Apartment walls left undecorated says volumes about your personality…. that being you don’t have one!
That’s the thing about wall decor: it’s a chance to express yourself while bringing style and visual interest to your surroundings.
If you’re looking for wall decor ideas for apartments specifically, you’re in the right place.
We looked at 1000s of apartments and can tell you with 100% confidence the kind of decorations that work best for these compact spaces.
So what are you waiting for? Sink your teeth into this stellar list of apartment wall decor ideas and prepare to be inspired.
1. Pom pom wall hangings
You see them wielded by cheerleaders to help hype up a crowd, but it turns out pom poms are fantastic at hyping up your walls too.
Don’t go with fluffy balls in every color as this won’t fit seamlessly into the scheme and it might over-energize the space.
An autumnal pom pom wall hanging fits in nicely wherever you hang it, and it’s perfect for those who love seasonal themes.
2. Propeller wall decor
From rope to portholes, all things nautical work miracles as apartment wall decor, we can promise you that.
This includes boat propellers. Just keep in mind that the more weathered it looks, the better, as items with an aged appearance come with tons of character.
3. Mirrors
You can’t take a list of wall decor ideas seriously if it doesn’t mention the trusty mirror.
They can’t be praised enough for their ability to make small apartments appear noticeably brighter and larger, and some of the designs they come in are eye-opening to say the least.
Check out the most popular apartment mirrors if you’d like to venture down the rabbit hole of mirror design.
4. Wine rack
We know what you’re thinking: how does a wine rack count as wall decor?
And the answer is, you can use them to create eclectic displays, as long as the design of the wall rack permits it.
Imagine a wine wall rack stuffed with succulents and empty colored bottles – you don’t even need to be a wine drinker to enjoy this unique aesthetic.
5. Fiber wall discs
We always recommend decorating with natural materials when you can, not just to expand your styling repertoire but also for the sake of the planet.
With this in mind, why not have a go at releasing your inner hippie with a set of fiber wall discs made from natural reed and jute?
6. Sunburst decor
If you want your apartment decor scheme to be on-trend, get shopping around for sunburst designs.
Indeed, millions of apartments up and down the land will have walls adorned with sun-inspired decor. This way, the sun is always shining inside no matter how terrible the weather is.
7. Vintage picture frames
Let’s be honest, there are some picture frames out there which ooze more style and decorative appeal than the picture it holds!
If you can’t find a photo or painting that matches up to the beauty of a vintage picture frame, then do away with photos and paintings altogether.
That’s right – showcase an empty frame on the wall, or maybe use it to highlight other pieces of wall decor for a truly dimensional display.
8. Hat walls
One hat on the wall isn’t much of a statement. Two hats is better than one but it still leaves an underwhelming impression.
Half a dozen or more and you’re in proper hat wall territory! As long as you utilize different colors and set them out in a grid-like fashion, your hat wall will be the envy of the entire apartment complex.
9. Coiled ring wall decor
If you’re worried about cluttering up your apartment with wall decor, it’s wise to pick something in the shape of a ring.
This is down to the fact you can still see the wall behind the piece and therefore it’s not as imposing.
Coiled rings with a gold finish is an excellent case in point, as the mind can still register the wall behind it without taking anything away from the allure of the design.
10. Wood plank decor
Always fancied living beside the seaside? You can bring beach vibes to your city center apartment with wood plank decor.
Paint your planks with blue hues and whites for that true coastal look, and remember to deploy a distressed finish for an extra burst of character.
Actually, you don’t have to lift a finger, because you can get hold of wood planks that are already designed like this.
11. Cubic wood wall art
Maybe you’d like a large-scale piece that can really sing on its own, in which case you should check out mosaic wood wall art.
Everybody knows that abstract pieces make great talking pieces, so go all in with mosaic wood wall art – cube versions come highly recommended if you’re obsessed with geometric forms.
12. Brass padlocks
Practically anything can succeed as wall decor, regardless of how random it comes across, and padlocks are no exception.
In fact, padlocks have the cute factor due to their size, and they’re rather intricate in their design, so they have every right occupying those lifeless walls.
Brass padlocks are your best bet for that touch of elegance, and consider grouping together a number of padlocks to show there’s intention behind the madness.
