What to Put Above Your Bed: 20 Wall Decor Ideas

That blank wall above the bed is one of the most asked about spots in the whole house. It is big, it is right in front of you every time you walk into the room, and an empty one can make a bedroom feel unfinished no matter how nice the bedding is. The good news is you do not need to spend a lot of money or hire anyone to fix it. A single piece of art, a cluster of shelves, or even a simple mirror can turn that wall into the best part of the room. I have pulled together twenty different ways to fill that space, ranging from quick weekend projects to slightly bigger updates you can plan for later. Some ideas work best over a low headboard, while others need a bit more wall height to really shine. Read through and pick whichever one matches your style, your budget, and the amount of wall space you actually have to work with.

1. Oversized Framed Art

A single large framed print above the bed creates an instant focal point and skips the fuss of arranging multiple pieces. Look for artwork roughly two thirds the width of your bed frame, since anything smaller can look lost on a large wall, while anything wider can crowd the space around your lamps.

Choose a piece with colors that echo something already in the room, like your throw pillows or your curtains, so the art feels connected to the rest of the space rather than randomly placed. A wide, simple frame in wood or black metal works well in almost any bedroom style. Hang the bottom of the frame about six to eight inches above the headboard so it feels connected to the bed rather than floating too high on the wall.

2. Woven Wall Hanging

A large woven wall hanging in cream and tan tones adds texture and a handmade feeling that flat artwork cannot match. These pieces work especially well in bedrooms with a relaxed, natural style, since the fringe and woven pattern bring in an organic, textured look.

Center the hanging directly above the headboard and let it extend a bit wider than the bed frame for the best visual balance. Pair it with simple bedding so the texture of the wall hanging becomes the main detail in the room. If you want to try this look without a big investment, a smaller woven piece paired with two matching pieces on either side can fill the same amount of wall space for less money.

3. Curved Wood Mirror

An arched or curved wood framed mirror above the bed adds light and a soft, organic shape that breaks up all the straight lines in a typical bedroom. Mirrors also help bounce natural light around a room, which is especially useful in bedrooms with only one window.

Choose a mirror with a warm wood frame if your furniture already leans wood toned, or a black metal arched mirror for a slightly more modern contrast. Hang it a little higher than you would hang artwork, since a mirror above the bed should reflect the ceiling or the upper part of the opposite wall rather than reflecting the bed itself. This is a functional decor choice that also solves the blank wall problem at the same time.

4. Symmetrical Wall Sconces

Two matching wall sconces placed on either side of a central piece of art or directly flanking the headboard add both light and structure to the wall above the bed. This symmetrical setup feels calm and balanced, which works especially well in a room meant for resting.

Choose sconces with a warm, dimmable bulb so they can double as reading lights at night, freeing up space on your nightstands that would otherwise be taken by lamps. Mount them at a height where the light falls just above shoulder level when you are sitting up in bed. This combination of function and style is one of the more practical wall decor upgrades on this whole list.

5. Gallery Photo Wall

A cluster of framed photos and small prints arranged above the bed creates a personal, collected look that a single piece of art cannot always give you. Mix a few personal photos with two or three art prints in similar frame colors so the wall feels cohesive rather than cluttered.

Plan the layout on the floor first, using painter’s tape on the wall to mark where each frame will go before you commit to any nail holes. Keep the overall shape of the gallery slightly wider than the bed and centered above the headboard. This is one of the more affordable options on this list, since you can use frames and photos you may already have around the house.

6. Rattan Pendant Light

A rattan or woven pendant light hung above the bed, centered between two low nightstand lamps, adds a soft, natural texture overhead instead of on the wall itself. This works especially well in rooms with higher ceilings, since the pendant needs enough clearance to hang without feeling too close to the bed.

Choose a warm bulb so the woven texture of the shade casts a soft, dappled light pattern on the ceiling and wall at night. Keep the pendant centered directly above the middle of the headboard for the most balanced look. This idea replaces the need for artwork entirely, since the light fixture itself becomes the main visual feature of that wall.

