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13 Spectacular Ways to Decorate the Wall Behind the Bed
From building a niche to hanging a picture, here's a range of ideas to decorate the space behind your bed.
Vinita Kunnath
4 June 2018
A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny blogs and all things off-beat, with an eye for good taste and aesthetics. Home, not clothes, maketh a man.....or woman.
A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny... More
When you get down to it, decorating the wall behind the bed isn’t as easy as you’d think. In fact, it can be rather daunting to dress up a large expanse of wall and not have it come off looking like a half-baked job. I believe there’s an art – if not rocket science – to even hanging up a picture. Should it be one or two? Grid form or random? … And so on and so forth.
So you see, much as we may be elated at having a blank canvas to play with, it can soon lead to a good bit of head-scratching. Fortunately, I have done some homework that I would be happy to share. Here are a few interesting ways you can add colour, personality and design to the baffling space above your bed.
So you see, much as we may be elated at having a blank canvas to play with, it can soon lead to a good bit of head-scratching. Fortunately, I have done some homework that I would be happy to share. Here are a few interesting ways you can add colour, personality and design to the baffling space above your bed.
1. Consider a tiled wall
Tiled walls don’t have to be confined to the kitchen or bathroom; why not start collecting assorted reclaimed tiles to make a stunning textured feature wall behind the bed? This one here, is a faux-tin-tiled wall, but ceramic tiles work equally well.
Tip: Stick to larger tiles to make this work, as smaller ones can look busy and crowded.
Tiled walls don’t have to be confined to the kitchen or bathroom; why not start collecting assorted reclaimed tiles to make a stunning textured feature wall behind the bed? This one here, is a faux-tin-tiled wall, but ceramic tiles work equally well.
Tip: Stick to larger tiles to make this work, as smaller ones can look busy and crowded.
2. Create a niche
If you are at the stage of designing your bedroom from scratch, build a niche in the wall. Niches can be superbly decorative whilst adding depth to a room. Whether traditionally arched or in contemporary straight lines, wall-papered or painted in contrasting colours, niches add another dimension to a room.
Here are 8 Indian homes that wow with arches
If you are at the stage of designing your bedroom from scratch, build a niche in the wall. Niches can be superbly decorative whilst adding depth to a room. Whether traditionally arched or in contemporary straight lines, wall-papered or painted in contrasting colours, niches add another dimension to a room.
Here are 8 Indian homes that wow with arches
Tip: If you wish to make a niche work functionally as well as decoratively, run shelves across to hold books and accessories.
3. Create your own gallery
These iron and distressed wood photo frames of all shapes and sizes are cleverly put together to create a vintage-looking accent wall. You may or may not fill them in with pictures – either way, they would look striking.
Tip: A gallery is a great way to showcase your passion, be it your amateur photography skills or collection of travel memorabilia.
These iron and distressed wood photo frames of all shapes and sizes are cleverly put together to create a vintage-looking accent wall. You may or may not fill them in with pictures – either way, they would look striking.
Tip: A gallery is a great way to showcase your passion, be it your amateur photography skills or collection of travel memorabilia.
If you can’t be bothered with dusting a large number of photo frames, adorn the wall with a single, large artwork. There’s an incomparable sophisticated air about a larger-than-life painting or photograph. Apart from adding scale to a room and acting as a great focal point, it works to unify a room’s colour scheme.
Look at 6 ways to hang your art
Look at 6 ways to hang your art
4. Stencil a wall mural
The colour-burst of an abstract pattern or a vibrant mural can work wonders on a bare wall. In this room, a brilliant peacock is stencilled on the backdrop wall. It not only brings in an element of playfulness and vibrancy to the space but also breaks the monotony of an all-white room.
Find out how to stencil a wall
The colour-burst of an abstract pattern or a vibrant mural can work wonders on a bare wall. In this room, a brilliant peacock is stencilled on the backdrop wall. It not only brings in an element of playfulness and vibrancy to the space but also breaks the monotony of an all-white room.
Find out how to stencil a wall
5. Use the headboard itself
You would be surprised what a headboard can do – apart from coming in all shapes and sizes, they can add serious colour, elevate your space, make it cosier and double as a work of art. The padded ikat headboard here practically acts as a wall design element, giving the room its required dose of colour and pattern, and personal style.
