14 Creative Wall Art Ideas to Refresh Your Home Decor
There’s nothing wrong with buying a mass-produced poster or print when you’re in a pinch. However, think outside the box when it comes to wall art if you want your home to make a statement.
I love finding interesting ways to jazz up my walls, whether it’s vintage hats or a meaningful DIY sketch. You don’t need to spend thousands on original artwork or devote hours to scrolling through Pinterest. I’ve curated a list of wall art I’ve used in my homes over the years and some from my favorite design sites.
If you’re looking to give your home a little pick-me-up, skip the art aisle at your local home store and get creative. These 14 slices of inspiration give you interesting ways to dress up your walls and refresh your home.
1. Elevate Your Walls With Molding

Adding molding to your walls is a great way to enhance the look and feel of your space. With a little know-how and skill, this is a DIY project you can tackle with confidence.
Use trim in a contrasting color to the wall to create a more dramatic statement, or paint everything the same hue for a more luxe look. Design blogger Nina Hendrick offers some great insight into adding molding to your walls.
2. Display Vintage Hats

When I lived in my first house, I often worked as a costume designer for theatrical productions. I also was obsessed with vintage clothing. I acquired my great aunt’s collection of amazing hats circa the 1930s through the 1960s.
There were at least 30 of them. I didn’t want to keep them all inside hat boxes.
Instead, I selected my favorites and hung them on my wall, marrying storage with decor. Now and then, I would swap a few out when I was using certain pieces in a show.
3. Commission a Stunning Mural

My son decided he wanted to have a jungle room when he was four. He wanted a giant mural on one wall that featured trees, a sloth, a colorful snake, and, to my dismay, a cockroach.
My niece and her fiance were both incredible artists, so I hired them for the job, and it turned out fantastic. To this day, the jungle mural is still there.
Now, you may not want a bunch of animals on your wall. But you can commission a talented artist to design a perfect and personal mural for your space.
4. Create a Gallery Wall of Mirrors

If you’re looking for a way to decorate and brighten up your space, select several mirrors and hang them gallery-wall style. A grouping of vintage mirrors or ones with fun shapes looks interesting and fills your wall with something different.
The glass also reflects light around the room, making it feel larger and more open. Paint the frames all in one color if you prefer a more cohesive look.
5. Use Built-In Bookcases

I came across this list of built-in bookcase ideas in Better Homes and Gardens and thought, “Dedicated bookworms will love this suggestion.” Turn built-in bookcases into thoughtful wall art by accessorizing them and making them more than just a storage solution.
Some suggestions are to wallpaper the back panels or hang a picture from one of the shelves. Incorporate some of your favorite decor pieces between books, or choose shelves with interesting orientations, like diagonal or honeycomb shapes.
6. Turn Plants Into Art

If you’re blessed with a green thumb, a living wall blends your love for nature with your desire for creative artwork. Creating a living wall takes a bit of planning, but it’s worth it if you’re prepared to keep up with the maintenance.
However, if you prefer an easier way to turn greenery into art, consider hanging several individual plants. Suspend them from a rod installed on the wall or from the ceiling. Alternatively, install several floating shelves and place vining plants on them.
7. Showcase Costume Jewelry

I can’t stand storing necklaces and bracelets in a jewelry box. When the pieces lie flat, they all get jumbled up or break.
I decided to hang my jewelry and display it. I got an inexpensive piece of artwork painted on a decorative piece of wood at a thrift store. I installed small hooks into the wood and painted the whole thing one color.
I use it to hang necklaces, bracelets, and a few hats. My earrings are on pieces of grosgrain ribbon, so they can hang on the board, too. It’s practical and creates a colorful piece of art.
8. Frame Sections of Wallpaper

Frame pieces of wallpaper and hang them as art instead of traditional prints or posters. Use the same frames or paint different frames the same color to create an art collection.
Or fill a section of the wall from floor to ceiling and install molding on the sides. This trick provides you with a way to create an accent wall without wallpapering the entire wall.
9. Mount a Curated Collection of Plates

I love Myquillyn Smith’s (The Nester) imperfectly perfect approach to design. One of the wall art displays that show up over and over again in her different homes is her curated plate collection.
Sometimes, it takes on a different look, but the concept remains the same. A simple collection of plates, arranged in a pleasing way that turns regular dinnerware into beautiful artwork.
10. Play With Decals

Decals have come a long way over the years. Once upon a time, they were something you put in your kid’s superhero-themed room. Today, you can find various shapes to create a quirky or beautiful wall display.
However, it’s recommended to steer clear of the kitschy quotes and words emblazoned across your wall in vinyl.
11. Show Off Your Favorite Musical Instruments

If you’re a musician, have a musical background, or simply love music, turn your passion into meaningful artwork. Instead of keeping your instruments tucked away in cases, mount them on the wall.
Don’t want to hang the instruments you currently use? Source discarded pieces and give them new life as art, or curate vintage instruments and create a unique display.
12. Hang Butcher Paper and Get Creative

As a former preschool teacher (and current drama teacher), I love giving kids ways to channel their imaginations and creativity. Adults also benefit from letting their inner artists shine through.
Hang a long piece of butcher paper or several poster boards on the wall and provide people with paints and markers. Set parameters if you want to stay within a certain color scheme, etc. Then, let everyone do their thing and see what develops.
You get art that’s 100% one-of-a-kind and has a fabulous story behind it. To elevate the look, put frames around the paper.
13. Put a Rug or Tapestry on the Wall

Pamela Sechaud (The Gem Picker) suggests looking at things differently by hanging rugs on the wall. She discusses how this is a common practice in the Near and Middle East – we just aren’t very accustomed to it in the Western world.
A gorgeous rug used as artwork adds texture and depth to your design, makes a statement and also provides sound-absorbing qualities. If you aren’t quite ready to make the leap, start with a beautiful tapestry instead.
14. Make a Statement With Macrame

Some designers say macrame is falling out of style, yet others insist it’s still going strong. I don’t have any in my home, but I do think it’s beautiful and looks amazing in a Boho or organic modern space.
Therefore, if you love the look, embrace it and use it as artwork. Make it even more personal by learning how to create your own macrame masterpieces.