You know that weird spot in your house that just stares at you? The gap between the window and the corner, or that lonely stretch above the toilet that collects dust bunnies.
I’ve collected 29 stupidly simple tricks that turn those dead zones into actual features. Grab your drill and maybe a snack – this is going to be fun.
1. Floating Corner Shelves
Grab two small floating shelves and mount them at a 90-degree angle in any empty corner. Instant storage and style.
2. Washi Tape Geometric Masterpiece
You don’t need paint or talent for this one. Grab a few rolls of washi tape in different widths and colors.
Map out triangles, diamonds, or zigzags directly on the wall. The tape peels off cleanly for up to a year, so messing up is just part of the fun.
I once covered an entire awkward 12-inch strip between my bathroom mirror and the light switch. Took seven minutes and my landlord never noticed.
3. Clipboards As Rotating Art
Hang three clipboards in a vertical row. Swap out kid drawings, postcards, or magazine clips whenever you get bored.
4. Macrame Wall Hanging From An Old T-Shirt
Cut an old t-shirt into one long continuous strip. Tie it around a dowel or a sturdy stick from the backyard.
Follow a basic macrame knot tutorial – it’s just looping and pulling. You’ll end up with a boho piece that fills a narrow vertical space perfectly.
Hang it above your nightstand or next to the front door. I made mine while binge-watching a show, and now that weird 8-inch gap by the closet looks intentional.
5. Gallery Wall Of Found Objects
Collect bottle caps, old keys, broken jewelry, and pretty rocks. Hot glue small magnets onto the back of each item.
Paint a thin metal sheet (or use a cheap baking tray) and mount it on the wall. Arrange your found objects in a loose cluster, then swap them out whenever you find something cooler.
This works like magic for that tiny hallway alcove that’s too shallow for shelves. Every guest will ask where you bought the “art.”
6. Drop Cloth Canvas Art
Stretch a cheap painter’s drop cloth over an old frame or a piece of cardboard. Drizzle acrylic paint in three colors and tilt it around.
Let it dry for an hour, then staple the excess fabric to the back. You just made abstract art that covers a huge empty wall for under five bucks.
7. Picture Ledge From Baseboard Trim
Buy a length of baseboard molding from the hardware store. Cut it to size and screw it into the wall with a slight lip facing up.
Lean small frames, plants, or candles on it. This fixes those stupidly long horizontal stretches above couches or beds.
8. Hanging Plant Trio
Get three small hanging planters – macrame, ceramic, or even repurposed tin cans. Paint the cans the same color for a unified look.
Hang them at staggered heights in an empty corner or above a desk. Use faux plants if you kill everything like I do.
The vertical cascade draws the eye up and makes the ceiling feel higher. Plus, no more awkward “what do I put here” dance.
9. Paper Fan Wall Sculpture
Fold five sheets of colored cardstock into accordion fans. Staple the edges together to form a circle or half-circle.
Mount it with double-sided tape. This fills a round empty space – like above a toilet or beside a window – in about ten minutes.
10. Pegboard For Tiny Treasures
Cut a pegboard to fit that weird narrow strip between two doorways. Paint it a bold color like mustard yellow or navy.
Add hooks, tiny shelves, and mini baskets. You can hang keys, sunglasses, or even small plants. It’s functional decor that says “I have my life together” (even if you don’t).
11. Ribbon And Clothespin Photo Line
Stretch a piece of ribbon or twine across an empty wall. Use mini clothespins to hang polaroids, ticket stubs, or pressed flowers.
This works perfectly for that 2-foot gap above a desk. Change the photos every month, or just leave them there until they yellow. No judgment.
12. Vinyl Record As A Single Statement
Find an old vinyl record at a thrift store – scratched ones cost a quarter. Glue a simple wall hook to the center label and hang it.
Or just mount it directly with a command strip. One record fills a small round void better than any store-bought plaque.
13. Chalkboard Paint Splatter
Paint a small section of your awkward wall with chalkboard paint. Use a sponge to dab on a second color for a speckled effect.
Once dry, draw a different doodle every week. My kids fight over who gets to draw the weekly “monster of the month.”
14. Woven Basket Collection
Hang three woven baskets of different sizes in a cluster. Use clear fishing line to make them look like they’re floating.
The textures add warmth, and the varying depths hide any unevenness in the wall. I covered a patch of bad drywall repair this way, and nobody ever noticed.
15. Leather Strap Hanger
Cut two identical strips of old leather belt or faux leather. Screw the ends into the wall so they form a U shape.
