Staring at a blank wall with basically no budget? Same.
It’s the worst kind of decorating problem because every option online seems to cost more than your rent, lol!
This list exists to fix exactly that. The ideas below focus on inexpensive materials and ways to give a blank wall some personality.
Everything here uses things you can find at the dollar store, the craft aisle or honestly just lying around in a drawer somewhere. No fancy tools required.
Some of these take twenty minutes. Others are a lazy Sunday project. Either way, nothing on this list needs a trip to a fancy home store.
Under each idea you’ll find the little details that matter, plus a link to the full tutorial when there’s one worth following. Pick whatever fits your wall and your patience level.
Ready to make that empty wall stop bothering you? Let’s get into it.
CHEAP WALL DECORATION IDEAS
Washi Tape Wall Art
Washi tape might be the most underrated craft supply out there. Removal depends on the tape, paint and wall surface.
Check the tape maker’s instructions and try a small hidden area before making the full pattern.
Grab a few rolls in colors that match your room and tape out geometric shapes or a giant sunburst pattern. It looks intentional even when you’re just improvising, haha!
Dollar Store Frame Gallery
Mismatched frames from the dollar store actually look better together than a matching set ever could.
Grab five or six in different shapes, spray paint them one unified color and arrange them loosely on the floor before committing to nails. Fill them with anything from postcards to pressed leaves.
Painted Canvas Drop Cloth
A canvas drop cloth from the hardware store costs almost nothing and it stretches over a frame beautifully.
Read also: 20+ Genius Poster Frame Hacks Cheap That Transform Your Walls
Paint loose abstract shapes with leftover craft paint you already have. Nobody needs to know it started as a painter’s tarp.
Recycled Cardboard Wall Sculpture
Cardboard sculpture sounds like a stretch until you actually see one hanging on a wall. The shadows it throws are the real trick.
Cut layered shapes from flattened boxes and stack them for depth. Leave it unpainted for a raw look or coat it in a single color to hide where it came from.
It’s basically free decor pulled straight from the recycling bin.
Thrifted Plate Wall Arrangement
Thrift store plates are having a real moment right now. Honestly, it makes sense.
Grab a mix of patterns for a dime apiece and hang them with plate hangers in a loose cluster. The mismatched patterns end up feeling collected over years instead of bought in an afternoon.
Fabric Scrap Wall Hanging
Got a drawer full of fabric scraps that never became anything? This is where they finally earn their keep.
Layer strips of different textures onto a dowel and let them hang loose. Denim next to lace next to something floral looks better than it has any right to.
Vintage Postcard Wall Grid
Vintage postcards show up at nearly every thrift shop and flea market for pennies apiece. Who doesn’t love finding a stack of them tucked in an old shoebox?
Arrange a grid of them in simple black frames or even just washi tape corners. The handwriting on the backs reads like a tiny window into somebody else’s life.
Read also: 16+ Cheap Room Decoration Ideas That Look Expensive
Yarn Wall Tapestry Craft
Yarn tapestries are back in a big way. The craft aisle version costs a fraction of what the boutique ones charge.
Wrap yarn around a dowel in bold color blocks or a simple fringe pattern. It softens up a room instantly, especially over a bed or couch.
Not that I’m an expert weaver by any stretch, haha! Anyone can pull this off with a little patience.
Painted Wood Scrap Art
Leftover wood scraps from a garage project make surprisingly good canvas material.
Paint a simple mountain range, a moon phase chart or a set of abstract lines across a few boards. Hang them together for a rustic little gallery moment.
Read also: 20+ Picture Frame Ideas That Transform Any Wall
Mirror Shard Mosaic Wall
OMG, are you guys seeing this mirror mosaic idea right now? It catches the light in the best way.
Use purpose-made, pre-cut mirror mosaic pieces on a wood base in a sunburst pattern. Follow the mosaic and adhesive makers’ handling and mounting instructions; skip breaking a household mirror for this project.
The finished piece throws little flecks of light around the room all day long.
Button Jar Wall Art
That jar of mismatched buttons sitting in a closet somewhere finally has a purpose.
Glue them onto a canvas in a spiral, a heart shape or just a scattered cluster. It’s a great project for using up decades of accidental button hoarding, lol!
Free Printable Wall Prints
Free printable art might be the single cheapest option on this entire list. Plenty of artists and small shops offer downloadable prints at no cost at all.
Print them at home or at a local shop for a couple dollars, then slide them into whatever frame you already own. Rotating the prints out seasonally costs practically nothing.
Read also: 18+ Budget Wall Art Ideas Men That Look Expensive
Repurposed Book Page Art
Old book pages have this soft, aged color that new paper just can’t fake.
Tear pages from a damaged thrift store book, frame a few together or fold them into simple paper flowers. Any book with foxed, yellowed pages works best for the look.
Cork Board Wall Feature
A cork board sounds boring until you dress it up a little. Wrap it in fabric or twine before pinning anything to it and it stops looking like an office supply.
Pin up photos, ticket stubs and little notes for a wall that changes as often as you want it to.
Painted Rock Wall Display
Painted rocks aren’t just for garden paths, apparently. Small ones arranged on a wood board or hung in tiny wire slings make an unexpectedly nice display.
Paint each one a different pattern, dots, stripes, tiny florals. Let them air dry completely before mounting.
They’re sturdy enough to survive basically anything.
Ribbon Wall Organizer Craft
Last but definitely not least, this ribbon organizer solves two problems at once. It looks like art and it actually holds your mail or jewelry too.
Nail a row of hooks onto a board, weave ribbon between them and clip on envelopes, keys or whatever tends to pile up on the counter.
Function and decor in one cheap little project. I can’t think of a better way to end this list, honestly!
Just a little note - some of the links on here may be affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to shop through them (at no extra cost to you!). I only post content which I'm truly enthusiastic about and would suggest to others.
And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Giulia