The master of the living room is, of course, the sofa. You can do without everything else, but not without a sofa. The options for its location in the living room are varied. In a large room, an “island” or “peninsula” positioning of the sofa is possible. This means installing it across the room - closer to the center of the room or with the side to the wall. This layout is used for zoning: a sofa standing across visually separates the living room area from the kitchen area, bedroom, office, etc. In small rooms, the sofa is usually placed with its long side against the wall. If there is a window behind it, no additional decor is required - curtains and the view outside the window are enough. If the sofa is placed against a solid wall, you need to think about its design. How to decorate the wall behind the sofa? We bring to your attention 15 ideas.
Accent trim
If the area behind the sofa is initially highlighted with decoration, additional decor may not be required. To create an accent wall behind the sofa, wallpaper, moldings, stone, wood, photo wallpaper, etc. are used.
Options for decorating the wall behind the sofa
Collage or gallery
Collages and galleries above the sofas are usually formed from small posters, paintings, photographs and mirrors. Framed objects are often used.
Decorating the wall above the sofa: galleries and collages
You can hang photos, paintings, and mirrors at once. There are numerous options for the arrangement of elements. Parts can be placed symmetrically or asymmetrically, in even rows or randomly. If in doubt, use ready-made schemes from decorators.
How to place decor above the sofa? Collage and gallery templates
To avoid mistakes, it is recommended to carry out a preliminary “trying on”. To do this, you need to cut out parts from paper of the same size and shape as the decorative items, and place them on the wall, securing them with tape or pushpins. Having created the optimal composition, you can begin finishing the design.
Decorative painting on the wall
An advantageous design can be achieved using a brush and paint. At the same time, the help of a professional artist is not always required.
There are certain requirements for independent design of wall paintings:
- Safety. For work, it is better to use the most common paints that do not contain toxins, for example, acrylic compounds.
- It is necessary to think in advance about protecting the flooring and furniture. Furniture is removed to a safe distance, and the floor is covered with film.
Before applying the design, you should carefully prepare the wall to prevent early peeling of the paint.
Recommended sequence of preparatory work:
- The selected section of the wall is cleaned of the old coating.
- After removing the dust, inspect the surface for the presence of cracks and chips.
- All defects and irregularities must be repaired using putty.
- Immediately before applying paint, the wall surface must be degreased using industrial compounds.
- New plaster is applied to the selected area, and then the surface is covered with 1-2 layers of primer. The advantages of using a primer include improved adhesion of paint compositions, as well as antiseptic properties (many manufacturers produce primers that contain antiseptics).
When applying a picture, you can use ready-made stencils. Creative supply stores offer a large collection of templates of various images made from cardboard, silicone, and PVC.
Single piece of art
Large format paintings and posters are self-sufficient. One such detail is enough to rid the wall behind the sofa of emptiness and bring additional nuances (color, “characteristic,” thematic) into the living room.
To decorate the wall in the upholstered furniture area, not only paintings and posters are suitable, but also stained glass panels, decorative panels, tapestries, etc.
A single element is usually placed strictly above the central point of the sofa.
Accent selection
After installing the wooden structures, start hanging the decor. For the latter we will use:
- marble pot with artificial greenery inside;
- deer (or any other) antlers;
- sturgeon model mounted on a board;
- capital letter of the English alphabet.
Let's go through it in order. The marble pot is selected in white-gray color. It is placed on wooden planks mounted to the wall. A mandatory requirement is the absence of clear, precise lines. The pot should hang on the wall as unevenly as possible.
Small pebbles are suitable for decoration.
A mock-up of a green plant is placed inside such a pot. You can use live greens, but you will have to keep an eye on them. When planting climbing plants, over time a stem of impressive size and length will sprout, which will repeatedly decorate the design of the living room.
Fish and horns, together with the pot, occupy only one half of the wall composition. In the case of organizing a corner arrangement, these 3 components are placed on one of the sides of the wall space.
The letter comes last. It should be done in a casual, rough style. Tin material must be used. According to the color scheme, the letter should combine two shades at once:
- white, with rusty spots around the perimeter, located inside the rim of the structure;
- along the outer edges there is a dark gray finish, also complemented by rust.
Ordinary incandescent lamps are installed inside the letter. This design gives an extraordinary charm, vintage feel, and at night - comfort and warmth when the lights are lit.
For illumination, it is better to use ordinary low-power incandescent light bulbs that produce a soft yellow light.
If the decorative fullness of the wall space behind the sofa is not enough for you, you can attach small photographs (like a Polaroid format) to the boards. This way you will fill the space by adding good memories of past years.