7. Botanical Print Set

A set of three matching botanical prints, framed identically and hung in a straight row above the bed, brings a calm, natural feeling into the room. Choose simple line drawings or soft watercolor style prints in muted greens and creams rather than bold, saturated colors.

Space the three frames evenly, leaving about two to three inches between each one, and center the whole row above the headboard. This layout works particularly well in a smaller bedroom, since three smaller frames can fill the same wall space as one large piece while adding more visual rhythm. Botanical prints are widely available and inexpensive, making this an easy weekend project.

8. Wide Wood Shelf

A single long wood shelf mounted above the bed gives you a place to display small decor items while also filling the wall space in a more functional way than flat art alone. Style it with a small plant, a stack of books, and one small framed print leaning against the wall rather than hanging flush against it.

Keep the shelf mounted high enough that nothing on it could fall onto the bed, and use a few sturdy brackets so it can hold some weight safely. This idea works well for anyone who wants their wall decor to feel a little more personal and changeable, since you can swap out the items on the shelf any time you want a refresh without any new holes in the wall.

9. Fabric Wall Panel

An upholstered fabric panel mounted directly on the wall behind the bed, wider than the headboard itself, creates a soft, cushioned backdrop instead of traditional artwork. Choose a linen or bouclé fabric in a warm neutral tone so it blends with the rest of a soft, textured bedroom.

This panel can be mounted flush against the wall using cleats, keeping the installation fairly simple for a confident do it yourself project. The soft texture also helps absorb some sound in the room, which is a nice bonus in addition to the visual upgrade. This idea works particularly well when you want the whole wall to feel like one cohesive, cozy surface rather than adding separate decor pieces.

10. Vintage Tapestry Rug

Hanging a vintage style rug on the wall above the bed, using simple rug hooks or a hidden rod sewn into the back, adds pattern and rich texture without needing traditional artwork at all. Look for a rug with muted, worn in colors so it feels collected rather than brand new.

Center the rug above the headboard and let it hang naturally rather than pulling it perfectly flat, since a slight bit of movement in the fabric adds to the relaxed, vintage feeling. This idea works especially well in bohemian or eclectic style bedrooms, and it gives you a large piece of wall decor for often less money than a comparable piece of framed art.

11. Abstract Canvas Duo

Two abstract canvas paintings hung side by side above the bed create movement and visual interest without needing a large single piece. Choose two canvases with a shared color palette, like soft tan and cream with one small pop of muted blue or rust, so they read as a matched pair rather than two unrelated pieces.

Hang them with a small gap of about three to four inches between the canvases, centered together above the headboard as one combined unit. This approach works well when you cannot find a single large piece of art that fits your wall, since two medium canvases together can cover the same amount of space with more visual texture and interest.

12. Arched Wall Mirror

A tall, arched mirror leaned against the wall behind a low bed, rather than mounted flush, creates a relaxed, effortless look that also adds height to the whole wall. This works best with a bed frame that has a low or nonexistent headboard, since the mirror needs room to lean without being blocked.

Secure the mirror to the wall with a safety strap even though it is leaning, since this keeps it from shifting or tipping over time. Choose a simple wood or brass frame so the mirror feels intentional rather than like a leftover piece of furniture. This idea adds both light and a modern, casual style to the wall above the bed.

13. Macrame Wall Hanging

A macrame wall hanging in natural cotton cord brings a soft, textured, handmade look to the wall above the bed. Choose a design with a mix of knots and some fringe at the bottom for the most texture, and pick one sized to sit comfortably within the width of your headboard.

Hang it from a simple wood dowel using a small nail or hook, keeping it centered above the bed for the most balanced look. This piece works particularly well in a room with a relaxed, boho style, and it pairs nicely with woven baskets or a jute rug elsewhere in the room for a cohesive, natural theme throughout the space.

