There are some walls you decorate straight away, and then there are the ones you keep ignoring. Then one day you decide it needs something. The first idea is usually a picture. Then you think about the nail. Then the drill. Then the hole you’ll have to deal with later.
If you’re renting, that can be enough to abandon the whole idea. Even if you own your home, though, drilling isn’t always worth it. You may want to move the artwork later, change the furniture around, or simply keep the walls in good condition.
So instead of asking, “What can I hang here?” it helps to ask a slightly different question:
What can I do with this wall without actually attaching things to it?
That opens up quite a few possibilities. Here are ten ways to decorate your walls without drilling, including a few that don’t involve putting anything on the wall at all.
1. Start With the Things You Already Own
Before buying wall decor, look around the house. There’s probably something sitting in another room that would work perfectly. Move it. It sounds almost too simple, but changing the position of one familiar item can make a room feel surprisingly different.
Photographs are an easy place to start. Choose a few you actually like instead of buying prints simply because they fit a particular colour scheme. Family pictures, holiday photographs, artwork from your children, or even an old photograph you’ve always liked can make an empty wall feel more personal.
If the frames are lightweight, removable picture-hanging strips may work. Check the product’s weight limit and make sure your wall surface is suitable before using them.
2. A Gallery Wall Doesn’t Have to Look Like a Showroom
There’s a certain temptation to make a gallery wall perfectly even. Same frames. Same spacing. Everything lined up. It can look good, but it isn’t the only way to do it.
A more relaxed arrangement can work just as well. Put a larger photograph beside two smaller prints. Add a postcard or a little piece of artwork. Use frames you already have, even if they aren’t all identical.
The easiest part to overthink is the layout. Once you find a combination you like, take a photograph of it before putting anything up. It gives you something to refer back to, particularly if you’re using removable hanging strips.
3. Keep Smaller Displays Casual With Washi Tape
Some pictures don’t need a frame. Washi tape can be used to put up photographs, postcards, small prints, children’s drawings or notes. Because the tape comes in different colours and patterns, it can become part of the display rather than something you have to hide.
This can be a nice option for a bedroom or study area where you want the wall to feel a little more relaxed.
4. Let the Mirror Lean
A large mirror doesn’t necessarily need to be mounted. In fact, leaning one against the wall can look quite intentional. A full-length mirror works naturally in a bedroom, while a larger decorative mirror can add interest to a hallway or living room.
There’s a practical reason to like this idea as well. A mirror can reflect daylight and make a room feel brighter. Where you place it matters, though.
5. Use Fabric When You Want Something Softer
If your room already has a lot of framed artwork, adding another picture may not be what the wall needs. Try something with texture instead.
A tapestry, woven wall hanging, macrame piece, or lightweight textile can bring a softer feel to the room. This can be particularly nice in bedrooms, where wood, glass, and other hard surfaces can sometimes make the space feel a little stark.
6. Put Furniture in Front of the Wall
This is probably one of the most useful ideas if you really don’t want to attach anything to the wall. Don’t decorate the wall. Use the space in front of it.
A narrow console table can work behind a sofa, along a hallway, or against a larger living-room wall. Add a lamp, a plant, a few books, or a vase.
7. Bring in a Plant
Plants have a way of making empty spaces feel less empty without looking as though you’re trying to fill them. A tall plant can work particularly well beside a blank wall. Put it next to a sofa, cabinet, or console, and it adds height without making the wall itself busy.
8. Give Small Decorations a Place With Removable Hooks
Not everything you want to display is a photograph. Maybe you have a small wreath, a lightweight basket, a seasonal decoration, or a decorative item that looks better on the wall than in a cupboard.
Removable hooks can be useful for these smaller pieces, as long as the item is within the hook’s weight limit and the wall surface is suitable.
9. Change the Wall Itself With a Removable Decal
If you’re not allowed to paint but want the wall to look different, a removable decal is another option. You can find simple botanical designs, geometric shapes, maps, abstract patterns, and plenty of other styles. They don’t have to look childish or overly decorative.
They’re especially useful in children’s rooms because tastes change quickly.
10. Lean the Artwork Instead of Hanging It
This one doesn’t require much effort. If you have a large framed print, try leaning it against the wall. It can sit on a console, cabinet, bookshelf, or sturdy shelf. A large piece can sometimes stand directly on the floor, depending on the room and the size of the frame.
The Best No-Drill Idea May Be the One You Can Change
There isn’t a single answer for how to decorate your walls without drilling. If you’re renting, removable hanging products give you a little more freedom. If the wall is large, a mirror, textile, or piece of furniture may make more sense than a collection of small pictures. If you’re decorating a bedroom, plants and softer textures can change the feel of the space without making it look crowded.