Simple decor option with photos on boards
As an accent, this style does not imply obvious, flashy elements. If desired, you can add sofa cushions in a noticeably distinctive tone. Some residents like to arrange colorful pictures. This option is also suitable.
Be sure to consider installing a wall in a niche. Look at the photos posted at the end of this article. Here you will find exactly what you like.
Geographic map
Modern or aged, black and white or color, framed or unframed - a geographical map is beautiful in its most varied incarnations. A special harmony reigns in its relationship with interior elements in the colonial style: for example, with a leather sofa, a rough wooden chest instead of a table, a globe-shaped lamp, a wicker chest of drawers, etc.
What to hang above the sofa? For example, a map
Tiles, natural stone, concrete panels
A fashionable finishing option is the use of tiles:
- under the brick,
- imitating natural stone,
- the natural stone itself.
The modern, stylish character of the interior is emphasized by concrete panels, giving the living room a somewhat raw, factory-like atmosphere. The solution will decorate the interior in the following styles:
- loft,
- minimalism.
Mirror
A large mirror behind the sofa is a beneficial solution for a narrow living room. A reflective object on a long wall can visually expand the room. To enhance the effect, the mirror must be positioned horizontally.
A mirror in an elegant frame looks luxurious above the sofa. If you wish, you can create a mirror wall here - for this you will need a large mirror sheet or reflective tiles.
Large wall clock
This decor is typical for living rooms with vintage motifs. A huge clock, similar to a street or station clock, gives the living room a special touching quality, but at the same time gives it the energy of movement.
What to hang above the sofa? For example, a watch!
The same carpet as a sophisticated accessory
Yes, yes, it is he, the carpet on the wall, that is the subject of many jokes. We believe that it is time to get rid of the remnants of the past. If we are not talking about a huge dusty monster made of hard pile, then a small carpet on the wall can successfully play the role of a work of art.
Painting with a neutral image in a white frame
Wall shelves
Typically, shelves are placed along the length of the sofa - straight or in steps. They are filled with books, decorative items, and souvenirs.
An observant guest will certainly pay attention to the contents of the shelves. This wall design can be a kind of business card. Books will characterize the owners as reading people, cups and awards as strong-willed and successful, and the fruits of creativity or collection items as enthusiastic.
Lamps
Cute wall lamps are appropriate everywhere, including behind the sofa. However, there should be no wires “crawling” along the wall, unless, of course, this was intended as part of the composition. It is better to make the decision to install sconces before renovation - this will allow you not to disturb the aesthetics.
Most often, one or two lamps are placed above the sofa. If the room is large, you can hang many more sconces, creating a gallery or “light wall” out of them.
Conclusion: mix and taste
Everything written here is just ideas. You can and should try, combine these techniques with each other, change and update compositions to create your own unique design. This is the easiest and simplest way to change the interior.
There are many sources of inspiration. One of them is our blog in general, and this post in particular. If this is not enough, go online and do some research. Take a look at Pinterest or Tumblr, for example. Search and compare, think about what you like and why. Experiment, try, and everything will definitely work out!
Niche
This method of decorating the sofa area also needs to be planned before renovation and finishing work. Niches can be either purely decorative or functional, playing the role of an exhibition shelf.
How to decorate the wall above the sofa? For example, make a niche
Themed decor
If the interior design has a theme, the original decor above the sofa can match it. For example: there is a steering wheel above the sofa in a marine living room, in a chalet-style interior there is a skin or antlers, in a room with African motifs there are exotic masks, etc.
Wallpaper
Decorative wallpaper will enliven any interior, giving it elegance and modernity. Among the most popular are options with:
- subtle patterns,
- stripes related to the classical ornament.
Such patterns will become a real decoration of a classic interior.
Wallpapering the walls of a classic living room - photo
Floral swirls or other subtle designs and sparkly wallpaper add a glamorous touch to your living room.
Decorating a living room in glamor style with wallpaper - photo
Choosing decorative wallpaper with a shiny surface on the wall behind the sofa will provide the backdrop to a glamorous living room.
Lovers of modern ideas can consider the option of fashionable wallpaper with motifs:
- geometry;
- checkered wallpaper;
- abstractions;
- other interesting variations.
Decorative wallpaper will enliven any interior, giving it elegance and modernity.
Molded rosettes
For interior decoration, heavy gypsum stucco is rarely used, preferring lightweight ones, for example, polyurethane. It sticks to any surface without any problems. Medallions randomly scattered across the wall are an element of playfulness that is quite appropriate in a modern interior.
Mix
If the sofa is large enough, it is possible to use several decor options at once. So, the wall behind the sofa can be decorated with a large mirror, a photo gallery, and sconces.
Decorating the wall above the sofa is a creative process
However, it is important to know when to stop. The sofa area should not look too heavy and cluttered.