14. Ceramic Plate Cluster

A cluster of decorative ceramic plates mounted on the wall above the bed creates an unexpected, collected look that feels more like a piece of art than traditional plate display in a dining room. Choose plates in similar cream and tan tones with subtle texture or embossed patterns rather than bold, painted designs.

Use plate hangers on the back of each piece and arrange them in a loose, organic cluster rather than a strict grid, since the slightly uneven spacing gives the display a more natural, gathered over time feeling. Center the whole cluster above the headboard. This idea works well for anyone who wants a wall decor option that feels a little different from typical framed art.

15. Minimalist Line Art

A single simple line art print, showing a face, a body, or a plant in one continuous black line on a cream background, gives a modern, calm look to the wall above the bed. Choose a large scale print so the simplicity of the line does not get lost on a big wall.

Frame it in a thin black or wood frame to keep the overall look minimal, and hang it centered above the headboard at eye level when standing. This idea works especially well in a smaller bedroom or a bedroom with a more modern, uncluttered style, since a single simple image gives the eye a place to rest without adding visual clutter to the room.

16. Layered Frame Collage

A collage of frames in different sizes, but all in the same wood or black metal finish, arranged in a loose grid above the bed creates a curated, gallery style look with less planning than a full photo wall. Mix two or three empty frames with two filled with simple art or a favorite photo for a layered, dimensional effect.

Start with the largest frame in the center and build outward with slightly smaller frames, keeping consistent spacing of about two inches between each one. This approach gives you the visual impact of a full gallery wall while using fewer total pieces, making it a quicker weekend project for anyone short on time.

17. Woven Basket Wall

A cluster of flat woven baskets, mounted directly on the wall above the bed in a loose, layered pattern, brings texture and a natural material into the room without any glass or framing at all. Choose baskets in different sizes and slightly different weave patterns for the most visual interest.

Arrange the largest basket slightly off center and layer smaller ones around it, using small nails or basket hooks to secure each piece flat against the wall. This look works especially well in farmhouse or boho style bedrooms, and it is one of the more budget friendly ideas on this list, since woven baskets are inexpensive and widely available at most home stores.

18. Statement Headboard Panel

A large upholstered headboard that extends unusually tall, reaching well above where a normal headboard would end, essentially becomes the wall decor itself rather than needing separate artwork above it. Choose a channel tufted or wingback style design in a bouclé or velvet fabric for the most dramatic effect.

This option works best when you are already planning to update your headboard, since it solves two problems, an uncomfortable or missing headboard and an empty wall, at the same time. Keep the wall around the headboard simple, with just two small sconces or nothing at all, so the tall panel itself remains the clear focal point of the room.

19. Black and White Prints

A row or grid of black and white photography prints above the bed gives a timeless, gallery like look that works with almost any bedroom color scheme. Choose images with a similar subject, like architecture, nature, or simple landscapes, so the collection feels intentional rather than random.

Frame each print identically in a thin black or white frame for a clean, cohesive look, and keep the spacing between frames even and tight, around two inches apart. This idea is especially useful if your bedding or walls already include some color, since black and white prints add visual interest without introducing any competing colors into the room.

20. Dried Floral Arrangement

A large dried floral or pampas grass arrangement mounted on the wall in a simple wall vase, or displayed in a tall vase leaning against the wall above a low headboard, brings a soft, organic shape to the space without any watering or maintenance. Choose dried stems in cream, tan, and soft brown tones to stay within a neutral palette.

Mount a small wall vase directly on the wall, centered above the headboard, and let the stems fan out naturally rather than trimming them into a perfectly even shape. This idea adds height and a soft, textured silhouette to the wall, and it works particularly well in bedrooms that already lean toward a natural, relaxed style throughout the rest of the room.

That blank wall above the bed does not have to stay empty for long. Pick one idea from this list that matches the size of your wall and the style you already love, and give it a try this weekend. Small changes to this one spot can make the whole room feel finished.

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