Empty walls can make any room feel cold and unfinished. You do not need a huge budget or professional artistic skills to fix that. Making your own wall decor adds warmth, texture, and personal style to your home. Here are 24 practical DIY wall hanging projects that clear off empty wall space without costing much. Grab a glue gun, gather your craft supplies, and start building.
1. Boho yarn hanging
Turn simple skeins of yarn into a cozy wall display. Tie long strands of neutral yarn around a natural birch dowel using basic lark’s head knots. Trim the bottom ends into a sharp V shape for a clean, modern finish. Pro Tip: Mix thick wool roving with thin metallic thread to create striking contrast for very little money.
2. Macrame feather wall hanging
Soft cotton macrame feathers look great on bedroom walls. Cut matching lengths of cotton cord, knot them onto a main central cord, and comb the loose strands with a fine-tooth pet comb. Spray the finished feathers with fabric stiffener so they keep their shape. You can review basic knots on The Spruce Crafts before you begin.
3. Pressed botanical glass frame
Preserve garden flowers by sandwiching pressed petals between two glass panes. Arrange dried ferns and flower leaves inside a double-glass floating frame for a clean botanical look. Hang two or three of these frames in a vertical row to fill narrow wall spaces. This project works best with naturally flat plants like pansies, daisies, and fern fronds.
4. Rustic tree branch leaf display
Bring natural elements indoors without buying expensive wall decor. Find a sturdy, interesting fallen tree branch in your yard, strip off loose bark, and hang clay leaves or macrame cords from it. If you enjoy working with natural materials, explore these creative tree branch crafts for more ideas to update your space.
5. Modern geometric canvas
Make your own modern art with painter’s tape and leftover paint samples. Stick painter’s tape across a blank canvas in overlapping diagonal lines to form sharp triangles. Paint each open section with contrasting colors, wait for the paint to dry, and peel away the tape. This quick project lets you pick exact shades to match your existing furniture.
6. Polymer clay feather mobile
Roll out polymer clay and carve feather designs into the surface with a toothpick or craft knife. Bake the pieces according to the clay package instructions, brush them with metallic acrylic paint, and hang them from a brass hoop using clear fishing line. If you want to make more clay projects, check out these polymer clay crafts for matching home accents.
7. Woven roving wall hanging
Add soft texture to your living room wall with unspun wool roving. Thread chunky wool through a simple cardboard loom to create thick, fluffy patterns. Time Saver: Wool roving weaves quickly, so you can finish a 12×18-inch wall hanging in under two hours.
8. Hexagon wooden wall shelves
Build small honeycomb shelf units using craft sticks or thin wood strips. Glue the pieces together layer by layer into six-sided hexagonal frames, apply a dark wood stain, and mount them on your wall. These small display boxes hold tiny potted succulents or mini collectibles nicely.
9. Embroidery hoop fabric gallery
Turn fabric scraps into eye-catching wall art without sewing a stitch. Stretch patterned fabric like floral prints, vintage damask, or plain linen inside wooden embroidery hoops of various sizes. Trim the excess fabric behind the frame, then group the hoops together on your wall in an informal cluster.
10. Tassel garland wall accent
Brighten a nursery wall or reading corner with thick yarn tassels. Wrap yarn around cardboard fifty times, knot the top, cut the bottom loops open, and wrap gold thread around the neck. String a dozen tassels along natural jute twine for a lighthearted display. This project uses very little yarn while filling up a large area.
11. Clay moon phase hanging
Cut seven circles out of air-dry clay using a round cookie cutter. Trim the sides off five circles to create crescent shapes, leaving the center circle whole. Punch small holes in the top and bottom of each moon piece, let them dry, coat them with metallic gold paint, and link them together using small brass jump rings.
12. Paper quilling floral art
Coil thin paper strips into detailed flowers, leaves, and geometric shapes. Glue the paper coils onto heavy cardstock, then place the finished art inside a deep shadow box frame to keep dust off the delicate paper edges. Visit Martha Stewart for step-by-step paper quilling tutorials and templates.