Author: Natalia Gorodets
Design methods
The design option for the wall behind the sofa depends on the style direction of the living room design, the functionality of the area where the furniture is located, and the individual preferences of the apartment owners. The organic combination of this type of upholstered furniture with decorative elements of the same color is a classic way to fill the void. To create an unusual design for a wall with a sofa, it is recommended to choose contrasting shades and different styles. Free space can be decorated, highlighted or functionally used.
Accent trim
The wall above the sofa can be highlighted with contrasting shades, textured elements, and finishing materials. Its color should be harmoniously combined with the design of the decor. The use of contrasting tones and ornaments looks shocking and defiant. Basic rules when choosing a shade for decorating a free surface:
- Using warm colors will visually reduce the space, while using cold colors will expand it.
- Shades that match the main tone will create a calm, peaceful atmosphere.
- Opposite colors will add expression and liveliness to the room design.
Accent decoration allows you to divide the living room into different zones, visually expand or reduce the space of the room, and add a bright accent. The main options for decorating the wall above the sofa:
- wallpaper;
- Decoration Materials;
- tree;
- drywall;
- artistic painting, fresco;
- paints;
- molding.
The space above the upholstered furniture can be filled with photo wallpaper, which, in the case of accent design, should differ from the style direction of the room’s interior. The ornament should be active, but not bright. For accent decoration, it is recommended to choose photo wallpapers with a 3D effect, depicting macro photography of objects, and futuristic decorative stickers.
Excessive colorfulness of the picture neutralizes the design of the living room.
Wallpaper is an elegant, modern wall decoration in the living room. The finishing method is suitable for rooms made in different styles. Decorative wallpaper with geometric, abstract, floral patterns, mosaic patterns is a self-sufficient decoration of space. Liquid varieties, which are a combination of cellulose with a natural polymer, form a relief coating when applied. The use of stencils and templates allows you to create exclusive drawings and panels.
Textured elements look organic in living rooms designed in different styles. Popular options for decorating the wall behind the sofa:
- fake diamond;
- ceramics;
- brick;
- tile;
- wood;
- drywall;
- panels made of plastic, MDF, eco-leather.
Design ideas for decorating the wall above the sofa in the living room will help create a holistic and, if necessary, the most colorful interior.
Natural or artificial finishing materials add coziness and comfort to the living room design. Stone, ceramic panels, imitation brickwork suit the classic, modern style of interior design. You can decorate the wall above the sofa with your own hands in the form of three-dimensional images from plasterboard of different colors. Wood cladding panels and natural boards make the room warm and bright.
The original design of the wall above the sofa is the use of artistic painting. Acrylic, oil, fluorescent paints, markers, and aerosol cans are used for decoration. There are several technology options for transforming space; their features are presented in the table.
| Type of equipment | Peculiarity |
| Encaustic | Using molten paints to coat a hard surface. |
| Alsecco | Applying a water-based paint mixture to hard, dry plaster. |
| Sgraffito | Sequentially covering the wall with a primer of different colors for subsequent scraping of the pattern until the bottom layer is exposed. |
| Grisaille | Image of architectural, sculptural elements in gradient shades of predominantly gray. |
| Volumetric painting | Preliminary surface treatment with plaster to create the necessary convexities. |
| Graffiti | Using aerosol cans and markers to create an image using a stencil. |
Moldings are overhead decorative panels made of plastic, foam, wood, natural stone, polyurethane, and gypsum. The textured element is offered in convex, concave, and flat versions. Moldings help to visually expand the space and create separate zones in the room. Such decorative panels fit harmoniously into the classic interior of the living room, adding sophistication and grace.
Stone
Wood finish
Molding
Artistic painting
3D Wallpaper Photo Wallpaper Grisaille Graffiti
Decoration
In addition to finishing materials and textured elements, you can use decorative items to fill the void - this is another great option for decorating a wall above the sofa in the living room. Accessories allow you to maintain the integrity of the interior or add bright accents to it. Modern wall decoration options:
- posters;
- paintings;
- photos;
- geographic Maps;
- mirrors;
- dishes;
- watch.
Posters are a decorative element used to fill the living room space in a loft, pop art style. Posters will look out of place in a room with a classic interior. The color scheme may differ from the main tone or echo the shade of a separate piece of furniture. The content of the poster should have artistic value and reflect the theme of the living room design.
It is better to place the poster on a plain surface to avoid merging the decorative element with the finishing material.
Paintings and photographs are a popular way to transform the wall above the sofa. Decorative elements are harmoniously combined with classic or modern style. The color scheme can match the main tone of the interior, the shade of individual furnishings, or act as a bright accent. To harmoniously combine with the design of the room, you need to know how to place paintings above the sofa:
- The distance between the frame and the furniture should be from 5 to 15-20 cm.
