Decorating your living room with art adds personality, style, and visual interest to your space.
Transforming your living room with art involves selecting pieces that resonate with you and placing them thoughtfully within the room's layout. It's about creating focal points, adding color and texture, and reflecting your personal taste.
Start with Key Placement Areas
Consider prominent walls and areas that naturally draw the eye. A classic approach, as highlighted by decorating experts, is utilizing large-scale pieces. Large wall art works great above a sofa or a focal point like a fireplace. This placement helps anchor the furniture or architectural feature and provides a significant visual statement.
Selecting the Right Art for Large Spaces
When choosing art for these key areas, think about the impact you want to make. For ease and a clean look, it's easier and cleaner to go with a large framed canvas or framed print. These types of art are typically ready to hang and offer a polished appearance.
Practical Considerations for Large Art:
- Scale: Ensure the art is appropriately sized for the wall and the furniture below it (like a sofa). A common guideline is that art above a sofa should be roughly two-thirds the width of the sofa.
- Height: Think about the height of the room when hanging large pieces. The center of the artwork should ideally be at eye level for an average person standing, or adjusted if placing above furniture.
- Spacing: Leave enough space around the artwork to avoid it making the room feel smaller. Crowding a large piece with other decor or placing it on a wall that's too small diminishes its impact and can make the room feel cluttered.
Explore Other Display Methods
Beyond a single large piece, there are many other ways to incorporate art:
- Gallery Walls: Arrange a collection of smaller to medium-sized pieces. Mix and match frames, styles, and subjects for an eclectic look, or keep a consistent theme for a more cohesive display. Plan your layout on the floor first!
- Leaning Art: For a casual, modern vibe, large canvases or framed prints can be leaned against a wall, often on a console table or mantelpiece.
- Art on Shelves: Integrate smaller art pieces, sculptures, or framed photos onto bookshelves or floating shelves among other decor items.
Choosing Art That Reflects Your Style
Selecting art is a personal journey. Consider:
- Color Palette: Choose art that complements or contrasts with your room's existing colors.
- Style: Whether you prefer abstract, landscape, portraiture, or photography, select pieces that align with your aesthetic.
- Subject Matter: Pick art that you connect with emotionally or that tells a story.
Framing and Presentation
The right frame can significantly impact how art looks in your room. Consider:
- Frame Style: Match the frame to the art and the room's style (e.g., modern metal, traditional wood, minimalist black).
- Matting: Matting can enhance the art and provide necessary breathing room between the image and the frame.
- Lighting: Proper lighting, such as directional spotlights, can highlight your art pieces and make them stand out.
By carefully selecting and placing art, especially utilizing prominent spots like above the sofa or fireplace with appropriately sized pieces, you can dramatically enhance the look and feel of your living room.
