Add Character to Sterile White Walls!

So I am sure all of you, at least once, has rented an apartment or house that was not allowed to be painted any color. I lived in a few places like that, and I couldn't stand coming home to those naked, ugly walls that were so sterile and unwelcoming. Luckily, there are many things you can do to lively up a boring space without the hassle of puncturing holes or secretly painting the place in hopes that the landlord won't notice.

First off, think MIRRORS! There's something about a room of mirrors that gives the area more space. You don't have to spend a lot of money, either-- go to the thrift store, pick out any mirror laying around, and go wild! Sand it, paint it, add sticks or fabric or stones! The possibilities are endless.

Tutorial

Another solution to bland white walls are wall decals. While you can find some rather inexpensive ones at Wal Mart, Target, or perhaps even the dollar store in the craft section, the larger ones will cost a little bit more. They're very easy to remove and won't leave any tacky residue on the walls. ChuckEByrd Wall Art, PedPed, and allwithwall are all etsy sellers with some very original wall decals for reasonable prices!

 
Here's another simple and fun DIY project to distract from the sterility of those walls--picture frames! They're easy to find, very inexpensive, and fun to reinvent! Thrift stores always have picture frames stacked high, and they're oftentimes overlooked because they're outdated and gaudy. White walls covered with various sizes of picture frames look effortless and original, and it's a good way to show off your photography, too!

                                                                                     

Another favorite wall decor of  mine are the fabric panel wall hangings. You can find them at Target, Pier One, Ikea, World Market.... they're usually very cute, but also very overpriced (come on... $40 for a set of three panels?) so why pay that much when you can DIY? You can get the fabric from your local fabric shop or cut it up from an old sheet, garment of clothing, or a thrift store find that is too bold to wear but would look great on the wall! Here is the DIY tutorial.