12 Easy DIY Wall Decor Ideas for Indian Homes

You do not need a big budget or an interior designer to make a wall look great. A weekend, a few simple materials and a little patience go a long way. Here are 12 easy DIY wall decor ideas that suit Indian homes, rented flats and first apartments, with tips to keep your walls safe.

1. A photo wall with string and clips

Stretch a jute string or fairy light wire across the wall and hang printed photos with wooden clips. Change the photos with the seasons, or after every trip. Use adhesive hooks at each end instead of nails.

2. Painted terracotta or steel plates

Paint simple Madhubani, Warli or mandala patterns on plain terracotta plates with acrylic paint, then hang them in a cluster of odd numbers. Old steel thalis sprayed in gold or black look surprisingly modern.

3. Framed fabric

A leftover piece of block-print, ikat or Banarasi fabric looks lovely stretched over a wooden frame or embroidery hoop. It is a beautiful way to keep a piece of an old saree or dupatta on display.

4. Dried flower and leaf frames

Press flowers and leaves between the pages of a heavy book for two weeks, then arrange them in clear glass frames. Marigold, rose petals and fern leaves all work well.

5. Stencil an accent wall

Stencils make it easy to paint a pattern, such as jaali, a border or small motifs, even if you cannot draw. Choose one wall only, and test the colour on a small patch first. Check with your landlord before painting a rented home.

6. A kids’ art gallery

Give your children’s drawings a proper home with a strip of cork board or a few matching frames at their eye level. Swap the art every month. For a permanent feature, see our kids wall art.

7. Macrame or woven wall hangings

Macrame with cotton rope and a wooden stick is easy to learn from beginner videos and adds a soft, boho texture to a bedroom or balcony.

8. Floating shelves styled with plants and books

A couple of shelves with trailing money plants, a few books and a small brass piece break up a long blank wall. If drilling is not allowed, a ladder shelf that leans on the wall gives the same effect.

9. A mirror cluster

Small round or arched mirrors grouped together reflect light and make a small room feel bigger. Lightweight acrylic mirrors can go up with strong mounting strips.

10. Washi tape shapes

Coloured washi tape can make geometric frames, a headboard outline or a city skyline on the wall. It peels off without marks, which makes it perfect for students and renters.

11. Mount a modular art wall yourself

If you want a large artwork but not the cost of hiring someone to fix it, modular wall art is a great DIY project. Convart wall paintings come as light 6 x 6 inch blocks with a numbered placement template and a nail-free mounting kit. You line up the template, stick the blocks in order and the full picture comes together in about 15 minutes, with no drill and no dust. Each artwork has one element finished by hand with a raised 3D texture, so it feels like a real painting, not a poster. Browse the shop to choose a design.

12. A gallery wall of mixed pieces

Combine one large piece with a few small frames, plates or a mirror. Lay everything out on the floor first, take a photo, then copy the layout on the wall. Keep the gap between pieces the same, about 2 to 3 inches.

Tips before you start

• Measure the wall and mark the centre point lightly with a pencil or painter’s tape
• Hang the centre of your arrangement at about eye level, roughly 57 to 60 inches from the floor
• Clean the wall before using any adhesive, and avoid damp walls in the monsoon
• For a big wall, read how to choose the right size of wall art before you buy

Want more ideas without drilling? Read how to decorate a wall without drilling or nails, or message us if you would like a design made for your wall.