Living Room Wall Art

Wall Art Décor

Whether your wall art consists of a painting, poster, picture, sculpture, mirror, clock, or diploma, living room wall art has become an essential element of living room décor. Whether your artwork is thought-provoking, subtle, dominant, elegant and enchanting, or wacky and whimsical, wall art is an ideal way to decorate and to accentuate existing living room furnishings.

Less is More

When considering wall art for your living room, avoid hanging several types of art of varying styles and colors. Select one or two motifs, themes, or styles that most interest you and that best suit your living room décor. Whether you are decorating with homemade wall art or purchasing art for your living room, there are myriads of modern options available, allowing you to take your time, be creative, and select wisely.

Coordinating Wall Art with Living Room Furniture

If your living room is unfurnished, large wall art can serve as the room's centerpiece or focal point. If you own a couch, decorating experts advise hanging only one (large) piece of art on the wall overhead; however on a wall that has no furniture, feel free to decorate with several smaller pieces of art.

Another consideration is the type of art you are hanging. If your artworks are attention-drawers or conversation pieces, place them over a blank wall rather than above an entertainment center or TV. Clocks or less-busy pieces of artwork are better choices above a TV. Alternatively, today's high-tech, state-of-the-art flat-panel televisions and screens can themselves serve as your living room's "piece de resistance"!

How to Hang Wall Art

Here are some tips from interior design experts on how to hang wall art:

•1) Hang works of art as close to 57 inches above the ground as possible, since this height is said to be the most appealing to the human eye.

•2) Artwork hung over a couch or living room sofa should fill two-thirds of the wall, with a five- to nine-inch gap between the top of the sofa and the art piece.

•3) Consider the color of the living room wall behind your wall art. If your artwork is the focal point of the room, select wall paint colors that best showcase your masterpiece. If you want your artwork to blend in with existing living room décor and furnishings, select art that matches or provides an attractive dark-light contrast. Avoid hanging a predominantly white painting or white sculpture on a predominantly white wall (which will blend in and lose its decorative effect).

•4) Consider a series of different-shaped and different-sized pieces of wall art around the living room, unified by a similar-styled picture frame.

Wall Art Frames

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but don't underestimate the value of the perfect picture frame!

- Be sure that your frames suit the type of painting or picture they hold, and that your frames match the rest of your living room décor

- For a particularly striking fashion statement, hang a creative arrangement of small and large pictures and frames on the same wall

Create a Mood with Wall Art Lighting

Using the right type of lighting to showcase your works of art can instantly change the feel or mood of your living room. Consider installing light dimmers or other showcase lighting directly above or below your favorite pieces of art or diplomas to shine a spotlight on your successes. Wall scones, low-voltage lights, halogen lamps, lanterns and colored light bulbs are but some of the many contemporary lighting schemes available today.