Have you ever begun redecorating your room or space and run into a creative block? Moments like these can lead to empty spaces and empty walls, areas disorganized or poorly structured. But worry not, if you’ve ever run out of inspiration and ended up with an empty wall and that takes away from the whole aesthetic of the room, there are always ways to fix it without complicating or compromising on the idea or theme while being a reflection of your inner self and who you are. The idea is to add a piece or a few pieces that compliment that space and accentuate its design appeal while balancing the disorderly structure of the room and filling up potholes in the design plan. Here are five ways you can re-design a space to bring balance and visual appeal. 

1.PLACE A WORK OF ART

A work of art is one of the fundamental or basic ways of filling up an empty wall. It has many benefits to it that make it such a vital and critical component of any space. First and foremost, a work of art stimulates and invites conversation. It becomes a focal point for prompting stimulating conversation. Installing a work of art also becomes a reflection of yourself, a reflection of the decisions you make and the dialogue you set. A significant aspect of this option is also the notion of fuelling the creative economy and enriching lives of artists by investing in the ecosystem. You can learn more about why you should live with art on ARTRA Magazine’s June 2020 E54. It doesn’t just have to be a single piece as you can opt for a triptych or polytych to add depth and character. 

2.CURATING A GALLERY WALL 

An interesting and alternative take on the work of art concept is one that is exciting to curate and can add value and meaning to your space. The curation of works of art to form a gallery wall can be a collection of diverse and dynamic mediums including photography, painting and mixed media. In fact, ARTRA Magazine’s April 2020 E53 has a comprehensive style guide on the how tos of curating your own gallery wall. Think of what you want your space to reflect and begin mapping out your placement of works. You can even frame them idiosyncratically to add aesthetic value and convey a reflection of your choices. 

3.PLANTING A LIVING WALL 

 If you have an empty wall and nothing to place, consider adding a living wall of greenery. Planting a living wall will add a naturalistic element while existing as a connection to the outside world, a bridge between urbanity and nature. You could go for climbing plants like philodendron or pothos but you must also consider the living conditions such as light, climate, temperature etc. Once you choose what plants you want – you could choose multiple species or just one – you can begin installing them. To install them, you could use frames or planters and mount them in a way that allows the plant freedom to grow and stretch across the wall. To maintain the wall, you might need a self-watering system or do it yourself, however, remember to keep it clean to avoid moss. 

4.CABINETS AND BOOKSHELVES 

A more functional option could be the instalment of floor to ceiling bookshelves or book cases or even cabinetry that holds ornaments and vinyl. Choose the theme you want to elicit and go from there. You could even mount individual shelves and arrange them artistically to create a pattern and place photoframes and CD Cases. There’s also the option of turning the wall into a depiction of religious of cultural elements like statues. When curating these placements, remember to choose elements that complement the theme of the room and the ambience it emanates as opposed to throwing up random components to fill in a void. 

 5.INSTALLING A MANTELPIECE 

Mantelpieces are often installed around fireplaces but if you don’t have one, you could still install a mantel to introduce a focal point. The mantel could hold sentimental components such as family photographs or you could even place statement sculptural pieces that are aesthetically valuable and convey meaning. Perhaps you could even hang a mirror above the mantel. Installing a mirror will not only complement the space but also make the room look larger as it is a reflective surface. You could consider adding ornamental pieces such as vintage candlesticks or place pots of greenery and plants that don’t take up too much space and subtract from the focal point. 

The best way to brainstorm an idea for your space is to look at what you want the room to be and focus on a single perspective. Then build from the ground up by laying out and mapping the structure of your space. An empty wall could be redecorated as the focal point of your room or just as a functional piece. It all depends on the aesthetic and layout of the space, so remember to list down the purpose of your theme and how to best utilize space, whether functionally or aesthetically.