ByAnna Kocharian,Lydia Geisel
UpdatedMay 30, 2024 12:01 PM EDT
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Is it just us, or does it seem nearly impossible to find the perfect decorative piece for the empty spot above a bed? More often than not, we either leave the wall blank or deck it with a print we’ve had for longer than we’d care to remember or admit. That all changes here. As the 11 style-focused spaces ahead prove, even the most mundane or expected elements can instantly transform your bedroom.
Designing a gallery wall can be a pretty intimidating process. One way to go about it? Forgo the art and opt for a gridded display of frames instead. We’re taking major pointers from this Paris apartment, which proves that something as simple as pairing an eclectic array of antique frames with an alluring shade of wall paint can really go a long way.
As far as DIYs go, this trick—which involves tacking up a piece of fabric with your choice of nails or pushpins—is one that requires almost no skill but looks thoughtfully curated. Not sure what type of fabric to casually mount on your wall? Start by shopping your linen closet for scraps, or browse Etsy for antique and vintage offcuts.
No room for a nightstand? No problem. Screw a simple pinewood shelf into the wall à la designer Eliza Gran’s Ghent, New York, home, and suddenly you’ve got a nearby surface that can hold plenty of weight, including fresh florals and a pitcher.
In a small bedroom like the one in this London pied-à-terre, a large work of art over the headboard can feel overwhelming, so here’s a thought: you don’t have to match the wall’s scale, or even hang something in the center of the space. These portraits turn out to be more attention-grabbing because they’re off-center.
The landscape oil paintings scattered around the bed frame in designer Melissa Colgan’s Washington, D.C., home are her way of maximizing her collection (and her budget). “You get the look of a giant landscape but for less,” she says. By grouping like works together, the area doesn’t feel overstyled, even with so much going on.
A 6- to 12-inch bump-out can serve as both a headboard and a rotating art display. Rather than put a permanent nail hole in your wall, you can lean works—and you also have plenty of room to prop up plants and taper candles, too.
The low 6-foot ceilings and short windows in Christine Espinal’s bedroom sound like a recipe for a cave, but the spatial designer overcompensated with a large Ariette 1 wall light sculpture by Tobia Scarpa, so there’s no way it could ever feel dungeon-y.
Graphic designer Timothy Goodman also traded in the idea of a traditional nightstand lamp for an over-the-bed neon light. Seeing the cords hanging down from the fixture only adds to his studio apartment’s industrial vibes (it’s located in a former hat factory that was built in 1891).
If a swatch of fabric skews too casual for you but you want to add some texture to your wall, consider fiber art. (Psst: The Citizenry has a handful of zen options crafted from cotton thread.) A small colorful rug has a similar effect.
To solve for the two skinny windows that flank either side of her bed, Sarah Sherman Samuel decided to wrap the entire corner of her space with fabric using a mounted track. And yes, she was still able to display art. The sculptural LRNCE mirror that looks like it’s attached directly to the fabric is actually suspended from ceiling-mounted hooks.
Victoria Adesanmi lives in Hollywood, but by the looks of her limewash walls (painted in Dune Shack by Portola Paints) and the dried palm frond hanging over her headboard, you’d think she was in Tulum.
Anna has a penchant for travel, fresh flowers, and books. You can usually find her on some sort of culinary adventure, seeking the best burgers or waffles in the city.
Lydia Geisel has been on the editorial team at Domino since 2017. Today, she writes and edits home and renovation stories, including house tours, before and afters, and DIYs, and leads our design news coverage. She lives in New York City.
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