How to Fill Up Big, Empty Walls The Slow Style Way: A Listener Q&A
In this episode of the Slow Style Home podcast, I discuss listener Josie's challenge of decorating large, double-story walls in her home’s entryway to reflect her family's love for nature, travel, and craftsmanship. We explore ways to create a meaningful and personal space including creating a gallery wall with found objects, using diverse materials, considering wallpaper, and incorporating moulding. Josie shared her vision of integrating family photos, travel mementos, and handmade items to achieve a welcoming entryway. I guided Josey on how to start small, such as beginning with a core group of art pieces at eye level, and the importance of taking a slow, collected approach to decorating.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Welcome back to another episode of the Slow Style Home podcast! Today, we dive into a listener Q&A session with Josey, who sought advice on transforming a vast, characterless space into a vibrant reflection of her family’s love for nature, travel, and craftsmanship. As many of you might face similar decorating challenges with double-story walls, I'm excited to share this episode with you!
The Design Dilemma: Vast, Characterless Walls
Josey and her family moved from a charming 1916 craftsman home to a more modern house built in 2008. The new place, although solid, lacked the character and warmth of their previous home, especially with large, vast, and double-story walls. Josey wanted these spaces to feel collected, personal, and true to her style without looking random or dated in a year.
In her words, she was searching for ways to fill these walls without just throwing stuff up there that holds no meaning. So, let's dive into how we tackled this challenge.
First, I asked Josey to describe what appeals to her, aesthetically. She loves antiques and things made by hand. From handmade baskets and brooms to natural materials like china, porcelain, stone, and wood, Josey appreciates the beauty of craftsmanship and natural elements. This gave us a solid foundation to work from.
The Backstory
Josey and her family are avid travelers, particularly to national parks. They have a bowl filled with pine cones from their travels, photos of their kids in the Smoky Mountains, and framed greeting cards painted by local artists from their trips. These personal items already set a beautiful tone for creating a space that’s meaningful.
I encouraged Josey to think about how she wants each space to feel and experience, working on them one room at a time. Right now, we’re focusing on the entryway. How do you want guests to feel when they walk in? She said she wants people to feel welcome and recongizes that reflecting her family’s adventures can transform a space into a more intimate and personal experience.
How To Start a Gallery Wall
I suggested creating a gallery wall, starting midway up the staircase and at eye level. This approach helps anchor the wall decor at a viewable height and prevents the overwhelming task of trying to fill the entire wall at once. Begin with a central piece and build outward with odd numbers—say, five pieces to start. Group different shapes, styles, and materials to create a collected look without the need for uniform frames.
What To Hang
Don’t limit your wall decor to just art. Incorporate objects that speak to your personal experiences. For Josey, this included things like vintage travel posters, woven items, driftwoods, or handmade crafts. This opens up a plethora of interesting and meaningful items you can display.
Wallpaper & Moulding
For those willing to invest a bit more, wallpapering the entire wall can provide instant visual interest. Opt for small scale repeating patterns to ensure they complement rather than compete with the artwork and objects you plan to hang. Alternatively, consider adding picture frame molding to add architectural details, which can either be left plain or wallpapered within the frames. If you really like wallpaper but can’t afford to do the entire wall, this is a budget friendly alternative.
Family Photos
Large family photos, especially candid moments, can be impactful. You can get an "engineer print," a large, grainy black-and-white photo at an affordable price, which adds a unique and personal touch without breaking the bank.
Starting small and being intentional with your decor allows you to build a space that feels genuinely personal. Whether you choose to begin with a gallery wall or take on wallpapering, the goal is to create a home that feels connected to your own individual story.
I’m excited to see how Josey transforms her space and makes it uniquely hers. If you have similar challenges or questions, feel free to reach out, and don’t forget to send us pictures of your progress!
