Short of taping a poster up, there's not much you can put there as the door interferes with it. That's the huge disadvantage of barn doors....

Get someone who paints to do something that'll fit with your decor. A trompe l'oeil is a possibility.

hang a quilt

Is there any room for a very flat mirror?

How much clearance/ depth is there? Just as very flat mirror/ very flat art.

A distressed vintage metal sign could be cool - something big, distressed, bold, graphic.

Why SURE there is! Install a 1" cut-to size Beveled Mirror for a very practical but glamourous pop!, ………….or even a sheet of stainless steel, if you want a more rustic feel. Stainless steel sheeting comes in an endless variety of textures, patterns, and acid finishes. GO CRAZY! ! !

HOuse MOuse Ineriors

Miriam Mainieri, Miami

one of the paint companies has large wall stencils...fruit trees, birch trees etc.

CUTTNGEDGESTENCILS.COM

Wall paper or a movie poster or similar item literally glued to the wall.

trompe l'oeil would be perfect if it could incorporate the door in stages of open, but otherwise consider a full wood-framed mirror. Depends on whether you like what gets reflected ~ I presume yourself, which raises other questions...

Chalk board paint!

A scene which ties into the barn wood door, to set the door, so it is not out of place in room.

I Like the idea of hanging something aged like a print. Depends on the style of the home and more specifically the room..

Stencil the area as a panel feature

Thanks Deborah F., for your like! Enjoyed your pics…………………..

geeeee thanks JP………. for your Like on my comment!

Put niches/shelves between the studs. You can display all sorts of things! and door slides right over. Make shelves sorta random and different sizes for more interest.

Barn doors are hot right now. We have seen much of what's been already mentioned above. I like Breta's suggestion the best. Recessed shelving in-wall adds a lot of character and really stands out if it's cased to match the door casing. Generally, you'll have 1" to 2" max between the sliding door and the wall (depends on the door hardware). You already know that it must clear the door casing so there's at least 3/4" already. If anyone is in the St. Louis area and interested in barn doors, look us up!

Love the recessed shelving idea, but here's yet another……………..sticky wook planks are 1/4" inch thick and they just stick unto your wall surface easily and permanently. They come in a wide assortment of wood finishes and you can place them in all sorta ways for added decorative interest. You can probably match the wood finish on your existing wall effortlessly…….

HOuse MOuse

Miriam Mainieri, Miami

We are putting barn doors in our living room. Most likely they will just remain open all the time, but that's not really an option for your application. I like the idea of recessed shelving, and I'm considering that myself for our house. You've had some good suggestions. Another idea would be to have some art custom framed between two pieces of plexi and just screw them onto the wall with a 1/4" spacer to make them look like they're floating.

These ideas have been splendid! Just when I thought there couldn't be another, more appeared. Don't stop - we enjoy the diversity of ideas that have sparked even more thoughts about this project.
We like several of the suggestions and are exploring sources as well as resources we may already have available. There is a mirror on an adjacent wall, but the low profile would otherwise be a natural for this application. We have a box of 20-30 vintage fruit crate end panels. We may explore creating a collage with these, glue them together and install directly on the wall. Possibly with a metal piece, sign or photo, in the center.
A question - about the aged-style photo printed on metal -would you share where you had this done?

Thanks again to all the creative folks on Houzz - what an inspiration!

Nations Photo Lab- I did it all online.

Lots of ideas for decals that stick right to the wall -- would be cute to have it only visible with the door closed.

http://www.wallwritten.com/

You can have it stenciled to look just like wallpaper.

hang a painting

Be VERY careful in "overdoing it". ie; a collage type decor. Ask yourself if you will "still" like it after 6 or more months......?

I'd like to put a Scripture on a painted wall. What is the best way to have that done. I can't get on a ladder and it will be above a doorway. I have a high ceiling.

What about a cool hand-painted design that mimics wallpaper? https://www.houzz.com/magazine/stroke-of-diy-design-genius-14-crazy-cool-hand-painted-walls-stsetivw-vs~42889048?utm_source=Houzz

We've opted to install 2 doors, only the left will slide, the other door panel will be affixed to the wall.

That aged style photo printed on metal can be combined with the frame of fruit crates that you already have.Also, you can think of having the photo in 2 parts, fixing one part on the door and the other one on the wall

On HGTV Fixer Upper, there is a guy who does inspirational quote cut-outs on metal. You can have any quote you want and he will fabricate it. That would be flat to the wall and work well with a barn door. I plan to do that to the wall next to my laundry room sliding door. All great ideas posted BTW!

Anyone got any ideas for large walls and alcove in void area above lounge room?.

I agree with some of the people here. Add a wall stencil.

@Lynda Whyman Perhaps hang a quilt or a rug.

Regarding decals on textured walls -- I had no problem putting a large "Elsa" from Disney's "Frozen" on my daughter's bedroom wall and all of our walls are textured. You can have custom decals made, so get one of your family or a special person or place visited and put it on! Just Google "Custom wall decals".

#Kay Ogle, you can get the scripture engraved and burnt on a rough wooden plank and get someone to hang it for you.

or get some artist friend or a child to paint it for you on a wide silk scroll and you can hang it on a single nail , just like the one hanging on the side of the door in the picture

Chalk board paint!! Then you can put all kinds of stuff and change it often.

How much space is there between the wall and the door?