Looking for the perfect wall art to transform your living room? Consider these tips
Imagine this: you’ve spent a long time curating your living room. You chose the sofa, laid out a new statement rug, and so on, and now you have all the big pieces in. However, your job isn’t done yet – you now need to focus on the finishing touches, which can be an exciting part of designing a living room.
When it comes to décor, detail matters a lot, and this is also true when it comes to choosing what you put on the walls. Selecting wall art comes down to knowing your space and your style, allowing you to find pieces that will complement the room's aesthetic.
Below, we provide tips on how to land yourself the most stunning wall art for your living room design, so keep reading!
Master the measurements of the living room
This step may be boring, but it’s an essential part of decorating your living room with art. Just think about it: if you don’t master the measurements, you could end up getting a frame up on the wall and realize that it’s the wrong size or doesn’t fit at all!
That would be so unpleasant, right? This is why you don’t want to overlook this step. If you plan to add artwork to a living room that’s already furnished, make sure to find opportunities to create a focal point.
In the living room, the focal point is that thing that catches your eye when first stepping into the space: it could be the sofa, the fireplace, or a super cozy rug.
Suppose you have a small living room; it’s a good idea to avoid including too many busy patterns and choose a few bigger frames instead, making the living room feel more spacious and uncluttered.
Consider your personal style
Compared to other home decorations, artwork is truly personal, and the truth is that there aren’t hard and fast rules as to what styles are more suitable. And that’s actually the fun part of decorating your living room with art! It’s all about choosing pieces that reflect your personality and that you find meaningful.
Consider the interior style and the room’s aesthetics when making a choice: do you like a pared-back Japanese or Scandi look? In such a case, you’ll probably want to opt for minimal abstract artwork. If you prefer a bohemian style, you can play around with patterns and colors.
Do you love the rustic style in a living room? In that case, look no further than abstract landscapes and nature's color palettes!
However, you may not really have an “interior style” - there’s nothing wrong with that – and in such a case, you can approach this task by simply considering the things you enjoy.
For example, if you love the outdoors, you can bring in floral wall art, botanical prints, or colorful abstract wall art in earthy tones. Or, if you are a travel enthusiast who loves exploring new places, you can choose artwork that reminds you of your favorite places.
When browsing through paintings for sale, the goal is to select a piece that feels personal to you, not to be on trend, so try to find artwork with meaning.
Take into account the room’s color palette
The living room’s color palette can be an excellent starting point when selecting art, as it enables you to determine the right contrast between the art piece and the other elements in the design.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to buy green artwork just because your living room’s walls are green - the elements don’t have to be a perfect match, but they need to look good together.
Suppose the space has warm neutral tones; opting for wall art in warm earthy tones such as spicy or brown hues is a good idea, creating cohesive harmony.
If, on the other hand, your living room is all-white, you can opt for a colorful piece of artwork to bring the space to life, or you can use bold abstract shapes to add drama.
Pay attention to lighting
It’s not cheap to get good quality artwork for your living room, so you want to ensure that it really stands out in the living room, and one way to do so is to get lighting right. Believe it or not, lighting can make or break an art piece, so it’s essential to highlight its details, colors, and textures through the right type of light. F
or instance, you can place the art pieces in an area where they can be reached by the ceiling light or use picture rails with spotlights above. It’s essential to consider where the light is in the space, not just from windows but also from artificial light, and then work around it when deciding what and where to hang.
Don’t underestimate the importance of good lighting in the living room – especially when it comes to artwork- as it can significantly impact the overall design.
Trust your instincts
Here’s the thing: wall art is subjective, so if you like a piece, that doesn’t mean someone else will, too! There aren’t any written rules when it comes to selecting living room artwork, and sometimes, it all comes down to experimenting, so try moving pieces in and out of the space, swap them from other rooms in the house, and shop until you can find artwork that you find inspiring!
And remember, if you really have no idea what kind of artwork you’d like to have in your home, there’s inspiration everywhere- on your socials, wherever you go outside, and even in your décor!
All it takes is a little searching to find something you can proudly display in your living room – and once you come across that piece that evokes a feeling inside you, trust that you’re making the right choice.
Takeaway
Decorating your living room with wall art is a fulfilling endeavor and allows you to transform your space into an expressive, aesthetic, and functional environment. Take your time to explore the different options available and turn your living room into a peaceful retreat by curating a unique wall art collection.
Jenny Kakoudakis likes to blog about interiors. She launched award-winning Seasons in Colour in 2014 and All The Pretty Homes in 2024. When she is not chasing criminals out of the financial system (her day job), she gets creative by redecorating her own home.
Download her free bathroom renovation guide here.
