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Originally Posted On: https://submaterial.com/news/blog/a-complete-guide-to-wall-art-ideas-for-living-rooms/

 

Did you know that studies consistently show a connection between art and healing? Not only that but enriching your life with pieces of artwork can profoundly affect your holistic health. Simply put, incorporating more art into your life is a great idea.

Namely, wall art is a great way to add personality and character to any living room. Whether you’re looking for something big and bold, or small and understated, there are plenty of options to choose from.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the best wall art ideas for living rooms. We’ll also provide tips on choosing the right pieces for your space, and how to hang them in a way that will make them look their best.

How to Choose the Best Wall Art for a Living Room

Choosing the best wall art for your living room can be a bit of a challenge. After all, you want something that will complement your existing décor and make a statement at the same time. Here are a few tips to help you choose the perfect piece of wall art for your space.

Think About the Energy of Your Home

When it comes to choosing wall art for a living room, one of the most important things to consider is the energy of your home. After all, the living room is typically where people gather to socialize and relax.

As such, you want to ensure that your wall art creates a calming and inviting atmosphere. One way to do this is to choose pieces that feature soft colors and peaceful images. You can also rely on textured wall art to add emotion and warmth to any space.

Another option is to select wall art that reflects your interests and hobbies. For example, if you love to travel, you might consider choosing a map or a painting of a scenic location.

Whatever you choose, make sure it fits with the overall vibe of your living room and the design of the rest of your home.

Understand Art Sizing

In choosing the best wall art for a living room, one of the most important considerations is sizing. Understand that art comes in various dimensions, and you have to be sure that the piece you select will fit the space you have available.

If you’re working with a large wall, you have more options to choose from; but if you’re working with a smaller wall, you’ll need to be more selective in your choices. Here are a few sizing options to help you make sense of what’s available:

• Oversized wall art is typically over three feet long and is best used as a statement piece over something else large such as a sofa or a fireplace.
• Large wall art is typically at least 80 to 100 centimeters in length and works best as a centerpiece to rest on a surface such as your mantle or an entry table.
• Medium wall art is perhaps the most versatile as it’s large enough to make a statement but small enough to use in various places around your living room.
• Small wall art is typically under 60 centimeters in length and perfect for grouping together on gallery walls.

Once you’ve determined the appropriate size for your wall art, you can move on to other considerations such as style, color, and subject matter. However, the sizing of your wall art can affect how the pieces work together with your furniture and other design aspects.

 

Consider the Lighting

Another important factor to consider when choosing wall art for a living room is lighting. This is because different types of lighting can create different effects on the artwork.

For example, natural light from a window will usually create a softer look, while artificial light from a lamp will usually create a more dramatic look. In addition, the direction of the light can also impact the appearance of the artwork.

For instance, light that shines directly on the artwork will usually create a more vivid effect, while indirect light will usually create a more subtle effect. In a piece of art such as our dynamic Field | Confluence panel, the direction of light can change the look and feel of the artwork, for example.

Be mindful of how light enters your living room and how you can use it to illuminate the right artwork.

Wall Art Ideas for a Living Room

We know how easy it is to browse through canvas wall art options and even framed wall art pieces you like. However, it’s a whole different story when it comes time to choose pieces that work together in harmony.

If you’re looking for inspiration, then here are a few wall art ideas for any living room (regardless of size or style).

Symmetrical Placement

Symmetrical placement can be a great way to go when you’re choosing wall art for your living room. Essentially, you want to choose art that will look good on either side of a focal point, like a fireplace or a TV.

This creates a sense of balance and symmetry in the room, which can be pleasing to the eye. Of course, you don’t have to stick to symmetry perfectly; sometimes, a little bit of asymmetry can be really interesting and eye-catching.

If you opt for slight asymmetry, be sure to compensate by creating total symmetry with furniture. Overall, the goal here is to use artwork and furniture to create a sense of order. This, in turn, should create a feeling of peacefulness and comfort.

Balanced Asymmetrical Art

One of the most popular trends in wall art right now is balanced asymmetrical art. As the name suggests, this style features a design that is both balanced and asymmetrical.

