The bedroom is a place of rest and relaxation which is often reflected in the way we decorate the room – as it should be. And while soothing colours and pared-back decor that doesn’t overstimulate works well in a space like this, that doesn’t mean you can’t express your style in this room that’s meant to be just yours and make you feel cosy and comforted – and bedroom wall decor ideas are the perfect way to achieve this.
Walls present the largest surface area in your bedroom - or any room, for that matter - along with heaps of opportunities to express yourself and make the space yours. These creative bedroom ideas span everything from the right wall art to bedroom paint ideas and more.
‘They’re blank canvases,’ says Danny Campbell, TV architect and founder of HOKO Design. ‘Decorating your bedroom walls is a simple way to make the space yours – warm, lived-in, and full of personality. It’s the last thing you see at night and the first thing you see in the morning. Might as well make it something that makes you happy.’
Bedroom wall decor ideas
‘In many ways, our bedrooms are our most personal spaces – our zones to rest, unwind and be totally ourselves,’ says Whinie Williams, Dreams interiors experts. ‘It makes sense that our bedrooms are the rooms that are the biggest outward reflection of us and what we love. Decorating your bedroom walls are great way of injecting a bit of personality into spaces that do run the risk of feeling too lifeless, as we strive to create clean and harmonious rooms to relax in.’
Claire Garner, director of Claire Garner Design Studio, agrees that it’s all about creating a balance between a calming environment and that personal touch, ‘I believe a bedroom should be a sanctuary, a place of calm and comfort. Wall decor plays an important role in shaping this atmosphere and I always encourage clients to treat the walls as an opportunity to tell their story, but in a soft and considered way.’
1. Hang a mirror (or a couple)
Whether you’re in need of some small bedroom ideas or have a bedroom that lacks natural light, a mirror - or even more than one - will make for the perfect wall adornment.
‘Mirrors are a brilliant way to bounce light and make a small bedroom feel twice the size,’ Danny at HOKO Design says.
Claire Garner adds, ‘My go-tos are sculptural mirrors. These bring in warmth, texture and a sense of lived-in charm.’ Something like this Habitat rattan wavy mirror, selling for just £70, would be perfect for a bedroom wall.
2. Don’t forget the fifth wall
One of the biggest wallpaper and paint trends of 2025 is focusing on the ceiling, often also referred to as the 5th wall. But whether on-trend or not, it only makes sense to incorporate the ceiling into your bedroom decorating scheme as this is the room where you look at this area the most.
‘And don’t forget the ceiling! It’s the one surface we all stare at a lot, why not make it interesting?’ Danny at HOKO Design says.
3. Give colour drenching a go
Speaking of the ceiling, one of the ways you can incorporate the fifth wall is by colour drenching the entire room in one colour as Danny and many other interior experts suggest.
‘Colour drench everything. That means walls, ceiling, skirtings, even the door – all in the same shade. It makes the space feel calmer and more expansive, especially when you layer in artwork,’ Danny explains.
4. Go for a statement headboard
One of the biggest bedroom trends of this year are statement headboards. And these often patterned, upholstered, interestingly shaped designs are not far from being literal works of art – the Pamir Garden headboard from the John Lewis x Sanderson collaboration is the perfect example.
‘One of the quickest and most effective ways to elevate your bedroom walls is by investing in a stylish bed with a standout headboard,’ says Anthony Newland, brand specialist at Zinus. ‘Whether it's a classic wooden frame, an elegant, upholstered design, or a creative DIY project, a thoughtfully chosen headboard can add personality and impact without the need for extra wall decor.’
5. Make a bold statement with a wall hanging
Wall hangings and even lightweight rugs can successfully be hung on walls – as long as you use the correct fittings. They're a fabulous way to add colour, print and texture to a plain wall.
The easiest (and most affordable) way to add a wall hanging to your home is to convert a budget rug into one. Large wall hangings can come with a price tag, but you can find affordable and pretty runner rugs at many high street stores. One of our team turned a £39 Dunelm rug into a statement wall hanging, and it looked amazing.
Keep the rest of the scheme simple so your chosen design takes pride of place and if you have wall lights place them symmetrically on each side for balance.
6. Add a decorative flourish with a wreath
You may think that bedroom wall decor ideas need to be big and bold, but smaller elements can have a big impact too.
'Introducing a natural wreath into your bedroom decor is an innovative method of bringing the calming influence of the outdoors into your personal space,' says Mara Rypacek Miller, managing director at Industville.
'As these pieces are often handcrafted, they incorporate an element of rustic charm, while their organic nature can introduce a sense of serenity. The green or natural hues of the wreath can serve as an invigorating visual accent, helping to set a peaceful mood.'
