Don't be intimidated — a big, windowless wall can be the perfect canvas for creative decor ideas. In a Manhattan foyer decorated by Rafael de Cárdenas, fashion photographs by Melvin Sokolsky are displayed above a 1960s Brazilian credenza; the walls are Venetian plaster. Tour the entire home In an apartment designed by Nate Berkus, Martinique wallpaper (an iconic pattern from the Beverly Hills Hotel) sheaths this dining area; the vintage Pace Collection chairs are from Center 44 in New York City. A wall in the living area of Hilary Swank's Manhattan home is clad with planks of reclaimed barn wood; the photograph is by Jackie Nickerson, and the painting is by Carlos Vega.Tour the entire home In William Frawley's SoHo apartment, the photograph of a rib cage is by an unknown artist and once belonged to a San Francisco museum; the Knoll stool has a custom-made zebra sling, a 19th-century table from Aero Studios is topped with a wood vase from Mantiques Modern, and the Akari paper lamp is by Isamu Noguchi.

In a D.C. apartment designed by Nestor Santa-Cruz, a Crate & Barrel mirror hangs above a headboard of walnut and faux suede. The library of a Manhattan loft, which is painted in Farrow & Ball's Elephant's Breath, features a wall papered in a print by Neisha Crosland, and a photograph by Ellen Kooi is displayed in front of modular metal shelves; home decor stores portlandthe chairs and Eclipse light fixture are by Ochre, and the rug is by Odegard.christmas decorations uk ideas In a study by designer by Gwen Driscoll, Jonathan Adler benches sit in front of a Ted Boerner leather sofa; good paint for exterior doorfamily photographs hang on the wall.christmas decorations for my office

For an actress and her family, interior designer Kerry Joyce wallpapered one of the children's rooms in world maps from California Map and Travel Center. The Syrian chest of drawers in the bedroom of designer Sig Bergamin holds photographs by John Hall (left) and Tuca Reinés, an antique Chinese mask, and an Indian bone-inlaid box.homemade xmas tree decorations ideas In a Manhattan townhouse designed by Ann Pyne, a stairwell features drawings by Dora Frost of British figures, including Francis Bacon and Stephen Spender; decorate your home to sellthe runner is by Patterson Flynn Martin. In a bedroom designed by Iain Halliday, a Saarinen armchair and custom bedside table are paired with a bed dressed in Frette linens; paintings by Anselm Reyle hang on walls painted in Benjamin Moore's Eagle Rock, the swing-arm sconces are from Hinson Lighting, and the carpet is by ABC Carpet & Home.

In the den of Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan's Florida home, the Butterfield sofa, Beatrice lamp, and Richard Nixon rug are all Adler designs; the wallpaper and the butterfly tapestry are vintage, and the backgammon set is by Albrizzi. A photo by Peter Margonelli made into a grid in the living area of an apartment designed by Matthew Patrick Smyth; the 1930s French table base has a custom-made top. In a bath, the tub and fittings are in the shape of an eight-pointed star, and the mirrored wall treatment is based on a traditional Islamic design. A hand-painted wall covering by de Gournay adorns the foyer of a Manhattan apartment designed by Iain Halliday, the antique French mirror is from Bijan Royal, and the rug is by Stark. A 19th-century French chandelier hangs above a dining table made from a pair of '70s brass bases found on eBay; the '40s French dining chairs are upholstered in a Lelièvre velvet, the shades are of a Lee Jofa silk, and the rug is by the Rug Company.

The walls were painted with 10 coats of custom lacquer. A 17th-century Peruvian Cuzco School painting hangs in a guest room; the Chinese painted wardrobe is antique, and the bedside table and bookshelf wallpaper are by Andrew Martin. The walls and floor of a bathroom are lined in Popham Design's Hex Long Shadow, the shower enclosure is custom made, and the brass fixtures were purchased from a souk. In the dining room of this beach house, rugs from Morocco, cowhide chairs, and a sunburst mirror complement the bold patterned walls. In the den, the sectional and the ottoman, which are covered in a linen by C&C Milano and an Edelman leather, respectively, and the upholstered screens are all by Martyn Lawrence-Bullard; the woven-sea-grass stools are by ABC Carpet & Home. Pin these design ideas for later. For more, follow ELLE Decor on Pinterest! Give your bare walls a makeover with these easy, budget-friendly ideas. Photo By: Chelsea Costa Photo By: Tricia Messeroux

