BEWS: Symptoms and Treatments

Making a large wall space look... well... not boring is pretty tough at times. Large empty or uninteresting walls can take away from the over-all aesthetics of a room. While parts of a room offer smaller, manageable wall space, making it a little easier to create an interesting decor, having a big empty area across from it makes what you've done look lost in the sea of blank walls surrounding it.

There are a few ways to defeat the evil large empty wall, also known as Big Empty Wall Syndrome (or BEWS). One way is by using larger decor for this space. Place the sofa against this wall and hang a very large painting or image above it to interrupt the space. Use tall standing objects such as statues or indoor potted trees, large wall clocks, or interesting wall hangings.




My preferred way of dealing with BEWS is by using a series of similar small objects to create a pattern across the wall. I usually use frames. Frames are an easy and convenient way of dismantling the BEW's power over the room's general aesthetics and composition. A series of like frames across the wall visually cuts the wall space into sections, causing it too appear smaller and less over powering.

You can also use frames in corners. If you have a blank corner that's haunting your family room, use the same theory used to conquer BEWS; like objects. In corners you can also try hanging the objects at varying levels. This visually separates the conjoining walls and creates aesthetic interest.

So don't let your BEWS get you down. I'm here to tell you, my fellow sufferers, there's hope yet!