You would be surprised what a headboard can do – apart from coming in all shapes and sizes, they can add serious colour, elevate your space, make it cosier and double as a work of art. The padded ikat headboard here practically acts as a wall design element, giving the room its required dose of colour and pattern, and personal style.
6. Cocoon it in wood
In this bedroom, the use of a wooden panel all the way from ceiling to the floor creates a cosy sleeping area. The polished wood wall by itself is quite striking, but the backlit lattice panel adds another level of elegance.
In this bedroom, the use of a wooden panel all the way from ceiling to the floor creates a cosy sleeping area. The polished wood wall by itself is quite striking, but the backlit lattice panel adds another level of elegance.
7. Clad it in leather
A dedicated bed zone can be created by upholstering a portion of the wall that is wide enough to encompass the bed and nightstands but not engulf the entire wall. In this example, a contrasting black trim sets off the upholstered section from the surrounding wall surface.
A dedicated bed zone can be created by upholstering a portion of the wall that is wide enough to encompass the bed and nightstands but not engulf the entire wall. In this example, a contrasting black trim sets off the upholstered section from the surrounding wall surface.
8. Hang a tapestry – or two
To layer on the richness and interest in a bedroom drop a tapestry from the wall on either side of a bed. A wall colour that shows up in contrast to the tapestries adds extra visual punch.
Learn the which, where and how of hanging tapestries
To layer on the richness and interest in a bedroom drop a tapestry from the wall on either side of a bed. A wall colour that shows up in contrast to the tapestries adds extra visual punch.
Learn the which, where and how of hanging tapestries
9. Use light as an accent
The single wall light in this contemporary bedroom also works as the only piece of wall decor. The 3D geometric shapes add character to the stark white wall and the soft glow of the lights within these unusual shades adds warmth to the room’s ambience.
The single wall light in this contemporary bedroom also works as the only piece of wall decor. The 3D geometric shapes add character to the stark white wall and the soft glow of the lights within these unusual shades adds warmth to the room’s ambience.
10. Customise your wallpaper
There are wallpapers and then there are wallpapers. A paper with an oversized mural pattern can be daring without being dizzying. For example, while this floral print is definitely bold, it also serves to anchor the room.
There are wallpapers and then there are wallpapers. A paper with an oversized mural pattern can be daring without being dizzying. For example, while this floral print is definitely bold, it also serves to anchor the room.
11. Bring in wall panels
In this stylish space, a wall of panelling behind the bedhead instantly adds character and personality. Breaking it up with intricate carved areas introduces texture and a holiday getaway feel.
In this stylish space, a wall of panelling behind the bedhead instantly adds character and personality. Breaking it up with intricate carved areas introduces texture and a holiday getaway feel.
12. Mirror the wall
Perfect particularly for smaller bedrooms, a mirrored wall will visually double the space. This one does the job in style, its high position keeping the effect subtle and the antiqued surface looking elegant.
See the many ways to make your home look bigger with mirrors
Perfect particularly for smaller bedrooms, a mirrored wall will visually double the space. This one does the job in style, its high position keeping the effect subtle and the antiqued surface looking elegant.
See the many ways to make your home look bigger with mirrors
13. Use a four-poster bed to good effect
The linear lines of this four-poster bed stand out like a frame against the dark-grey wall in imitation of a framed canvas, albeit a blank one. The rectangular space above the bed is best left empty – a perfect example of minimalist yet striking design.
Read more:
Quirky, Easy & Budget-Friendly Ways to Dress Up Your Wall
7 Ideas to Accentuate the Area Behind the Bed
Tell us:
Did any of these ideas catch your fancy? We would love to hear how you have decorated your wall. Do share in the Comments section below.
The linear lines of this four-poster bed stand out like a frame against the dark-grey wall in imitation of a framed canvas, albeit a blank one. The rectangular space above the bed is best left empty – a perfect example of minimalist yet striking design.
Read more:
Quirky, Easy & Budget-Friendly Ways to Dress Up Your Wall
7 Ideas to Accentuate the Area Behind the Bed
Tell us:
Did any of these ideas catch your fancy? We would love to hear how you have decorated your wall. Do share in the Comments section below.
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