© 2013, HGTV/Scripps Network, LLC. OWNED - No limitations on time/term, territory or media as long as the images are o Photo By: Anisa Darnell Photo By: Courtesy of Society Social Photo By: Ben Rollins If you live in a dorm or apartment, it may be against the rules to permanently affix decor onto the walls. Cue the washi tape. Use a variety of colors and patterns to get a custom look you love, and simply switch it out when you want a new look. Design by Michelle Edgemont Dress up even the smallest of areas, like a nook or entryway, with a little bling. Designer Jamie Herzlinger flanked a French-style settee with ornamental sconces to add some sparkle to the plain wall. Even your kitchen walls could use some sprucing up. Print your favorite photographs, put them in basic frames and hang them at varying heights for an art gallery look right in your own kitchen. Give your walls a cool effect with a pop art look. Get simple instructions on how to make a faux screenprint that will bring a little quirkiness to any room.

You can find artistic inspiration using everyday items. Michelle Edgemont dip-dyed coffee filters and placed them in a random pattern on the wall using glue dots to create a dramatic flower effect. Give an old map a modern spin with a multi-frame application. Choose your favorite destination spots, or use a map of your hometown. Get the instructions here>> To decorate the staircase wall, cousins Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri of Cousins Undercover hung rustic wood-and-wire baskets. Check your local thrift store for vintage finds that are easy to hang and eye-pleasing. Use family photos to make a customized wallpaper design. Here, Cortney and Bob Novogratz of Home by Novogratz covered one wall of this international models' apartment with the models' headshots for a dramatic yet personal touch. Don't forget about the staircase wall. If you're living in a small space, you can make a workspace underneath the stairs by installing a floating desk against the staircase wall.

Designer Brian Patrick Flynn installed corkboard to the wall for a convenient spot to attach memos, cards and photos. You can find a plethora of inspirational signage in stores, but you can make your own, too. Michelle suggests using different colors and patterns of washi tape for a funky way to display your favorite quote. Anthony and John of Kitchen Cousins dressed up a rustic dining room wall with faux taxidermy. The patterns on the animal heads add a modern touch, bringing two contrasting styles together. Spruce up an accent wall with budget-friendly plywood. Designer Brian attached plywood to this colorful wall in square shapes of all sizes to create a cool geometric effect. Scour bookstores and thrift shops for vintage books you can use as art. To get this look, Design Star All Stars contestant Kellie folded book pages halfway in contrasting directions, and attached the books to the wall using screws. If you want to add some retro-style to your home, go with the iconic '70s art favorite — string art.

Give it a modern spin with a monogrammed design. Watch the how-to video>> Display your hat collection right above the bed for an unconventional focal point. To mix it up, add baskets and other vintage finds for a twist on the traditional gallery wall. Design by Jane Ellison Add some color to black-and-white-photos with neon-colored washi tape. Place the photos in an art gallery pattern or create geometric shapes. An eclectic mix of vintage plates is an easy, inexpensive way to decorate a bedroom wall in a little girl's bedroom. Include a framed baby photo and an initial for a true personal touch. Design by Anisa Darnell If you already have a playful accent wall — but want to jazz it up — hang bold empty frames at varying heights. Design by Brian Patrick Flynn The metallic floral wallpaper is its own statement piece, but a collection of vintage art really gives this living room a vintage glam look. Design by Emily Henderson You can find vintage lettering and signs at just about any thrift store.

Cortney and Bob dress up one wall in the dining room with large vintage letters that spell "LUNCH". Paired with animal head decals and diagonal stripes, the letters bring a fun vibe to the space. Painting stripes on an accent wall is a fast, easy and inexpensive way to add some color and interest to a wall. Thrift stores have one of the best varieties of artwork. Stick to a theme, like animal print or botanicals. Once you have a theme, scour your favorite thrift shops for eclectic art prints that match your theme. Design by Jeanine Hays Living in an apartment or dorm room can prevent you from painting the walls. If you'd like to dress up the walls without damaging them, use washi tape. Michelle Edgemont attached tape to the wall in a tree shape, and pinned thumbtacks to the ends of each branch for a cute, space-saving way to display necklaces. Property Brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott placed a giant lighted star above the credenza to provide soft lighting and a funky element to the bare wall.