beloved family photos. Use this long space of wall to bring personality and style to an otherwise neglected area of your home.
Bedrooms
The two most common places for pictures in a bedroom are above the headboard and over the night stands. Use theses spaces wisely for a curated look.
Bathrooms
Wall space in bathrooms might feel tricky at first, but making the best use of your wall space just requires a simple assessment of the room.
Accent Walls
An accent wall already makes a big statement in a room, especially if it has a distinct pattern. Carefully consider whether additional decor would add to or distract from the existing aesthetic of the accent wall.