You can achieve this look by clustering a few smaller pieces of art together on one side of the room or by hanging a large piece of art off-center. The key is to create a look that is full of vibrant life while also enhancing the feel of the space.

Hanging wall art in a balanced asymmetrical way is the perfect way to add a touch of personality to your living room. Whether you choose to hang a few small pieces or a single large piece, this style of wall art is sure to make a statement.

Varying Art Mediums

One of the great things about wall art is that there are endless possibilities in terms of mediums. Paintings, photographs, prints, and sculptures are all options that can be used to add interest to any living room.

And within each of these categories, there are countless sub-categories to choose from. For example, paintings can be oil or acrylic; prints can be lithographs or etchings; and sculptures can be made from metal, glass, or wood. The options are truly endless.

By mixing and matching different mediums, you can create a look that is entirely your own. And best of all, you can change it up as often as you like without breaking the bank.

 

Incorporate Unique Textures

Look for images or statement pieces that have interesting colors or textures? Unique landscapes or photos make great wall art for a living room. However, textured artwork is also a great way to add emotion to a room without relying on images.

Wall art with unique textures is a great way to add dimensionality to your walls, making them appear larger and more expansive. Additionally, textured wall art can provide a sense of warmth and coziness to a room, making it more inviting and inviting.

Ultimately, textured wall art makes a great addition because they add interest to a room. They can also be a conversation starter when you have guests over. So, if you’re looking for something different to hang on your walls, consider textured artwork.

How to Hang Living Room Wall Art

Now that you’ve found a few pieces you’re interested in, it’s time to figure out how to arrange and hang them. After all, how you hang your artwork can make or break the look of the entire room.

Follow these tips, and you’ll be on your way to achieving a polished, put-together look.

Choose a Focal Point

Choose a focal point in your living room and position your wall art around it. This could be a fireplace, a TV, a large window, or any other architectural feature. The idea is to create a visual anchor for the rest of the room.

Once you’ve chosen your focal point, you can begin planning the placement of your artwork.

Arrange the Art First

We always suggest laying your artwork on the ground first and arranging your pieces together to see how they look. Do this before nailing anything into the wall. It’ll allow you to rearrange pieces together to see how they work best.

If you’re hanging multiple pieces of art, make sure they’re spaced evenly. A good rule of thumb is to leave about two to three inches of space between each piece. You don’t want your artwork to look cluttered or too busy.

Once you’ve determined the placement of your artwork, mark the spot with tape or pencil, so you know where to hang it.

With the art arranged on the floor or furniture, it’s time to mark where the hanging points will go. Start by measuring the distance from the top of the frame to the hook on the back. This will give you an idea of how high to place the nail or screw in the wall.

 

Hang Artwork at Eye Level

Not sure how high to hang your new custom artwork? Regardless of what type of wall art you choose to hang in your living room, it’s important to hang the artwork at eye level. Not only will this make it easier for you to enjoy the artwork, but it will also create the illusion of more space.

In addition, hanging art at eye level will help to draw the eye upwards, making the ceiling appear higher. Because different people have different eye levels, you can measure an average height. 60 inches off the ground is usually a great place to start.

Remember That Size Matters

A lot of people make the mistake of hanging their living room wall art too small. Remember that size matters, though. The general rule of thumb is that the artwork should be about two-thirds the width of your sofa. If you have a really big sofa, you can go even bigger.

Another thing to keep in mind is the height of your ceilings. If you have high ceilings, you’ll want to hang your artwork a little higher on the wall, so it doesn’t get lost in all that space.

On the other hand, if you have low ceilings, you’ll want to hang them a bit lower so it doesn’t overpower the room. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to hanging living room wall art, but following these guidelines should help you get started.

 

Browse Living Room Artwork

Need more wall art ideas for your living room? Browse our collection of living room wall art and find the perfect piece to suit your style. From abstract textured designs to full panel walls, we offer items that are elegance and style embodied.

Whether you’re a homeowner looking for new designs or a residential interior designer, we have options. Plus, if you’re a residential interior designer, you can benefit from our brand-new trade program.

Click here to browse through all of our wall art options.

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