Living room art is a bit like the icing on the cake in your home. Choose the right piece, and it will add personality to your room, making the space feel like it’s truly yours. Selecting the perfect art for your living room is crucial because it’s a room that your family and guests spend a lot of time in. There’s no one size fits all set of rules to follow… it’s really all about what you love. Ready to get inspired? Here are our top five tips for setting you on the track to decorating happiness!
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What Inspires You?
How do you want the room to make you (and others) feel? What’s the overall effect you’re going for? Do you enjoy seeing collections of similar pieces? Or, would you rather have an eclectic space that displays a variety of work? No matter which approach inspires you, you can make it work with any style of art and décor. Do you want a sleek gallery of modern art prints displayed neatly in a grid? Or, a gallery of breathtaking landscapes hanging in strategic locations throughout the room? Your living room art should reflect whatever inspires you!
Find Your Starting Point
Do you already own a photograph or painting that you’re just crazy about? Perfect! A treasured piece of art makes an ideal starting point! If you don’t already own a piece of art that speaks to you, do some hunting to find that amazing piece that encapsulates exactly how you want your living room to make you feel. Make sure it’s something that puts a smile on your face!
The piece you choose will become the anchor point of your new collection. If you have existing artwork that you want to continue to display, be sure your new artwork coordinates with it. Whether you’re going for a cohesive or eclectic display, your anchor piece ties everything together so that your end result reflects your individual style.
If you need some direction on how to use your anchor piece to tie everything together, start by choosing one element from your anchor piece and look for additional pieces that reflect that same element. Or, for an eclectic display, frame each piece with the same materials. For example, if you have a grouping of geometric lithographs, they’ll feel more united if you enclose them all in matching stainless-steel frames.
Sometimes, Less is More
Your living room art doesn’t have to be a collection of pieces. One large statement piece can make a stunning impact if it’s displayed in a prominent area. Perhaps on a large wall facing the entrance to the room, or maybe in the space over your sofa… there are many ideal places to hang one large, inspirational piece of art in your living room.
Whether it’s a large painting, a photograph, or a sculpture, make sure it fits in with your design priorities, including style, presentation, and color. If you decide to go with the less is more approach, leaving the rest of your walls bare and displaying decorative objects on your tables and shelves will maximize the impact of your statement piece.
Practical Can Be Perfect
Sometimes, the best living room art incorporates both function and style to create a beautiful space while working within the parameters of your room. For example, sculptural lamps and decorative mirrors can bring more light to a dark living room, but they also provide beauty and interest. Or, if you have a small living room, it might work best to choose small pieces that still offer decoration and impact but also suit the amount of space you have to work with. Sometimes, being practical is the perfect way to make a piece of art fit into your room seamlessly.
The Take-Away
Above all, the artwork you choose for your living room should bring you joy! If you have found a simple black and white photograph that you love, use it as the starting point to select an assortment of gorgeous art and decorative pieces for your room. Bold, colorful, abstract paintings are great for creating a fun yet cozy vibe in a living room that will be used as a gathering place for friends and family. Or, maybe you love ethnic pieces or underwater scenes that remind you of past adventures. At the end of the day, it’s all about you and whatever makes you happy! Remember to follow your heart, and you will love the outcome!