Slide a small branch or dowel through the loops, then hang a lightweight mirror or macrame. This takes five minutes and looks like you paid a hipster $200.
16. Origami Crane Mobile
Fold 20 paper cranes while watching TV. Thread them onto clear fishing line at different lengths.
Tie the lines to a embroidery hoop and hang it from the ceiling or a wall hook. The cranes spin gently and fill a tall empty corner without blocking light.
17. Push Pin Mural
Print a simple geometric pattern on paper – think a large circle or a zigzag. Tape the pattern to the wall and push colored push pins through the paper along the lines.
Remove the paper carefully. You’re left with a dotted masterpiece that fills a huge empty wall for under three dollars.
18. Rustic Crate Shelves
Find a wooden soda crate or wine box at a flea market. Screw it directly into the wall with the opening facing out.
Store rolled towels, small plants, or your collection of oddly shaped candles. The raw wood fixes that “too sterile” look in bathrooms or laundry rooms.
19. Yarn Wall Hanging Without Knots
Wrap yarn around a piece of cardboard 50 times. Cut the loops at one end to get long strands.
Tie the strands onto a dowel in a simple overhand knot, then trim the ends into a V shape. Hang it in any narrow vertical space – it’s basically a warm, fuzzy hug for your wall.
20. Playing Cards As Wallpaper
Grab two decks of playing cards from the dollar store. Arrange them in a overlapping diamond pattern using removable mounting squares.
Cover a small 2×2 foot section behind your desk or above a light switch. The pattern looks like expensive wallpaper, but it costs four bucks and takes 15 minutes.
21. Tension Rod Curtain For Storage
Put a small tension rod inside an awkward alcove or between two walls. Hang a short curtain made from a tea towel or bandana.
Behind the curtain, stash cleaning supplies or ugly cords. The fabric adds color and hides chaos – my favorite kind of decor.
22. Masking Tape City Skyline
Use blue painter’s tape to map out a simple skyline on a blank wall. Paint over the whole section with a single color like gray or navy.
Peel the tape off while the paint is still slightly wet. You’ll have a crisp silhouette of buildings that fills a long horizontal strip perfectly.
23. Hula Hoop Dream Catcher
Wrap an old hula hoop with colorful yarn or fabric strips. Weave a simple web inside using jute twine – it doesn’t have to be perfect.
Hang it with three ribbons from a single hook. This fills a massive round empty space, like above a bed or a sofa, with almost zero effort.
24. Book Pages Wall Flower
Cut circles from an old paperback’s pages. Layer five circles of decreasing size and glue them together at the center.
Fluff the edges and glue a button in the middle. Make a cluster of these paper flowers to fill a small awkward gap between two picture frames.
25. Ladder Blanket Rack
Lean an old wooden ladder against the wall. Drape three throw blankets over different rungs.
That’s it. The ladder itself becomes decor, and the blankets add color and texture. Works perfectly for that empty corner that’s too narrow for furniture.
26. Spray Paint Splatter On Canvas
Buy the cheapest stretched canvas you can find. Take it outside and spray paint it with two contrasting colors – hold the can far away for a misty effect.
Flick a third color from a toothbrush for tiny droplets. This abstract piece fills any size wall, and people will think you’re edgy and artistic (you’re not, but they don’t know that).
27. Embroidery Hoop Animal Face
Draw a simple animal face – fox, bear, or cat – on a piece of fabric. Stretch the fabric in an embroidery hoop and trim the excess.
The hoop’s wood frame looks intentional, and the simple line art adds charm without being cutesy. Hang a single hoop in that tiny 6-inch gap next to your front door.
28. Painted Door As Accent Wall
Got an awkward wall that’s actually a door? Paint the door a bold color like emerald green or burnt orange.
Add a few stick-on wall hooks or a small wreath. The painted surface draws attention away from the fact that it’s just a door, and suddenly it’s a “design choice.”
29. Bunting Banner From Fabric Scraps
Cut old clothes or fabric remnants into triangles. Fold the top edge of each triangle over a long piece of ribbon and sew or glue it down.
String the banner across any empty horizontal space – above a window, along a staircase wall, or across a headboard. It adds instant party vibes without the commitment of wallpaper.
Time To Attack Those Awkward Spots
Pick one technique that matches your current level of laziness and give it a shot. Most of these take under 20 minutes and cost less than a fancy coffee. I’ve personally used the washi tape trick to cover a landlord-special patch job, and the tension rod curtain hides my shameful collection of delivery menus. Your walls have been begging for attention – now go make them look like you meant to leave that space empty all along.