Wall art is more than just decoration – it’s an expression of personal style and a key component of home decor that sets the tone for your living spaces. Unfortunately, most people don’t give this key detail as much thought as they should. But if you’re intentional, you can set your home’s design apart.
Choosing the Right Wall Art
Think of wall art as the finishing touch on your outfit. The right piece can tie a room together and elevate the entire space. But just like you wouldn’t wear a bright pink shirt with neon green polka dots to a job interview, you want your art to complement the overall vibe of your home.
When it comes to the theme, consider the overall mood you’re going for. Is it tranquil and serene? Playful and energetic? You’ll want to choose artwork that reflects the theme of the room.
Then there’s the color scheme, which requires you to consider the existing colors in your furniture, rugs, and curtains. Your artwork should complement this color scheme, not clash with it. You can pick up on accent colors in your art, or use it to introduce a new color pop to the space.
5 Wall Art Ideas to Explore
There are plenty of different types and styles of wall art to choose from. And while there isn’t necessarily a right or wrong way to go about it, here are five ideas to explore:
- Classic Canvas Prints
Canvas prints are incredibly versatile, which makes them an awesome choice in so many different settings. They come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. This includes everything from breathtaking landscapes to family portraits.
One of the best things about canvas wall art is that it’s super easy to hang and arrange. Canvas art is super lightweight – typically just a piece of canvas stretched over a light wood frame. This means even a massive five by four foot canvas can be lifted by a single person. (You can’t do that with most framed artwork!)
- Photographic Focus
While a large canvas print might be the focal point of the room, you can personalize your space with your own photographs. You can showcase your favorite travel memories, family portraits, or even stunning nature shots you’ve taken yourself.
For best results, get them printed on high-quality photo paper and framed with custom matting. Even a simple, inexpensive black frame with a white matte can make a picture look more professional.
A lot of people like to turn family photos into gallery walls. This is where you gather nine or more framed photos and put them in a grid format on a wall. The result is a stylish-looking wall that’s actually rather inexpensive to execute.
- A Touch of Texture
Move beyond flat prints and explore textured wall art. Think wood carvings, metal sculptures, or woven wall hangings. These pieces add depth and dimension to your space and can be real conversation starters.
Wooden wall art is really popular right now. If you’re handy and have a few basic tools, you can design some wood wall art yourself. All you need to do is cut some wood into different geometric shapes and attach them together using small nails or wood glue. You can find some inspiration here.
- DIY Wall Art
We previously mentioned wood wall art, so let’s continue with the theme. Beyond wood wall art, you can also unleash your inner artist and create things like abstract paintings, macrame wall hangings, or even framed collections of interesting objects – the possibilities are endless.
For example, let’s say you have a bunch of your grandfather’s old antique tools. You could buy a shadow box and frame some of those tools against a white background and hang it on the wall. This is a great way to put some family history on display.
- Vintage Vibes
Hit up thrift stores or flea markets for unique vintage finds. An antique mirror, a framed map, or even a collection of old record covers can add a touch of character and history to your walls. You can even mix these in with some of your DIY wall art for a little “modern meets vintage” vibe that will give your home a unique look and feel.
Adding it All Up
As you can see, there are plenty of options beyond the basic “stock prints” you find at Target or Walmart. Try to think outside the box and give your house beautiful wall art that turns it into a home!