Pick a theme for the wall art composition.
Picking a theme for your wall art composition is essential. Achieving greatness in this area will keep the design from feeling scattered or chaotic, and it can also help you make more cohesive choices about which pictures to include. Themes can be as broad as "animals" or "nudes," or as specific as "floating heads." You may want to choose a theme that relates to people in your life (for example, choosing birthday photos for your mom) or one that reflects an event (like college graduation). When picking a theme, consider how you want to feel when walking into the room. Do you want it to be warm? Cool? Romantic? Energetic? Your choice will affect how big the piece needs to be so that it doesn't overpower the room visually; if you're going for romantic vibes I'd say don't go bigger than 16x20 inches; anything larger tends towards awkwardness unless there's already plenty of wall space available (a rarity!).
Consider hanging a mirrored wall art piece over a dresser, buffet or console table.
If you have a small hallway, or if the wall above your bed is looking a little bare, consider hanging a mirrored wall art piece over a dresser, buffet or console table. Mirrors are great because they can give the illusion of more space. If there's no window in the room where you're hanging it and there's not much light coming from other sources like lamps or candles, mirrors can reflect light from other objects in the room—giving them more prominence than they might have otherwise had. Mirrors also often reflect other pieces of art placed on your walls, as well as lamps and other decor items (even those that are behind them!). And lastly, if there is an outside view visible through any windows in your home (like skylights), mirrors will reflect this too!
Don't be afraid to go big and bold with oversized wall art.
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Don't be afraid to go big and bold with oversized wall art.
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Oversized wall art can make a bold statement—and it doesn't have to be limited to large, abstract pieces. In fact, artwork that's more graphic in nature works well as an oversized piece of art on your walls. Images that depict objects or people at a distance are good examples of this type of piece because they add to the feeling of space in the room and allow you to create visual interest without overwhelming everything else on your walls.
Consider leaning smaller pieces of art on ledges, window sills or bookcases.
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If you don’t want to put holes in the wall, lean it instead.
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Try arranging your pieces of art on ledges, window sills or bookcases. This will give them a more casual feel, making the room appear more lived-in and less museum-like. You can also change things up if you like without having to patch any holes in the wall!
When framing your art, make the border at least twice as wide as the frame itself.
When framing your art, make the border at least twice as wide as the frame itself.
A wide border gives a sense of balance to even a small piece of art. Plus, when choosing frames, don't be afraid to go big: A 4-inch frame with a 2-inch border is a good starting point. If you're buying online and it doesn't specify how many inches are in each direction, measure some frames at home so you can easily compare measurements when shopping for new ones!
If you want to get even more creative with your choices and still have them fit into the same general parameters, consider using different sizes or shapes within one collection (like these).
Choose frames that complement your home's style and color palette.
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Choose frames that complement your home's style and color palette.
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Select a frame in a neutral tone to ensure it complements the colors in your home, but also stands out as a focal point for the art piece. This will allow you to play with different styles of art and still have it look great on the wall.
Arrange wall art in odd numbers and asymmetrical compositions for a modern look.
An asymmetrical arrangement is what your brain prefers, and it's a good option if you want to keep things simple. Asymmetry can also give off a modern vibe, so this is a great choice if you're looking for an artful way to make your home feel fresh.
Add texture to your walls by hanging woven tapestries or rugs as wall art.
You might not have known it, but you can add texture to your walls by hanging woven tapestries or rugs as wall art. It's a simple way to mix up the look of your space and create a focal point on large walls.
To get started, choose an area that needs some extra visual interest—like an empty corner, a blank wall above a bed or sofa, or the space above a mantel in your living room. Then place one large woven piece there to draw attention away from other areas in the room that might be lacking in detail (or even clutter). Woven pieces are great because they're usually made with wool yarns and come in many sizes; they also tend not to wrinkle easily when hung on the wall versus being folded neatly into storage bins like non-woven fabrics do! If you're worried about finding one that will complement your existing decor (and not clash), we've got some suggestions for how best do this below:
Experiment with sizes but balance them out with other pieces in the room's decor.
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Don't be afraid to experiment with different sizes. The key is to balance the size and placement of the art pieces in your room, but don't feel constrained by traditional rules.
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Large pieces can act as a focal point in an otherwise empty wall or allow you to fill up more space with fewer pieces.
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Smaller items can be used for visual interest or arrangement around larger pieces.
Wall art is a great way to add color and depth to any room in your home, but it can be tricky to arrange it just right.
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Balance your wall art with the rest of your room.
When arranging a wall grouping, it's important that all elements are balanced. The size and color of each piece should be consistent with the others so that none stand out. Contrasting colors can provide visual interest to an otherwise dull area if you choose them carefully, but don't go overboard!
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Keep scale in mind when choosing pieces for your wall grouping
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Composition matters when arranging art on a gallery wall!
