Tall walls, high ceilings and big windows have been on repeat in my browser search lately. Anyone who saw my last blog post, Hello Sunrise Trail Nova Scotia!, will understand why. Simply put, we’re moving to a house with all these features.
The walls are tall, the ceilings are high and the windows are big. Taller, higher and bigger than we’ve ever had. Although, there was that house in White Lake, Michigan we lived in 20ish years ago. It had similar features and the same overwhelming decorating challenges. I managed to find some photos from that house. Here it is in summer with my pretty flower gardens in bloom…
… and in winter under a blanket of snow.
Here are a couple of interior shots of the main living space.
I remember struggling to decorate that supersized space, but looking back, I’d say it turned out all right. The décor is obviously dated but some of the decorating choices I made are surprisingly aligned with what I’ve been learning through my recent internet searches.
Hang Large Artwork
The most common, and arguably the most predictable, online advice I found for decorating tall walls is to hang large, oversize artwork. The idea is to avoid small pieces which can seem inconsequential and look lost on a large wall. Thankfully, artwork, is created in a glorious variety of sizes, mediums, forms and styles. So, the ways in which artwork can enhance tall walls are limitless.
Two-dimensional artwork, such as paintings, prints and photographs, is probably the most popular choice. Here are a few examples of professionally decorated rooms I found on Instagram. These photos illustrate how a well-considered piece of art can add personality, interest, harmony and color to a space. Interestingly, the three design examples I found all feature large art over a fireplace.
My favorite example is this living room decorated by Canadian interior decorator and television personality Sarah Richardson. Not only is her Instagram account full of stunning home designs but it’s also packed with recommendations and how-tos. She’s definitely worth following.
Hang Artwork in Pairs
A clever twist on the idea of hanging large artwork is to display it in pairs. Here are a couple of examples from another one of my favorites ― American television personality and interior design expert Brian Patrick Flynn.
I used a similar approach above the fireplace in the White Lake house.
Create a Gallery Wall
Gallery walls, which are collections of curated artwork grouped together on a single wall, are a popular option for decorating all manner of walls. One advantage of a gallery wall is that it can be scaled up or down to fit the available space. Here’s a great example of a gallery wall which I spotted at the 2019 Southern Living Idea House in Amelia, Florida. See my previous post Ideas from the Idea House for more great inspiration from this stunning display home.
This bold, colorful gallery wall by Sarah McCarty Interiors presents a completely different vibe.
Display Three-Dimensional Art
Three-dimensional art, especially on a grand scale, can add even more impact, definition and texture to a tall wall. Options range from sculptures to textile art to wood carvings to natural objects to vintage finds. Here’s a great example of a three-dimensional wood wall sculpture presented by Gideon Mendelson.
I’m still researching options for decorating tall and large walls with three-dimensional art and seeking out examples to share. So, stay tuned for more ideas such as sculptures, textile art, collections, wall treatments, murals, built-ins and shelves, plants and special lighting.
Feature Window Views as Artwork
In the meantime, I’d like to share some advice from Wendy Rose Gould’s article How to Add Mountain Modern Style to Your Home Decor—Wherever You Live. Gould suggests you “let windows be your art”. She explains “If you’re lucky to have a stellar view—let nature be your featured artwork. Arrange your space so that you’re invited to gaze outside, and keep window dressings light and to a minimum.”
I can’t claim to have intentionally let the windows be our art in the White Lake house. But it did play out that way. Those incredible windows looked out over a pretty wooded area. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a good photo of the actual view through the windows.
I’ll never forget how beautiful it was in the fall when the leaves changed color. The house was surrounded by hardwood trees, and since it was located on a steep slope, the gorgeous fall foliage was at eyelevel. It was like living inside a painting!
Shown below are several examples from Instagram showing how professional designers feature window views as artwork.
This is a key takeaway for decorating our new home. We are lucky to have a stellar view and we’ll let nature be our featured artwork as Gould recommends. 
More Info
Previous blog posts mentioned in this blog post include:
. Hello Sunrise Trail Nova Scotia!
. Ideas from the Idea House.
The following articles were consulted in the writing of this blog post:
. How to Add Mountain Modern Style to Your Home Decor—Wherever You Live Martha Stewart article by Wendy Rose Gould
. 23 Coastal Décor Ideas to Give Your Home a Beachy Vibe—No Matter Where You Live Martha Stewart article by Wendy Rose Gould
. How To Decorate a Really Large Wall: 10 Designer-Approved Ideas Designing Vibes article
. Staring at a Large Empty Wall? 12 Tips to Decorate It Like a Designer The Spruce article by Kristin Hohenadel
. 30+ Ways to Decorate Tall Walls article by Sarah Langtry and Cassity Kmetzsch
. 28 Creative Ideas for Decorating Tall Walls Tidbits and Twine article
. 15 Wood Trim Accent Wall Ideas We Love for Visual Interest in Any Space The Spruce article by Cori Sears
The following interior designers are mentioned in this blog post:
. Alisa and Lysandra – see more on Instagram
. Kate Marker Interiors– see more on Instagram or her website
. Sarah Richardson Design – see more on Instagram or her website
. B Patrick Flynn – see more on Instagram or his website
. Sarah McCarty Interiors – see more on Instagram or her website
. Gideon Mendelson – see more on Instagram or his website
. Max Humphrey – see more on Instagram or his website
. Lucas/Eilers Design – see more on Instagram or their website.
Today’s Takeaways
1. A well-considered piece of art can add personality, interest, harmony and color to a space.
2. To avoid having your artwork seem inconsequential or getting lost on a large wall, hang oversize artwork instead.
3. “If you’re lucky to have a stellar view—let nature be your featured artwork.” Wendy Rose Gould
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