And through this decor idea, you can reflect the changing seasons and incorporate it into your space.
7. Get crafty with box shelving
Sometimes it's good to think out of the box – pardon the pun! If you love an easy DIY project consider buying (or making) some box shelving and hanging them on your walls. These are ideal if you want to turn your storage into a wall decor moment, which is sometimes essential when planning small bedroom ideas.
You can paint the shelves the same colour as the walls to help them blend in and your belongings do the talking. Alternatively, opt for a bold colour to make them a statement all on their own.
8. Be creative with colour blocking
Why pick one shade when you can choose several? This is your chance to get really creative with your paint ideas – just do your prep first with masking tape, like this one at Amazon so you get your edges perfectly marked off.
'Colour blocking not only adds a fun pattern to the room but also draws focus to a particular area within a space,' says Helen Shaw, director of marketing at Benjamin Moore.
Emma Bestley, co-founder and creative director of YesColours, continues, 'Colour blocking is a clever way to zone a space. Consider adding a little extra flair to your bed with a painted headboard, arch or organic shape in your favourite colour. Creating a colourful nook in just one corner of the room by including part of the ceiling too is a great way of zoning a cosy space. Another brilliant quick way to enhance the space would be to paint a block of colour onto your wall around your framed art or a mirror.'
9. Add a fabric canopy
For a truly decadent and Bridgerton-esque style bedroom opt for a dramatic fabric bed canopy. Eye-catching for sure and ideal if you love period features it will be a cosy addition to your bedroom that also takes up wall space in a decorative way.
You can match it to your scheme or opt for a purely maximalist style and use various prints and patterns. Keep your walls plain so they can act as a grounding visual element for the pattern to sit on.
10. Be clever with your shelving
If you're a renter there's a small chance you might not be able to hang things from you walls, this is where you need to be clever and adaptable to new options.
'Modular shelving is an ideal way to add interest to your bedroom walls,' says Jonathan Clark, creative director of Shelved. 'Making use of all the available vertical space, a shelving unit provides the perfect base for displaying your favourite books, souvenirs, or decorative items, alongside keeping your bedroom neatly organised.'
'The best part? They’re renter-friendly too, so you can add personal touches without leaving a trace, ideal for those who are unable to hang wall art or pictures directly on the wall.' You'll be able to find options at most of your favourite brands and it's worth checking out home decor discount codes to see if there's anything relevant for your needs.
11. Opt for a wall mural
Wall murals have become a popular addition in the last few years and they are a great alternative to standard bedroom wallpaper ideas as they have much more impact on a large scale.
'I’m a fan of murals to break up the rigidity of four straight walls. They add a playful, unexpected touch,' Danny at HOKO Design says. While murals can be quite spenny, we find Dunelm's mural offering among the most affordable – the Dunelm vintage tropical wall mural starting at £50 is our current favourite.
Emma at YesColours continues on how you can make this look even more budget-friendly, 'If you find you have various paints lying around unused but aren’t sure how to use all of them, consider painting your own bedroom mural. Most would assume they’d need to have an artistic flair, but that isn’t the case. There are no rules when it comes to murals, you can make it as abstract as you like.'
12. Create a focal wall above a bed
Anna Hill, brand director and colour consultant at Fenwick & Tilbrook, suggests creating a focal wall to anchor your bedroom design scheme around, we think this is an excellent option especially if your bedroom is large and needs a cosy element.
'You could create a feature using paint – be it a bold colour, a wall mural using geometric shapes, or even having two or three colours as 'panels' across the wall behind your bed.
'This can really make a statement and turn the headboard wall into the focal point of the bedroom, leaving the other walls as 'negative space' in neutrals or tonal, complementary colours. You could then add decor such as artwork or mirrors to add that all-important balance.
'Be sure to consider how the decor on each wall contributes to the overall flow and cohesion of the room. The design should draw the eye around the space without creating a disjointed or cluttered feel.'
13. Be creative with panelling
Bedroom wall panelling has become the new trend this year and it's a wonderful way to add a subtle texture to your walls. It can be painted white for a Scandi feel or dark and dramatic in a darker shade.
You can still add wall lights and decorative elements to it as well. Wallpaper can be added to the panels for a decorative look, or paint in the squares if you want a touch of colour.
14. Hang a gallery wall
A feature wall is a great way to experiment with different types of wall art, without changing the whole dynamic of the room. 'Art is a very individual choice, but sometimes it pays to move outside your comfort zone, and feature walls give people the opportunity to do this. After all, you’re only experimenting on one wall! ' says Sam Baldry, head of design at Swoon.
A feature wall can have a dramatic and stylish effect in a bedroom, especially if it combines art and accessories in various colours. Play around with some bedroom picture wall ideas and select couple of different prints, photos and other pieces that matches your chosen colour scheme.
