The best wall decor ideas for autumn/winter 2021

Autumn is here once again. The nights are drawing in, and once again, we’re all spending more time in our homes. Whether you’re looking forward to hosting guests, or hoping for some peaceful downtime this party season, switching up your decor may help you enjoy your home even more, this winter. Here we share some of the best wall decor ideas and trends from 2021 and explain how you can use them.

Get creative with these wall décor ideas

It’s time to put away the wallpaper and reach for the masking tape. In recent years, wall decor ideas have changed from papered feature walls to colourfully-painted contemporary looks.

Half-painted walls are a great way of gently introducing new colours without moving too far out of your comfort zone. Play it safe with pastels and muted tones, or go bold and add some drama and depth while keeping your room feeling light and airy.

As horizontal lines are visually widening, half-painted walls can make your room feel bigger. If you haven’t tried this look before, you could begin with one accent wall painted in this way. The look is particularly effective when used behind a sofa or the head of a bed.

It’s also worth noting that, as they aren’t too ‘busy’, half-painted walls look great when decorated with frames and artwork or used as a gallery wall.

Try Wooden Panelling

If you love the half-painted wall effect but wish to take it one step further, consider wainscoting. That’s decorative panelling to your walls. Available in many different styles, from the traditional tongue and groove historically associated with bathroom wall decor to Elizabethan, Georgian or shaker styles, it’s easy to find decorative wall panels to suit the rest of your decor.

Wainscoting also has a practical purpose as wooden panels help to protect your walls from scuffs and scratches. This makes panelling an excellent option for use in high-traffic areas such as hallways. You could choose to panel half or three-quarters of a wall or take the panelling all the way up to the ceiling. You can also panel the whole room or just one wall. Wooden panels are truly versatile, and the choice is yours.

Wall Decor Ideas: Murals

While papered feature walls may be in decline, murals have become increasingly popular. This trend may well have been born out of the months spent at home during the 2020 lockdowns when many got creative and tried their hand at creating their own home or garden wall art.

If you’re a budding artist spending your time on Pinterest and Instagram, then this could be your first project. Create your first mural design.

If you like wall art decor but aren’t a fan of DIY, you could enlist the help of a local artist, although this is understandably an expensive option.

Another great idea that creates a different effect is using wall art stickers. They are widely available and you can use them to create almost any design imaginable. As they are hardwearing and usually moisture-resistant, wall stickers are a perfect choice for kitchen wall decor.

Wall Macrame

Macrame – the art of creating textiles from knotted yarn – is a craft that has existed for thousands of years. They have found carvings depicting the existence of macrame in the ancient city of Babylon. In the UK, macrame was particularly popular in the Victorian era but is currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity.

You can learn the craft of macrame online. It does not require any special equipment or previous experience. Just go online and search for macrame wall hanging patterns and start with the easy ones. If you’re not a crafty person by nature but love macrame, you can find some eye-catching macrame hangings on the Internet or at local craft fairs.

Create a gallery wall

A gallery wall will never go out of fashion. However, to get the most out of this interior design feature, you need to make some choices.

First, you’ll have to decide upon the frame styles. You could go for one type or an intentional mismatch. Materials also pose an important decision.

Polcore picture frames are one solution. They are made of recycled polystyrene, affordable and surprisingly durable. So, if you are worried about the sustainability of your gallery wall, they are a great choice.

Wooden photo frames are a more costly alternative. In fact, you could have wooden photo frames that are actually made of polcore, and you can’t really tell the difference.

No matter what you choose, if you have a lot of pieces to include, you’ll also want to work out your layout before you pick up a hammer. Read our guide on how to design a photo gallery wall from idea to execution.

Top tip: a gallery wall is not only about paintings and photographs. If you don’t have enough wall art prints, you could also include decorative wall mirrors, ceramic pieces or even ornamental plates. Try a monochrome gallery wall for a fantastic contrast!

Consider seasonal touches for your wall decors

Celebrating the changing seasons and special occasions such as Halloween and Christmas provides a great excuse to refresh your wall decor. Add all those important little details that help make a house a home.

Putting up the Christmas tree is an activity that’s often filled with joy. The ornaments and trimmings usually hold special memories of Christmases past. However, keeping decorations on the tree can be a real struggle with a pet or toddler around. Suppose you have a favourite bauble, especially one that’s particularly fragile or of sentimental value. In that case, you might want to consider displaying it in a frame that can be safely mounted on a wall.

If you’re hoping to enjoy Christmas dinner at home, consider adding some seasonal touches to your dining room wall decor. When it comes to festive wall decor, natural foliage, fresh or dried, continues to be popular. You can use it in the form of wreaths and mantelpiece swags. Felt or fabric decorations are also a cute yet tasteful choice.

If you’ve been lucky enough to receive the gift of family photographs, or even a unique handmade Christmas card, you may want to frame these so they can be proudly displayed again and again. If you already have a gallery wall, you may even want to replace your existing frames with a new, temporary Christmas display.

Take some time off this time of the year, and start researching for these cool wall decor ideas. It will help you relax and enjoy the upcoming holidays. Moreover, it will give you the opportunity to take a step back and meditate on your life. That’s why we love DIY. Try it!