Start with the wall and the furniture
Before looking at any art, look at the wall. Note its width and height, what sits beneath it (a sofa, console or fireplace), and how much light it gets. Measure the furniture below, because that is usually what the art needs to relate to.
Also think about the room’s role. A living room is often the most social space in the home, so the art can be bolder than in a bedroom, but it still needs to suit the people who use it every day.
Decide what you like
Many guides, including those from design blogs and retailers, make the same point: you do not have to choose art that “says something” about you. You can simply choose what you enjoy looking at. Common styles include:
- Abstract: shapes, colour and texture rather than recognisable subjects
- Landscape and seascape: scenery, often calming
- Botanical: plants and flowers, from pressed specimens to illustrations
- Figurative: people or recognisable objects
- Still life: arranged objects such as fruit, flowers or vessels
- Architectural: buildings, maps, blueprints and structural drawings
- Photography and graphic prints: from black-and-white to bold pattern
Browse widely, save images you keep returning to, and look for patterns in colour, subject or mood. That gives you a direction before you buy.
Get the size and height right
Size is where many living rooms go wrong, and art that is too small for its wall is a common complaint. Our guide to bad scale in interior design explains the wider problem.
- Over furniture. A commonly cited guide is for the art, or the full group of pieces, to span roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of the width of the sofa or console below.
- Gap above furniture. Leaving roughly 6 to 8 inches (about 15 to 20 cm) between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the frame is a frequently suggested starting point.
- Height on an open wall. Designers often suggest centring the artwork at about 57 to 60 inches (roughly 145 to 150 cm) from the floor, which is near average eye level.
These are rules of thumb. Tall ceilings, low sofas or large windows may call for adjustments. A useful trick is to cut paper templates, tape them to the wall and live with them for a day or two.
Single statement piece, pair, or gallery wall
- One large piece creates a focal point and suits simple, uncluttered rooms.
- A pair or triptych works well over a sofa and gives a balanced, tidy look.
- A gallery wall mixes sizes, frames and subjects. It suits people who collect over time, but needs more planning. Lay the arrangement out on the floor first and keep consistent spacing, often around 2 inches (5 cm) between frames.
- A grid of matching frames feels formal and modern.
Another tip from design writers is to vary the format from wall to wall, so the room does not feel repetitive, for example one large vertical piece on one wall and a gallery on another.
Choose colours that work with the room
- Pull one or two accent colours from the art and repeat them in cushions, rugs or accessories. See our overview of accessories in interior design for ideas on tying a scheme together.
- Calm, soft art suits a room with strong colour; bold art can energise a neutral room. See mixing warm and cool tones for balancing the palette.
- It is fine to contrast, but keep an eye on the overall balance so one wall does not overpower the rest.
Frames, mats and finishes
Frames are part of the look. Matching frames feel orderly, while mixed frames feel collected. A mat (the card border) can make smaller pieces look larger and more finished. Consider glare: glass or glossy finishes opposite a window can reflect light, so non-reflective glazing may be worth considering for some pieces.
What kind of art is popular right now?
Trends shift and sources disagree, so treat this as general direction rather than a prediction. Recent interest tends to focus on abstract and organic shapes, large-scale pieces, textured work, vintage finds, botanical and landscape prints, and framed textiles. Many designers also encourage original or locally made work over mass-produced prints. If you choose something trendy, make sure you would still like it in a few years.
The 3-5-7 rule and the 70/30 rule
Both are informal styling guidelines.
- 3-5-7 usually means grouping objects in odd numbers. On a wall, it is sometimes applied to the number of frames in a cluster, which can feel more natural than an even set. It is not a requirement.
- 70/30 is used in different ways. For art, it is often applied to balance, such as keeping most of a wall calm and leaving a smaller portion for a bolder element, or leaving some wall space empty around art. Use it as a prompt to avoid overcrowding.
Where to find art on a budget
Good art does not need to be costly. Options include prints from furniture and home stores, second-hand and vintage shops, flea markets, online marketplaces, student and local artist sales, and your own photography. Frame cost can be significant, so factor it in; our cost to decorate a living room guide shows how art fits into the wider budget.
Common mistakes
- Hanging art too high or too small for the furniture beneath.
- Buying a piece without checking the dimensions against the wall.
- Matching art too closely to the sofa or cushions, which can look flat.
- Overfilling the wall and leaving no breathing room.
- Ignoring light and reflections.
FAQ
What is the best art to put on living room walls?
There is no single best choice. Pieces you enjoy, in a scale that fits the wall and a palette that relates to the room, are the safest approach.
How big should art be over a sofa?
A frequent guideline is about two-thirds to three-quarters of the sofa’s width, hung with a modest gap above the back.
Should living room art match the furniture?
It should relate to the room, not match exactly. Repeating an accent colour is usually enough.
What if I’m planning a bedroom too?
Bedrooms usually call for calmer imagery. See our guide to choosing artwork for a bedroom.