- For the integrity of the composition, the painting cannot occupy less than one third of the size of the sofa.
- The maximum width of one image must correspond to the width of the upholstered furniture. When using several paintings, it is not necessary to adhere to strict symmetry.
- When arranging photographs in a compositional manner, the bottom edges of the frames should be on the same line.
- Paintings made in different techniques must be placed in identical baguettes.
To transform an empty surface, you should use good quality photographs. Monochrome images with a colorful element are a stylish option for decorating the wall behind the sofa. A fashionable way to decorate is to use a triptych. Fragments of a color collage, representing a plot picture divided into several parts, are hung separately and at a small distance from each other.
A stylish interior decor option with neutral colors is a geographic map. In a living room of a classic, Scandinavian style, an antique pattern will look harmonious. The image can be made as a painting placed in a frame, a poster, an artistic painting, or a photo wallpaper. To decorate the wall behind the sofa, use a physical, political map of the world or a separate fragment depicting a continent or hemisphere.
Reflective surfaces visually increase the space and make the room bright. The stylized frame fits harmoniously into the living room with a matching design. Mirrors can be made in a classic format or represent a sticker in a mosaic form. Reflective surfaces of different configurations in combination with lighting are a stylish design for the wall in the living room above the sofa.
A room made in country or vintage style can be transformed with the help of dishes. Plates with traditional painting are suitable for an ethnic interior. The arrangement of household items can be chaotic or represent a complete composition of dishes of the same size and color.
A trivial way to decorate is to use a clock. Wall chronometers of unusual shape look appropriate in modern, loft, and pop art styles. Traditional pendulum clocks are suitable for a classic interior.
Painting
Stickers
Posters Clock Mirror Map
Photos
Modular picture
Dishes
Shelves
If you have no idea what to hang on the wall behind the sofa, you can use the simplest option - create a cozy atmosphere in the living room with the help of shelves on which you can place books, magazines, and decorative items. The material of manufacture, shape, size, color scheme depend on the features of the interior design of the room. Above the sofa, one or several shelves with vases, scented candles, and photo frames will look harmonious.
To create a cohesive design, it is recommended to use shelves made of materials that echo other furnishings.
Instead of trivial shelves, you can hang wall cabinets. Wall mounted furniture is a stylish option for organizing storage in a small room. To avoid overcrowding the interior, it is recommended to choose a cabinet with parameters proportional to the size of the sofa. To store decorative attributes and books, you can use furniture of unusual shapes with glass, frosted doors.
Niche
If there are no options for hanging above the sofa, why not make a niche. But it is better to think through such decoration of free space in advance in order to make an excavation of the required depth at the stage of construction work. To decorate a niche, you can use contrasting materials and textured elements. Functional purpose of the recess in the wall:
- storage of decorative items;
- placement of paintings, photographs, posters;
- location of built-in lighting fixtures.
A niche is a self-sufficient way to fill and decorate an empty surface; you should not overload it with decorative elements.
Thematic design
Beautiful decoration of the wall above the sofa - the use of attributes made in the same style as the interior of the room. A modern version of living room design is the use of furniture and decor of the same theme. A unified interior also implies furnishings of the same color scheme. Popular styles for decorating a living room are marine, chalet, and Egyptian.
| Style | Nautical | Chalet | Egyptian |
| Color | White, shades of blue, cyan, turquoise | White, grey, brown | Yellow, orange, sand, gold |
| Ornament, patterns | Horizontal, vertical stripes, anchor, ship, seafood | Monochromatic design | Floral ornament, hieroglyphs, images of pharaohs, pyramids |
| Finishing material | Wood, cork, natural stone | Wood, untreated natural stone | Natural stone, ceramic, granite tiles |
| Wall decoration method | Photo wallpaper, marine-themed paintings, wall clocks, barometer, open shelves with wicker baskets | Wooden panels, paintings, hanging deer antlers, animal skins | Mosaic, fresco, panel, shelves and niches with floor vases, ethnic dishes, figurines |
Chalet Egyptian Sea
Combined methods
If family members cannot come to a common denominator on how to decorate the wall behind the sofa in the living room, you can combine several design methods. This option is appropriate when there is a lot of free space. The combination of a niche and paintings, photographs, mirrors, watches looks original. In the wall recess you can stylishly place themed posters, family photographs, reflective surfaces, and household items. The combination of accent finishing with decorative panels, molding with a triptych, drawings, photographs looks harmonious when the pattern of placing paintings above the sofa is followed.
Vertical surface design options should complement each other. It is unacceptable to use several contrasting methods of decoration.
