Decorating walls with art can completely transform the look and feel of a room. Whether you want to create a gallery wall, hang a few framed prints, or just display some photos and paintings, decorating with art allows you to add visual interest, color, and personality to your space. The key is choosing pieces that match your style, determining the arrangement, and properly installing your wall art. With some planning and creativity, you can use art to make an awesome decor statement.
Determine Your Style and Theme
Before choosing specific pieces, decide on the overall style and theme you want the art to convey. Here are some popular options:
Contemporary: Focus on modern art prints, photography, abstract pieces, and graphic metallic frames or canvasses. Opt for bold colors and geometric designs. Group pieces tightly together in square formats.
Rustic: Look for vintage signs, botanical prints, black and white photography, and painted wood frames. Warm neutrals like brown, tan, and sage work well. Arrange asymmetrically and leave generous gaps between pieces.
Eclectic: Mix and match art mediums, frame styles, and subject matter. Vintage maps, floral prints, abstract paintings, and minimalist photography could all work together. Use metallics, pastels, and earth tones. Place items sporadically for an intentionally random look.
Coastal: Choose beach landscapes, nautical maps, coral and shell prints, whitewashed frames, and pale blue and seafoam colors. Aim to evoke a relaxed, seaside cottage vibe. Cluster items near each other along one wall.
Minimalist: Stick with one or two large statement pieces in black and white or neutral colors. Select clean-lined modern frames and canvasses. Let negative space dominate the arrangement.
Select the Right Mix of Art
When choosing specific wall art, aim to select a thoughtful mix and collection. Here are some tips:
– Vary sizes and shapes. Small pieces provide detail while large items make a bigger statement. Circles, squares, rectangles, and panoramic formats add interest.
– Mix mediums like photography, paintings, prints, shadowboxes, and dimensional art. This creates depth and contrast.
– Vary frame styles from sleek modern to ornate vintage. Black, white, metallics, and natural wood all work.
– Combine different wall art types like gallery collages, standalone pieces, wall sculptures, tapestries, and shelves or ledges displaying collectibles.
– Feature a couple anchor pieces that capture attention plus supplementary items.
– Stick with 2-4 colors max to maintain a cohesive look. Use one as a dominant shade.
– Ensure the art reflects your personality, travels, hobbies, and favorite aesthetics.
– Mix in family photos, your kids’ artwork, personal mementos, and favorite quotes to make the space meaningful.
Determine the Layout and Hanging Method
Once you select the art, determine the overall layout and hanging method. Here are key considerations:
Groupings: You can cluster art closely together in a tight formation, evenly space pieces apart, or do a combination. Tighter groupings suit small wall spaces while more negative space works better for larger walls.
Symmetry vs. asymmetry: Hanging art symmetrically produces a formal balanced look. Asymmetry looks more free-form and organic.
Focal points: Anchor the arrangement with a large central piece or eye-catching art over a fireplace. Complement it with smaller items flowing outward.
Viewing height: Hang art about 58-66 inches from the floor to center it at eye level. Adjust up or down based on your height and furniture.
Salon style: This gallery style entails clustering many small- to medium-sized pieces close together in a grid format, often filling the entire wall.
Hardware: Choose adjustable monkey hooks and strap hangers to make rearranging easy. Stick with nails or screws for heavier items. Use command strips for super lightweight art.
Prepare the Wall and Hang the Art
Now it’s time to prep the wall and install the art. Follow these steps:
– Clean the wall thoroughly and patch any holes or imperfections. Sand glossy walls for better adhesion.
– Map out the arrangement with pencil marks, low-tac tape, or template guides. Stand back periodically to check sightlines.
– Use a level to ensure any hung pieces are straight. Mark holes with pencil.
– For larger items, find wall studs and use screw eyes or D-rings. For lighter art, monkey hooks work.
– Use anchors in drywall and wall anchors in plaster. Test strength before hanging valuable art.
– Attach chains, cords, or wires to the back of art frames with d-rings and secure to the hooks.
– Adjust and re-space items until you achieve the desired arrangement. Layer and overlap pieces for a collage effect.
– Add accent lighting at eye level to illuminate artwork. Try picture lights or wall sconces.
– Take a step back and view your overall gallery wall from a distance. Make any final tweaks.