15. Create a flexible display with shelves
Bedroom shelves are a create way to style wall art without the commitment to a nail and picture hook. They will look stylish when layered up with different art pieces, their is also the added benefit that they can easily be updated as your tastes change.
'A fun and practical idea for decorating your walls is to add some floating shelves,' says Becca Stern, creative director and co-founder of Mustard Made. 'I love to choose a statement colour that will really pop against your wall, or if you're looking for something really bold you can even mix and match colours. Display keepsakes, books or collectables to introduce personality and texture to your walls, as well as providing extra storage space.'
IKEA sells a range of picture ledges from £5 in a range of finishes. For a discreet shelving look, try the IKEA hack of painting the ledge the same colour as your wall to allow the wall art to stand out. But if a pop of colour is more what you're after, Mustard Made's ledges would be our go-to.
16. Choose the right wall art for the space
Given the bedroom's role as a sanctuary to wind down, including wall art with a relaxing effect when decorating above a bed can help invoke a calm atmosphere in the room. At the same time, going for something meaningful and something that you really like will add to the cosy and cocooning feel of the room.
'I tend to lean toward calming, abstract or nature-inspired artwork in bedrooms. Pieces that evoke stillness, flow or nostalgia work beautifully, think soft brushstrokes, botanicals or muted tones. Art in a bedroom should invite rest rather than stimulate the senses too much,' Claire Garner advises.
And think about scale her, too – a large canvas can look amazing hung above the bed or on a blank wall, while something that's too small can come across as quite random.
17. Combine art and accessories
Combining wall art with other furnishings and accessories can really complement your chosen pieces. 'Mix art prints, photographs, hanging plants and mirrors that all share common colours or metals for a varied display – the key is to aim for coherent and interesting, not messy!' Sam at Swoon says.
There are no rules with this one, so play around with different combinations to see what looks good in your bedroom. Your art and other decor should work together to naturally draw the eye without being overbearingly loud.
18. Hang macrame for texture
Handcrafted pieces like macrame are a different way to incorporate wall decor into the bedroom, and will add texture to the space to make it feel more homely.
Hang these on walls that are bare, or incorporate them into feature walls to complement framed art and prints. You can use them to bring accent colours into the room, and they'll complement other soft decor like blankets and cushions piled on a mattress perfectly.
19. Hanging plates are for bedrooms too
Though we typically tend to keep our plates in the kitchen, hanging them on a bedroom wall is a fun way to mix up the decor and incorporate a different type of wall art into the space.
'I'm a huge fan of hanging plates', says homeware expert Harriet Pringle. 'It's a lovely way to show off beautiful china that may otherwise be hidden in a cupboard.' One large plate could act as a standalone centerpiece, or you could place a few smaller plates with matching designs next to each other.
20. Hang a shelf above wallpaper
Sometimes all you need is a small shelf to pop keepsakes and books on, to turn it into a decorative wall decor idea wallpaper up to the shelf so you're adding pattern and texture to your scheme too.
Make sure your wallpaper works with the rest of your scheme – match the colour a throw or cushion or two for cohesion.
FAQs
What looks good on a bedroom wall?
This is down to personal preference, but we love the idea of artwork that you love, wallpaper, wall hangings that add impact and texture plus there are some fabulous paint ideas around currently.
You can use box frames to display favourite pieces, hang hats and plates, create a gallery wall or introduce panelling.
How can I decorate my bedroom walls?
You can decorate your bedroom walls in a variety of ways. Aside from traditional artwork and canvases, you can hang tapestries and quilts, or vintage finds to mix up your wall decor.
Consider having a statement mirror in the bedroom too, for decorative as well as functional purposes. According to homeware expert Harriet Pringle, 'mirrors are a great wall accessory if you want to make a small space feel bigger. You can find amazing sculptural and unique mirrors on marketplace apps such as Narchie, which also double up as incredible art features.'
Should I hang pictures above my bed?
There's no harm in hanging pictures above a bed if they are securely attached, and in fact artwork can complement the bed perfectly to create a focal point in the room.
'Just make sure that there's enough space from the headboard to art, as well as from art to ceiling', says Harriet Pringle, homeware expert. 'You don't want the piece to appear cramped or as if it's in the wrong place.' Larger art pieces may be more suited to other parts of the room, but the wall behind the bed looks great with two or three matching pieces sitting next to each other.
At the end of the day, we’d always recommend to get creative and just go for it – as do the experts. ‘The most important thing is to let your imagination run wild. Your bedroom walls are a blank canvas, ready and waiting for you to reinvent your space. After all, you can always paint it back if you change your mind!’ Emma at YesColours concludes.
