How to add some personality to bare walls

Your living room isn’t just where you kick back and relax — it’s also one of the best spots in the house to show off your style. Because you don’t have to cram it full of practical furniture like beds or kitchen units, there’s loads of freedom to be a bit more creative.

So when a living room feels bare or like it’s missing a bit of personality, it really shows. If the big pieces are already in place but the space still feels flat, it might be time to turn your attention to the walls. There’s plenty you can do to bring them to life, starting with a few easy ideas like these…

 

Add artwork that speaks to you

There are a few things that carry as much personality and personal taste as the right piece of artwork for your walls.

From modern and minimalist pieces to classic landscapes and portraits, the right selection of art can reflect your tastes, experiences, and values greatly. You don’t need to be a collector; even affordable prints, local art, or personal photography can make a strong statement.

You can mix and match frame styles for a curated look, or you can decide to take a simpler approach with sleeker, simpler frames. Some people like to have a particular piece dominate the space and serve as the focal point, while others prefer something more like a gallery wall.

 

We chose this Tom Butler original print as a wedding present off my parents, and it’s been moved across different locations in our home but I absolutely love it here above the sideboard. The room is our living room but with one end as the dining room.

 

Get personal

A gallery wall can be more than just a selection of art that you have a particular fondness for — it can also carry direct history and meaning for you.

Curating a selection of photos, travel souvenirs, or even your kids’ drawings can help you tell a more personal story. Aside from finding and grouping relevant items, you can aim for balance in how you space your pieces, as well as the colour tone, but a more personal showcase doesn’t necessarily need to be perfectly symmetrical either, as the charm can help to carry it.

In the end, your walls can become a vibrant mosaic of your life and interests, one that can evolve over time just as you do, as a person or family.

 

Dress your windows as well as you walls

Your windows are going to take up plenty of space on exterior walls, and you might think that they can serve just fine as focal points themselves.

However, the right pair of gorgeous bespoke curtains can do a lot more than control the natural light that you let in — they can frame the whole room. Bold patterns or rich textures can energise your living space, while soft neutrals add sophistication and calm.

Choose fabrics that match your personality, whether that’s linen for a more relaxed feel, velvet for a luxurious tint, or cotton for some homespun charm. You can also use curtains to manipulate the perception of the interior space, such as by hanging them high and wide to make the room seem a little more expansive.

 

Use shelving for both style and storage

With all that wall space to play with, it’s tempting to turn it into storage — and honestly, why not? Floating shelves, ladder shelves or even built-in units are all brilliant ways to add a bit of depth and character to your living room. That extra 3D effect they bring can really lift a flat wall.

 

But don’t stop at the practical stuff. Shelves are a fab opportunity to show off your style without taking up floor space. Mix in books, ceramics, little plants, framed art, or personal bits and bobs that mean something to you. Group things in odd numbers, play around with different heights and textures, and you’ll end up with shelves that feel styled but not staged. Think of them as mini moodboards, perfect for adding charm without the clutter.

 

Use the right paint or wallpaper

Four walls that look exactly the same have a greater chance of feeling a little lack lustre, as if they’re missing something.

However, choosing one of those walls to be your accent wall and then painting it a different colour, from a cosy green to a deep blue, or something brighter and more energetic, can help it pop a lot more.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also try patterned wallpaper or peel-and-stick murals. Geometric patterns, botanical prints, or metallic textures can turn a boring wall into an artistic statement. An accent wall does a lot to communicate a little more personality, the contrast helping draw the eye to it, which can also make it heighten the focal potential of a gallery, shelves, or the like.

We chose a peel-and-stick pattern for one wall in my daughter’s room and I love how it turned out. It really adds to the room and without it, it would feel quite empty and flat.

 

Bring some life into the space

Greenery can do a lot of good for any space, and when you don’t have tons of windowsill space or are simply looking to liven up your walls, then living walls and vertical gardens can be an excellent way to add it.

You can mount wall planters or use a tiered hanging system, planting all kinds of ferns, succulents, and even trailing vines.

If you’re not too enthusiastic about the idea of having to maintain a lot of plants indoors, you can also use high-quality faux greenery to add much of the aesthetic impact. However, real plants can introduce colour, improve air quality, and foster a calming atmosphere, transforming your wall into something vibrant and earthy.

 

Go DIY

You know I love a DIY project, so what better than to get stuck into something crafty?

If you want your living room to feel more you, the walls are a great place to start. They’re the perfect blank canvas for showing off your interests and passions, whether that’s art, books, music, films, or something a bit more niche.

Some things slot in effortlessly, like shelves of well-loved books or a bold art print. But you can easily get creative with a DIY touch, too. Love music? Why not put together a mini gallery of your favourite vinyl sleeves, or even the records themselves? If films are more your thing, framing posters from your top films can add a really personal twist.

The key is balance. You don’t want your hobby to take over the room completely — it’s still a shared space, after all — but a small, thoughtful display can go a long way in bringing your personality into the mix.

 

I hope this has helped and can inspire you to decorate your bare walls to inject some fun and personality!