Change it Up Regularly
One final tip is to switch your art around seasonally or when you need an update. Refresh it with new pieces from local artists or rotate items from other rooms. You can keep your wall decor looking fresh by making minor changes. Don’t be afraid to reinvent the entire scheme every few years either.
Conclusion
Decorating your walls with art instantly livens up any space. Determine your style, select a thoughtful mix of pieces, arrange them strategically through a careful layout, then properly hang the art from wall hooks and anchors. Feel free to make minor changes over time. With beautiful art adorning your walls, you’ll love spending time in the newly decorated room.
Frequently Asked Questions on Decorating with Wall Art
What are some fast ways to decorate walls with art?
Some fast options are:
– Hang a large statement piece like an oversized painting or print. This makes a big impact with minimal effort.
– Create a basic gallery wall with photos and frames of different sizes grouped closely together. It’s easy to arrange, especially if the art coordinates.
– Use washi tape to create geometric designs, patterns or define borders. It sticks easily and removes without damaging walls.
– Arrange wall shelves or ledges with decorative objects, stacked books, plants, sculptures, or vases. This pulls a room together quickly.
How do you arrange art above a couch?
Here are tips for arranging art above a couch:
- Position artwork about 9-12 inches above the back of the couch.
- Select pieces that are approximately 2/3 the length of the couch.
- Hang one large piece for a simple focal point or do a gallery wall of multiple items.
- Make sure the art doesn’t hang too high or too low over the sofa.
- Incorporate lighting like sconces or track lighting to illuminate the art.
What type of art should you avoid in home decor?
Some types of art to generally avoid include:
- Anything too large or small for the wall space.
- Artwork that clashes with your overall decor style.
- Amateurish pieces or low-quality prints unless they have sentimental value.
- Graphic, violent or controversial subject matter.
- Fads like paint-by-numbers or default hotel art.
Focus on pieces that match your aesthetic, reflect your personality, and create a cohesive collection.
How do you mix and match art above a bed?
Tips for mixing and matching art above a bed:
- Select an odd number of pieces for the most pleasing arrangement.
- Choose one larger anchor print or painting as the focal point.
- Flank it with smaller items like prints, photos or wall sculptures.
- Vary shapes but keep frames consistent.
- Limit colors to one or two complementary hues.
- Blend pieces like floral prints, beach photos, line drawings, etc.
How to Decorate Large Wall Spaces
Large, expansive wall spaces can be challenging to decorate. Here are some go-to techniques:
- Salon style: Fill the wall with many smaller pieces organized in a grid layout.
- Separate into sections: Use architectural elements like ledges or beams to divide the wall into sections for individual focus.
- Include 3D art: Add sculptural pieces, shadowboxes, or wall shelves to provide dimension.
- Incorporate mirrors: Strategically place large mirrors to visually expand the space and reflect light.
- Paint on the wall: Paint stripes, geometric shapes, or murals right on the wall for artistic flair.
- Landscape mural: Install a panoramic nature mural across the whole space for drama.
Properly scaling the art and furniture to the wall size helps make a large area cohesive.
Table: Comparing Different Wall Art Arrangement Styles
| Style | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Salon | Many small pieces packed together | Filling large wall spaces |
| Grid | Evenly-spaced identical frames | Modern minimalist look |
| Asymmetrical | Sporadic placement | Eclectic style |
| Floating shelves | Shelves to display items | Showcasing collectibles |
| Gallery wall | Clustered combination of art | Mix of styles and sizes |
Tips for Hanging Artwork Without Damaging Walls
You can hang art securely without damaging walls by:
- Using removable adhesive hooks like Command strips for lightweight items.
- Choosing monkey hooks and sawtooth hangers that leave small holes easily patched.
- Finding studs behind drywall for proper screw placement when necessary.
- Using drywall anchors and hollow wall anchors in plaster walls.
- Attaching d-rings to the back of heavy frames instead of hanging wire.
- Checking hanging hardware weight limits and reinforcing as needed.
- Having a professional installer hang large or expensive pieces.
Proper installation combined with using hooks designed for walls helps minimize damage.
Conclusion
Decorating your walls with beautiful, meaningful artwork completely transforms a home. Determine your style, select a diverse mix of pieces, arrange them creatively for balance, and properly hang the art. Feel free to reorganize and swap pieces out seasonally. With an artfully designed gallery wall or collection, your space will go from bland to bold.