How to decorate a blank wall without furniture using artwork

Blank walls without furniture can be intimidating or boring. There’s no headboard to center above, no console to ground your layout—just empty space. And with that freedom comes uncertainty: How high should I hang my art? Will it float too much? Does it feel balanced?

But a blank wall isn’t a problem. It’s a blank page. With a thoughtful approach, you can turn that quiet expanse into a confident, intentional feature in your space.

Start by “reading the wall”

Before choosing your artwork or layout, take a step back and “read” the wall. Is it wide or narrow? Tall or short? Does it have vents, light switches, or other interruptions? Is it a main focal point or a subtle backdrop? Can you see it from an entryway or the main seating area?

These clues will help you decide the role the wall should play in the room. A wide, open wall might call for a bold, statement piece. A narrow, tucked-away space might be better served by a softer, supporting visual. When you understand the shape and context of the wall, it becomes easier to choose both the scale and placement of your art.

Use an orientation based on wall size

Let the wall’s shape guide the format of your art. For wide walls, try a gallery row of three to five equally spaced frames, or a long panoramic piece. If the wall is tall and narrow, go vertical with a single image or with a stacked set of two or three frames. For square or medium-sized walls, one large piece or a grid of four to six smaller prints works beautifully. If you love less order in your arrangements, curate a collection of different sized frames and wall decor to fill the footprint (shape) you need.

Use the right eye height

When hanging in a space that doesn’t have furniture immediately under the picture, there are a few simple measurements that you can use to get a balanced look. Typically you will use the height of the furniture to help to position the height of your artwork, but without that as a guide, consider how you will be viewing your artwork and use that as a starting point.

If the space is one where you will be standing or walking through, consider using a standing eye height of around 60 inches (152 cm) from the floor. This is where the center of your frame or arrangement should appear. If you are hanging your piece in a space where you will primarily be viewing it from a seated position, for example a dining room or living room, hang it a little lower, using a seated eye height of around 56 inches (142 cm). These are some good guidelines to get you started but they are not set in stone—hang a little higher or lower if it feels better to you.

Consider the surrounding space

Have a look around the space and see if there’s anything already hanging on the wall, and if there is, consider lining up your new piece at the same height as the existing artwork (even if you don’t see them both at the same time).

You can align the tops, bottoms or centers of pieces to each other for a balanced look, depending on what you think would look best for your new item. For example, don’t align the bottom edges if this would make the new piece hang too high on the wall. In that case, consider aligning the centers. 

Many times when you enter a space you see 2 or even 3 walls at the same time, so even if two pieces are on opposite walls and are never seen together when you are sitting in the space, for that brief moment that you see them together you will quickly notice if they are not aligned, so it’s always worth considering.

Entryway walls

An entryway is an obvious place to make an impression. This is a great spot for a single bold piece of art, centered at standing eye height about 56–60 inches from the floor. If the wall is tall, consider a vertical arrangement or even a long mirror to create the impression the space is brighter and roomier.

The home entrance sets the tone for the entire home. Choose art that feels welcoming, intriguing, or just beautifully “you”. Minimalist abstracts, black-and-white photography, or sculptural mirrors can work well.

Hallways

Hallways are often long, narrow, and without any furniture to guide you. Use the longest uninterrupted wall and hang a linear arrangement at consistent eye level. Since you will be standing close to the artwork as you are passing by, make sure to use standing eye height to avoid having to look down to see it.  Shallow frames are best here to avoid crowding the space. You can center them in the length of the hallway, or if there are doors that open onto the hallway you can center the art arrangement opposite the doorway.

A series of evenly spaced pieces—like sketches, photographs, or prints—can bring calm and rhythm to the hallway. Repetition works wonders in these transitional spaces.

Open concept rooms

In open-concept homes, blank walls often sit between zones like the kitchen, dining, and living room areas. These walls don’t belong to any one area, which makes them perfect for art—but also a little confusing to decorate.

Let the art define the area. Pick a blank section between architectural elements like windows, doors, or beams, and center your layout within that zone. A large piece or a balanced pair of artwork works well here. Choose something that relates to the room it’s nearest to, but keeps a neutral or transitional tone to work across zones.

Blank walls don’t need furniture to feel finished. With a little planning, a sense of proportion, and the right format, they can be some of the most visually satisfying spaces in your home. So if you’re staring at a wall and wondering what to do—start by reading it. Picture what could be there. And then bring it to life with art that feels balanced, thoughtful, and brings you joy. 

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-The UTR Team