It's a given that photos, artwork, and mirrors are ideal items to hang in your home — but there are a multitude of other choices to consider when you want to add life to walls, ceilings, and other surfaces. We pulled some easy decor inspiration from some of our favorite Hunker tours to help you kickstart your decor goals in the new year. We hope these nine tips will bring you (and your visitors) joy for years to come.
1. Bring a hammock indoors.
Video of the Day
Video of the Day
If you have the space, take a tip from Iris Alonzo of clothing and goods company Everybody.World and hang a hammock in your living room. When we visited her LA loft, we fell in love with the handmade hammock she purchased during her travels (and that city view). Just ensure you have the right interior supports. We are eyeing this Urban Outfitters macramé hammock. It's a beauty!
2. Charm with bells and chimes.
In the Northeast Los Angeles home of Luis Jaime and Leanna Lin of Lin's Wonderland, inside and out were hanging bells and colorful charms, each attached to a precious memory together. Whether hanging from the ceiling, entryway peephole, or — my family's favorite spot — doorknobs, such touches bring whimsy and a little jingle to your everyday. Browse the selection at Target. (We also love these homemade clay bells.)
3. Tassel your life.
In the same vein, tassels are inexpensive, fun, and easy additions to anywhere in the home. In this Portland Colonial home, designer Jessica Hansen selected ceiling fixtures that inspired this tip. Dress up your own ceiling light fixtures, shelves, curtain rods, and more in seconds. JOANN's has many to choose from, or try this easy DIY to make an adorable door tassel.
4. Let lanterns abound.
At designer Melanie Abrantes's home in Oakland, California, small, colorful lanterns contrast the warm brick, brightening up her living room with texture and — oh, yes —tassels, also bringing attention to the high ceilings. When hanging lanterns in your home, pay attention to how low or high you place them may make your ceilings appear. Unused corners can be especially friendly places for lanterns of varying sizes. Check out Pier 1 for an array of lanterns, and paper lanterns are aplenty at Oriental Trading.
5. Take plant hanging to new levels.
Artist Cindy Hsu Zell's intricate sculptures are wonderfully braided visions to behold, and when we visited her Los Angeles home and studio, the way she let vines hang wildly (as well as dried bouquets) from wood beams had us inspired to do the same. Visit Afloral for nice faux options ready for hanging.
6. Metallic garlands and necklaces a-go-go.
The bedroom wall of influencer Janea Brown in her home in Brooklyn's Clinton Hill reveals how a little metallic flourish goes a long way. (Also notice the dancing vines!) This Urban Outfitters Metal Moon Banner provides a similar look, but you can experiment with your existing jewelry to add some shimmer to lonely walls.
7. Take your instruments off the floor.
At the home of Create Cultivate's editorial director, Sacha Strebe, a hanging guitar becomes cool wall decor when not in use. (Pottery Barn Teen has a pretty stylish mount to consider.) Tambourines, maracas, and small keyboards need not be tucked away. And we'll bet that they'll get played more when they're in friendly view.
8. Hanging shelves
The Helen room at Bogotá's Casa Legado featured something we rarely see: a hanging bedside wood shelf. It is so attractive in its simplicity, with the pale wood and light-colored rope. Yankario's rope-hanging shelves can bring a similar vibe to your bedside with just a couple hooks.
9. Hang your hats.
A visit to editorial stylist and set designer Andrea Pons's home in Seattle's Lower Queen Anne neighborhood reminded us of a smart and stylish way to store your hats: Group them on a wall. Whether it's your beret or baseball cap collection, mix and match textures and colors in your entryway and elsewhere in the home for easy decor.