Finding wall art that complements each other can be a fun and rewarding process. The key is to have a plan and vision for the look you want to achieve. Start by thinking about the overall style, color scheme, and mood you want to create. Once you have a direction in mind, you can begin looking for wall art pieces that work well together. In this article, we’ll walk through some tips for finding cohesive wall art for any space.
Define Your Style and Color Palette
Before shopping for wall art, decide on an overall style and color palette you want to follow. This will help narrow your search and ensure the pieces you choose visually make sense together. Some popular wall art styles include:
– Modern – Focused on clean lines, geometric shapes and bold colors. This style pairs well with photographs, abstract art and contemporary prints.
– Rustic or Farmhouse – Centered around natural materials, muted colors and vintage-inspired designs. Good options include framed botanical prints, gallery walls with photos, and reclaimed wood signs.
– Boho or Eclectic – A mix of patterns, textures and colors for an adventurous, globally-inspired look. Woven wall hangings, tapestries, and colorful prints work well.
– Minimalist – Simple and uncluttered with solid colors and sparse decorative details. Black and white photography and line drawings help create this pared-down look.
Once you decide on a style, pick 2-4 core colors to base your wall art around. Neutrals like white, black and natural wood tones are easy to match. Or go bold with primary shades like red, yellow and teal for a vibrant look. Keeping the color scheme cohesive ties diverse pieces together.
Select Pieces in Complementary Shapes and Sizes
When selecting individual wall art pieces, look for complementary shapes and sizes that fit together like puzzle pieces. Mixing up the silhouettes and dimensions creates visual interest and balance:
– Pair small groupings of same-sized items with a few larger standalone pieces. The grouping adds pattern and texture while the big art anchors the arrangement.
– Alternate between rectangular, square and circular shapes. This adds movement while still allowing the pieces to align cleanly.
– Vary thick, bold frames with simpler skinny ones. Thicker frames stand out against print backgrounds while thin ones blend in and highlight the art.
– Combine horizontal and vertical orientations. Stacked canvases balance out wider landscape artwork.
Keep scale in mind too. Make sure any oversized pieces have enough breathing room around them and aren’t overwhelming.
Feature Complementary Color Schemes and Patterns
Using complementary colors and repeating patterns are two easy ways to pull a wall art collection together:
– Pick pieces that share 2-3 key accent colors. For example, blue artwork could incorporate pops of yellow from complementary prints and photography.
– Look for common colors in frames, mats or borders to tie designs together. A vibrant orange frame around black and white floral art coordinates nicely with a landscape photo that also has orange hues.
– Repeating patterns is another cohesive option. Florals, stripes, geometrics and abstract designs with similar styles and color tones work well together in groupings.
When grouping multiple framed prints, lay them out side-by-side before hanging to ensure the color combinations look balanced and purposeful.
Incorporate Meaningful Themes and Textures
In addition to aesthetically complementary pieces, you can add connection through meaningful themes and tactile qualities:
– Gather wall art centered around a specific motif like botanicals, sea life, or music to reinforce the theme throughout a space.
– Display family photos along with decorative prints to infuse personality and telling colors from the images.
– Mix glossy prints with matte finishes, reclaimed wood, and handmade elements for visual and textural diversity.
– Incorporate natural textures like pressed leaves or flowers under glass to introduce organic allure.
Thoughtfully curated themes and textures enrich a grouped wall art display.
Arrange a Cohesive Gallery Wall
One approach that combines many complementary elements is grouping wall art in a gallery style display:
| Gallery Wall Tips |
|---|
| – Start with a focal piece as the anchor then build outward symmetrically. Larger scale artwork commonly anchors gallery walls. |
| – Mix up frame sizes and shapes for variety. |
| – Overlap pieces slightly but keep the edges lined up for clean geometric connection. |
| – Keep similar spacing between each piece and the edges of the arrangement. |
| – Hang artwork 1-3 inches above furniture like dressers, beds, and console tables. |
Follow your cohesive color scheme, themes, and textures when selecting pieces. Play with the layout on the floor first until you find a fluid composition. Use larger anchor pieces combined with multiples of small to medium items for optimal scale and visual movement.
Draw Inspiration From Interior Design Elements
Let your existing interior design guide the wall art selections and placement:
– Choose colors derived from furnishings like throw pillows, area rugs, and bedding. Tie it all together.
– Notice shapes and lines in furniture and architecture for artwork with similar silhouettes. For example, a rectangular tufted headboard could pair nicely with rectangular framed prints.
– Coordinate materials and textures. Add reclaimed wood art to a space with wood architectural accents. Showcase black and white photos in a mostly neutral room with metal and leather furniture.
– Size artwork appropriately for each wall. Large statement pieces suit big empty walls while clustered collections work better on narrow spaces.
– Arrange wall art to balance out focal points like fireplaces, beds, or shelving. Place off-center to even out visual weight.
Thinking about existing interior design allows you to select art that truly complements the room.
Shop Smart
Once you have an overall style and vision in place, here are some tips for smart wall art shopping:
– Measure wall spaces and photo editing apps to visualize scale. This helps determine optimal size and quantity.
– Search sites like Etsy by color or decor style for endless unique finds that still coordinate.
– Take advantage of size variation in sets from retailers like Target and Ikea. Purchase multiples for a gallery wall.
– Mix affordable prints with a couple splurge-worthy originals or commissioned pieces.
– Watch for sales, use coupons and cashback apps to get the look you want on a budget.
– Don’t feel pressured to purchase everything at once. Build your collection over time.
With the right preparation and resources, you can find fabulous wall art for every style and budget.
Plan the Layout
Once you bring your new art home, lay out all the pieces on the floor before hanging anything. Shuffle and rearrange items until you find a cohesive composition. Snap a photo of the final layout for reference. Measure and mark where each piece will hang for uniform spacing and alignment. Use removable painter’s tape to experiment with arrangements right on the wall if needed. Taking time to thoughtfully plan the layout helps the finished look appear polished, purposeful and pulled together.
Conclusion
Finding wall art that works in harmony together comes down to defining your style, choosing complementary designs, and thoughtfully arranging the pieces. Keep colors, shapes, textures and themes cohesive for a stylish gallery wall or vignette that enhances any space. Embrace what inspires you and enjoy the creative process of displaying meaningful pieces. With the right vision and preparation, you can easily mix and match wall art for a showstopping look.