13. Driftwood and shell wall chandelier
Turn vacation souvenirs into wall decor by threading sea glass, drilled shells, and smooth pebbles onto nylon line. Tie the strands to a piece of driftwood to build a relaxed coastal wall piece. Hang this near a sunlit window so natural daylight shines through the clear sea glass.
14. Fabric scrap wall hanging
Turn old clothes, discarded curtains, or fabric leftovers into a casual textured hanging. Tear the fabric into one-inch strips to create frayed edges, then knot each piece onto a wooden dowel. Do not throw away fabric scraps: this project turns leftover scraps into cozy room decor.
15. Minimalist copper pipe hanging
Combine industrial hardware with soft cotton rope for a clean, modern wall display. Slide a copper plumbing pipe onto a hanging cord, pull neutral cotton rope through the pipe, and tie long fringe along the bottom bar. The shiny metal provides a sharp visual contrast against the soft cotton cord.
16. Vintage map wall scroll
Turn paper poster maps into classic hanging wall scrolls. Clamp magnetic wooden poster bars onto the top and bottom edges of a printed old map or botanical illustration. Hang the scroll from a thin leather cord to bring a classic look to a home office or reading nook.
17. Cardboard sunburst mirror frame
Turn a cheap round mirror into a sunburst wall accent using leftover cardboard boxes. Cut long triangular points from corrugated cardboard, spray them with gold paint, and glue them around the back edge of the mirror. This project gives old shipping boxes a stylish new purpose.
18. Gothic clay wall plaque
Sculpt detailed relief patterns on air-dry clay slabs for a vintage wall plaque. Paint the dried clay with matte black acrylic paint, then lightly rub metallic silver or bronze wax across the raised edges to highlight the details. If you like dark decor, check out these gothic clay ideas for spooky DIY decor for more unique projects.
19. Painted leather wall pocket
Make leather wall pouches to hold mail, dried herbs, or small notebooks in your entry hall. Cut leather remnants into rectangles, punch holes along the outer edges, and sew the pieces together with waxed linen thread. Mount the finished pocket onto a wooden board for a clean storage piece.
20. Pressed fern glass frame
Gather fresh fern fronds, flatten them inside heavy books for two weeks, and place them inside floating glass frames. Mount the transparent frames on a light wall so cast shadows create depth behind the green leaves. Check out HGTV to learn effective ways to arrange plant prints across large wall areas.
21. Gold leaf canvas art
Brush gilding adhesive onto a dark painted canvas in sweeping abstract lines. Press imitation gold leaf sheets onto the sticky glue, brush away the loose metal bits with a soft dry brush, and seal the canvas with clear varnish. The metallic surface reflects daylight as room lighting changes.
22. Monogram string art board
Stain a square wooden board, lay a paper letter stencil on top, and tap finish nails along the outline at regular intervals. Tear the paper away and wrap embroidery floss around the nail heads to fill in the letter. Pro Tip: Keep tension on the thread so your woven pattern stays straight and clean.
23. Mosaic CD wall hanging
Recycle old CDs or DVDs into a light-reflecting wall mosaic. Cut the discs into small geometric pieces using sturdy craft shears, then glue the shiny bits onto a painted wood shape. When light strikes the surface, it throws colorful reflections around the room.
24. Upcycled book page garland
Reuse damaged book pages by turning them into paper banners and floral garlands. Fold the pages into accordion fans or cut them into classic flag shapes, then stitch them along a wide satin ribbon. Hang these paper garlands over bed frames, gallery walls, or fireplace mantels.
Quick DIY wall hanging supply checklist:
- Structure: Wooden dowels, birch branches, brass hoops, or stretched canvases.
- Fibers: Cotton macrame cord, chunky yarn, wool roving, or leather strips.
- Tools: Sharp fabric scissors, hot glue gun, fine-tooth comb, and painter’s tape.
- Finishing Touches: Metallic spray paint, gold leafing sheets, or clear sealing spray.
Transform your living space today
Updating your home decor does not require expensive artwork from high-end stores. With basic supplies like yarn, clay, scrap wood, and leftover fabric, you can build custom wall hangings that fit your space. Choose a project from this list, grab your materials, and start creating your own wall art today.