Quick-Fix For A Bare Wall

If you’re looking for a budget-saving way to turn a blank wall into an eye-catching space, why not group together similar items you already have?

We went with wall clocks, using four that we already had to form the beginnings of a clock wall. They varied in size, style and working condition.

But if clocks aren’t your thing, you could cluster together framed pictures or photos, empty picture frames, or mirrors. And in an interesting take on the concept, cluster together book pages and books to get a similar wall gallery effect.

Or you could do what Texas designer Grace Mitchell did after she found a bucket of old spoons: she put them on the walls of a hallway in her house. Now it’s called the Spoon Room!

For us though, clocks seemed to be the best solution because we already had several, which we’ve since added to and now there’s eight. As you can see from the picture above, only four keep the right time! But that’s OK because the microwave clock in the kitchen is always at the right time.

We had moved some furniture around in our living room and were left with – horror – a lonely, empty wall crying out: “Make me interesting!”

It was all the more noticeable because this blank wall was visible from the hallway, a muted greeting that sighed, “womp, womp, womp,” as we walked through the front door.

So, of course I shopped the house for a quick-fix.

Enter Wall Clocks

First we maneuvered our heavy buffet, which I also chalk painted, out of the recessed area in the kitchen nook and placed it against the wall so the clocks could go above it.

I’d been wondering what to put above that sideboard, when this cheap and cheerful remedy sprang to mind. Why not make it a clock wall and use our sideboard as the base?

I chalk-painted most of the clocks to give the area a more uniform look.

I decorated the top of the sideboard with these candle-holders that I also chalk painted. I can’t hide it. I have a thing for chalk paint.

Then my new-to-us, old Craigslist hutch took up her post in the recessed nook where the sideboard had been. It was a little bit like musical furniture but it worked and pulled the space together.

Use Items You Already Have

Back to the wall decor. Why use clocks? Well, I’ve always had a love for clocks and watches and lights and candles. So I had a mini-collection going anyway and I thought I could use them as a group to give the wall some character.

The biggest working clock I had on hand sat above the kitchen fridge.

I took it down, cleaned it off with soapy water and applied a couple of coats of chalk paint.

I used RUST-OLEUM’s chalked ultra matte paint in the Linen White color. Then I lightly distressed it with sandpaper.

I didn’t apply a sealer and all the clocks I painted are still holding up about three years later.

The other oversize decorative clock wasn’t working (still isn’t) and I didn’t like the style any more. So it also got a chalk paint makeover and it really fits in with the clock wall collection.

We started off with four clocks and now we’re at eight to fill out the wall. Now and then we’ve added inexpensive smaller clocks to round out the display.

And that’s the story of our clock wall.

Don’t be afraid to experiment. Use groupings of things you already own and love to lend a unique and budget-friendly decorating solution to your home.