Do you have a large empty wall in your apartment? Your lease says you can’t drill into the walls. But you really want to decorate it and still get your security deposit back in full. We run into this problem all the time, since most people rent places with long, straight walls that are completely boring and empty.
Choose items light enough to mount with adhesive; place heavy items on the floor rather than hanging them; and think of the wall as a single composition. This is exactly where any wall art Dubai for a rental apartment begins, so that it’s not only beautiful but also practical.
In this article, we’ll break down what works without drilling, which materials to choose, how to put together a collection, and what mistakes make a wall look worse than if it were empty. And while we’re at it, we’ll share a few wall decoration ideas tested in local apartments.
Size First: Why Most Wall Art Is Too Small
Let’s start with the most common mistake: the piece is too small.
Here’s the rule: A painting or group of pieces above the sofa should take up about two-thirds of its width. Hang the center of the arrangement about 145-150 cm from the floor, and place the bottom edge 25-30 cm above the back of the sofa. This is a simple yet effective formula for wall art for the living room.
What happens if you break this rule? A small piece on a large wall looks out of place. Oddly enough, it can make the wall look even emptier.
For a very large wall, a single massive piece isn’t the best solution. A single piece of large wall art is expensive, difficult to transport, and nearly impossible to hang without drilling. Several pieces cover the same area, weigh less, and are easier to secure with adhesive mounts. For example, the woven panels Celestine Rattan Wall Decor and White and Natural Rattan Wall Decor are large on their own but still lightweight.
But do you know what sets the local market apart? Ceilings here are often high, which tempts people to hang things higher than necessary. But the eye-level rule applies regardless of ceiling height. If in doubt, it’s better to hang it 10 cm lower than higher.
What Works Without Drilling
Here are a few tips to help you avoid drilling into walls:
-
Adhesive strips. Each one has a weight limit listed on the package, and it’s best to cut that in half. The wall must be clean and dry. But most importantly: they peel off in heat and humidity. So don’t put them above the bed or on a wall that gets afternoon sun.
-
Lean it against the wall instead of hanging it. You can place a large item on a console table, a dresser, or directly on the floor. There are no weight restrictions, so this is the best approach for the heaviest items, especially large mirrors.
-
Rails and tension systems. If the ceiling allows, this lets you hang items without drilling holes in the wall.
-
Ladders and shelving units. These are great for arranging lightweight items in layers: wicker plates, textiles, and small picture frames. Check out our decorative ladders and items on stands, they don’t need a wall.
Things you shouldn’t do without drilling:
-
hanging anything heavy
-
hanging items with sharp lower edges above seating areas
-
hanging mirrors larger than medium size
In new buildings, walls are often painted hastily, and adhesive strips can peel off the paint when removed. The solution is simple: stick one strip in an inconspicuous corner, then remove it after a week. The lightest wall hanging decor stays in place with just one strip, but anything heavier is better off leaning against the wall. That way, wall decor in Dubai won’t cost you part of your security deposit.
Here’s another tip for the local climate. Adhesive strips stick better if you apply them during the cooler part of the day when the air conditioner is running, and avoid putting any weight on the wall for 24 hours afterward. The adhesive will have time to set, and the item won’t slide off during the first hot week.
Materials: Woven, Macramé, Mirrors, and Framed
A quick look at each material:
-
Woven panels made from natural fibers. They’re lightweight, hold up well on adhesive mounts, and add texture without adding unnecessary color, which is why they look so good in a neutral apartment, for example, Hugo Rattan Wall Decor or Maria Rattan Round.
-
Macramé. Even lighter and the best at hiding uneven walls. But it collects dust, so it’s worth shaking it out every couple of months. A large macramé wall hanging like Ocean Drift or Boho Dream will cover a decent amount of wall space with almost no weight.
-
Mirrors. The most useful item in a small or dark room because they reflect light. But they’re also the heaviest, so they really need to be mounted, not just glued. Compact models like the Rattan Sun Mirror or the Michelle series can be leaned against a console table.
