10 DIY Wall Designs With a Difference
Check out these fun and DIY-friendly ideas to liven up a blank wall in your home
It’s easy enough to hang a picture, but occasionally a room calls for something a bit more interesting. With a smidge of DIY know-how, you’ll be surprised at how many things can be transformed into a work of art.
2. Mix it up
Chose a feature wall and adorn it with things that reflect your personality.
Opt for as wide a collection as you can for an eclectic look – from carved wooden initials to framed postcards that mean something special to you. A good way to start is to place the biggest item in the centre and work outwards.
Chose a feature wall and adorn it with things that reflect your personality.
Opt for as wide a collection as you can for an eclectic look – from carved wooden initials to framed postcards that mean something special to you. A good way to start is to place the biggest item in the centre and work outwards.
3. Show off your sporting side
If you’re a cyclist, you can kill two birds with one stone and mount a wall rack for stowing your bike, so it can double up as a wall covering.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to risk marking your walls when hanging up or retrieving your bike, track down a vintage one that can be used for display purposes only. You could even spray paint it to make a big statement.
In a similar vein, tennis rackets would make a fun display (especially vintage wooden ones). Simply hang them from hooks or screws positioned on your wall.
If you’re a cyclist, you can kill two birds with one stone and mount a wall rack for stowing your bike, so it can double up as a wall covering.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to risk marking your walls when hanging up or retrieving your bike, track down a vintage one that can be used for display purposes only. You could even spray paint it to make a big statement.
In a similar vein, tennis rackets would make a fun display (especially vintage wooden ones). Simply hang them from hooks or screws positioned on your wall.
4. Plate it up
Get rummaging in your local charity shops for odd bits of china that can be turned into a pretty installation.
Plates with mismatched patterns in similar colour tones work really well in a uniform display like this. To fix them on to the wall, you can use the traditional wire plate hangers, or there are a couple of other options now available – stick-on disc hangers and fabric and glue hanging kits (which can be dissolved in water at a later date). The latter are the best bet for odd shapes and instances where the rim of the plate is too thick for a wire hanger.
Get rummaging in your local charity shops for odd bits of china that can be turned into a pretty installation.
Plates with mismatched patterns in similar colour tones work really well in a uniform display like this. To fix them on to the wall, you can use the traditional wire plate hangers, or there are a couple of other options now available – stick-on disc hangers and fabric and glue hanging kits (which can be dissolved in water at a later date). The latter are the best bet for odd shapes and instances where the rim of the plate is too thick for a wire hanger.
5. Get collecting
If you’re a bit of a collector and have a nice selection of items, like these hand-held vanity mirrors, mount them on a wall for a unique display.
To avoid damaging your precious collection, you can use the same fabric and glue hanging kits designed for wall-mounting plates, mentioned earlier. These can easily be removed by soaking them in water, restoring your items to their pre-display condition.
If you’re a bit of a collector and have a nice selection of items, like these hand-held vanity mirrors, mount them on a wall for a unique display.
To avoid damaging your precious collection, you can use the same fabric and glue hanging kits designed for wall-mounting plates, mentioned earlier. These can easily be removed by soaking them in water, restoring your items to their pre-display condition.
6. Be snap happy
Create your own art wall by printing out some of your favourite photos on ordinary copy paper. Arrange as you’d like them to appear on the wall – possibly pencilling out a grid on the wall if you have a large expanse like the one in this kitchen.
Alternatively, there are companies that can turn your photos into wallpaper. Get those digital images off your tech and into the world!
Create your own art wall by printing out some of your favourite photos on ordinary copy paper. Arrange as you’d like them to appear on the wall – possibly pencilling out a grid on the wall if you have a large expanse like the one in this kitchen.
Alternatively, there are companies that can turn your photos into wallpaper. Get those digital images off your tech and into the world!
7. Dabble with decals
Look online for a pretty tree wall sticker for your little one’s nursery and then customise it with ribbons and fabric initials to create a magical display.
Wall stickers are a cheap and easy way to decorate a wall with limited commitment. You can easily peel off and totally remove them or replace them with others as your child gets older.
Look online for a pretty tree wall sticker for your little one’s nursery and then customise it with ribbons and fabric initials to create a magical display.
Wall stickers are a cheap and easy way to decorate a wall with limited commitment. You can easily peel off and totally remove them or replace them with others as your child gets older.
8. Big up your hedge
Wall displays don’t need to be limited to indoors. Either invest in a couple of garden mirrors, which are often made from Perspex to withstand the elements, or give the frames of some indoor mirrors a lick of durable exterior gloss.
The mirrors in this garden are held in place by metal arms and framework hidden in the hedge, but if you have a garden wall or fence, it would be a simple job to install appropriate wall fixtures from which to hang them.
Make your walled courtyard look bigger
Wall displays don’t need to be limited to indoors. Either invest in a couple of garden mirrors, which are often made from Perspex to withstand the elements, or give the frames of some indoor mirrors a lick of durable exterior gloss.
The mirrors in this garden are held in place by metal arms and framework hidden in the hedge, but if you have a garden wall or fence, it would be a simple job to install appropriate wall fixtures from which to hang them.
Make your walled courtyard look bigger
9. Play with perspective
Why not incorporate a fun photo into a room to create an optical illusion, like the one in this fabulous cloakroom.
There are plenty of services now where you can turn your favourite snap into a mural. Why not create a beach scene behind your bed or a cloudy sky on your ceiling?
Why not incorporate a fun photo into a room to create an optical illusion, like the one in this fabulous cloakroom.
There are plenty of services now where you can turn your favourite snap into a mural. Why not create a beach scene behind your bed or a cloudy sky on your ceiling?
10. Opt for an unfinished finish
Experiment with unusual tile patterns on a flat surface until you come up with a configuration you’re happy with. Take a picture or mark the design on grid paper to help guide you when you mount the tiles on the wall.
Then, taking care to use a spirit level, adhere your tiles to your chosen wall. You’ll be ticking the box for the pixellated-effect trend while you’re at it.
TELL US
Have you given any of your walls an unusual twist? Share your photos in the Comments.
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Browse more accent walls
Experiment with unusual tile patterns on a flat surface until you come up with a configuration you’re happy with. Take a picture or mark the design on grid paper to help guide you when you mount the tiles on the wall.
Then, taking care to use a spirit level, adhere your tiles to your chosen wall. You’ll be ticking the box for the pixellated-effect trend while you’re at it.
TELL US
Have you given any of your walls an unusual twist? Share your photos in the Comments.
MORE
Browse more accent walls
Avoid your hallway becoming overrun with footwear and put a set of cubbyholes on the wall to store them all in.
Look out for a wooden or wire mesh set online or at op-shops and you’ll create a practical yet stylish storage solution – especially good for little kids’ shoes.
See more interesting storage ideas