13. Manual flip calendar
If you’re going to do the inevitable and hang up a wall calendar, it may as well be a one-of-a-kind calendar.
Manual flip designs are always fun. Better yet, opt for a calendar with writing space so you can jot your thoughts down or brighten your day with inspirational quotes.
14. Two tone wall baskets
Apartment dwellers reach for baskets when they want to inject some boho charm into the decor scheme.
We say raise the stakes a little bit further by decorating the wall with baskets that have an additional lick of paint.
Paint them the same color as the wall and you’ll have a thoroughly artistic basket display to boast about.
15. Wall art
Another popular form of wall decor, wall art is favored for ushering in vibrant imagery and is an easy means for filling large swathes of wall space.
Think twice before jumping in without a plan – how you arrange art on the wall is just as important as the quality of the piece itself!
You’re in luck because we produced a detailed guide on how to decorate an apartment with wall art.
16. Folded book art
Who would have thought that books can enrich an apartment as much as they enrich the mind?
Yep – display opened books on the wall and fashion the pages into an array of interesting designs and it’s safe to say uninspiring walls will be a thing of the past.
17. Wall planters
Decorating your apartment walls with wall planters is a no-brainer in that they confer two key benefits.
Firstly, it’s a chance to live alongside real-life organisms that purify the air, lift your mood, and infuse the color palette with a splash of green.
Secondly, the planter itself can be found in exceptional styles and designs, so you’re sure to find something that elevates your interior.
18. Guitar hand wall brackets
It’s always worth remembering that you can use apartment wall decor to express who you are as a person.
The obvious choice for a music lover is to display their favorite instruments on the wall. But what’s less obvious is the manner in which it’s displayed.
This is a good opportunity to reveal your fun side by resting, say, a guitar on a pair of wall brackets designed as human hands.
19. Bulldog clip art
Those who know they want to spruce up their apartment walls with art, but have too much art to choose between, ought to experiment with binder clips.
We say this because of the ease with which you can swap out art displayed via wall-mounted binder clips or bulldog clips. Plus it’s just a positively weird way to present art.
20. Radial wall decor
If you love symmetry, you’ll love radial design. Wall decor with radial designs have symmetry in every direction emanating from the center.
What’s more, you can buy radial wall decor in sets with mixed sized pieces and have them overlap on the wall for an asymmetrical effect too.
21. Branch hangers
It’s very hard to work tree branches into the decor scheme, but once you’ve found the perfect role, the payoff in terms of aesthetic value is big.
You may find success in using them as hangers for other pieces of decor or even go so far as replacing your coat rack for a branch.
22. Skateboard deck art
Why are skateboard decks increasingly becoming the canvas of choice for decorating an apartment with art?
Some say it’s because apartment dwellers tend to be on the younger side and everyone knows that youngsters aren’t as risk averse as their elders.
However, there’s nothing risky at all about deck art! try it out yourself and thank us later for the youthful, energizing vibe that follows.
23. Pebble wood wall decor
You can always count on nature-inspired decor to relax the mind and offer a refreshing change of shape and form.
In other words, you don’t see straight lines, circles or squares in nature – everything is irregularly-shaped and it’s beautiful.
So with that said, bring some organic qualities to the scene with pebble wood wall decor.
24. Macrame wall hanging
They’ve established themselves as a staple bedroom wall decor, but there’s nothing stopping you from showcasing the knotted good-looks of macrame in any part of the home.
Macrame wall hangings are your best friend when you want something light, airy and patterned that slots into a neutral color scheme like hand in glove.
25. Half moon wall hangings
If you can’t make your mind up on whether to style a wall with textiles or solid materials, we have the perfect compromise for you.
A half moon wall hanging features a wooden panel in the shape of its namesake, with lush strands of fabric dangling underneath in a bid to bring homeowners the best of both worlds.
26. Retro gear decor
Just like how you become enamoured by relics of the past in museums, you can achieve this same effect with your apartment wall decor.
By this we mean opting for antique pieces – it doesn’t even have to be a genuine antique as you can find newly manufactured antiques and they are much easier on the wallet.
Retro gear decor always makes a fun and interesting addition to the scheme, and it could mark the beginning of an industrial theme if you’re up for it.