-
Framed prints and canvases. They’re the easiest to group, and the cheapest way to cover wall space.
But remember, we’re still talking about Dubai. And that means natural fibers fade in direct sunlight and weaken from humidity. On a wall exposed to the sun, woven wall hanging decor will fade noticeably in just one season. So, for a sunny wall, use frames or ceramics, and hang woven pieces in the shade.
Grouping: How to Make a Gallery Wall Look Deliberate
Rules that distinguish a well-thought-out wall from a random collection:
-
equal spacing between items, about 5 or 8 cm
-
aligning by the top edge or the center line, but be sure to align by just one thing
-
an odd number of items
The mixing rule: you can vary size and shape, but repeat a single material or a single shade. This is exactly what turns a collection of different items into a cohesive set. For example, three woven plates of different diameters - say, the Black and Natural Wall Decor Plate 60 cm and the 40 cm, plus one smaller one - look put together.
Before you hang everything on the wall, lay out the entire group on the floor and take a photo. Or cut out paper templates to the size of each item and tape them to the wall with painter’s tape. After a day, you’ll know whether you like it. And at the same time, you’ll see where the light switch, outlet, or air conditioner will go; things that are easy to forget when planning on the floor.
And here’s some good news for renters. It turns out that a gallery wall is actually easier than a single large painting. Several lightweight pieces held in place with adhesive mounts are much more secure than a single heavy one.
The final rule is restraint: leave some real space around the group. Any gallery wall filled from edge to edge looks like a mess. This is perhaps the most important wall-decorating idea, and yet it’s the one most often ignored.
Room by Room: Where to Put What
Living Room. Place the largest piece or group above the sofa, and hang a mirror on the wall opposite the window, not next to it. This way, the light reflects deeper into the room. This is the foundation for any wall art for the living room.
Bedroom. Above the bed, the weight rule matters most. Stick to light wickerwork or macramé, or place something on the dresser instead of hanging it. A macramé wall hanging or Macramé Shell Wall Decoration with seashells works well here.
Entryway. This is the best place for a mirror, and the simplest wall to make look complete with just one piece. It’s convenient to hang decorative hooks nearby for keys and bags.
Dining room. Here, you need items that look good in evening light, not daylight: warm textures, woven items, and ceramics.
Bathroom. Only if it’s well-ventilated. Natural fibers and steam don’t mix.
Balcony or covered terrace. Outdoor-rated items work well, but natural fibers don’t. For these spaces, we usually recommend ceramics or metal.
And here’s a seasonal idea, since it’s November. A wall doesn’t have to look the same year-round. For the holidays, you can add something temporary to a console table or shelf - for example, a seashell Christmas tree - that requires neither nails nor glue and can be easily stored in a closet until next year, once the holidays are over.
If you’re looking for wall art in Dubai for several rooms at once, start with the living room and entryway: that’s where the wall is seen most often.
Where to Start
Start with one large piece or one mirror. A single piece that’s the right size will transform a bare wall faster than six small ones.
What to check before ordering:
-
final dimensions including the frame
-
weight
-
whether mounting hardware is included
Home and Soul delivers throughout the UAE. If you’re unsure whether an adhesive mount will hold the item securely in a rental apartment, write to us, and we’ll advise you on weight and mounting methods before you place your order. We deliver many small wall decor items throughout Dubai via express delivery within 4 hours if you place your order by 5:30 p.m.
All woven panels, macramé pieces, plates, and stands are featured in the Wall Hanging and Stand Decor section, while mirrors are in the Mirrors section. There, you can easily find wall decor Dubai to suit your wall, from lightweight wall hanging decor to mirrors best propped against the wall.
You don’t need to drill into the wall, but you do need the right size. Most empty walls stay empty because someone hung something too small on them. So, when choosing wall art in Dubai or any wall decor in Dubai, start with a tape measure. If the wall is really huge, consider large wall art made up of several pieces and the wall decoration ideas in this article.
