Wall art is an essential element of home decor — it adds character, emotion, colour and beauty to a room. Artwork can be the initial inspiration for how you decide to structure the rest of your furniture and decor, or it can be the perfect finishing touch to a room. By creating a cohesive palette with other elements in the room, wall art can bring a sense of balance and harmony to any space. With bare walls, a room looks barren and uninviting. Wall art helps to liven up a house, turn it into a home and be a conversation starter with friends and family.

When decorating your home with artwork, it's best to go with your heart and personal style. Trends come and go, but you want your art prints to stay with you forever. Purchasing pieces you know you'll appreciate for years to come is crucial to investing in art and creating a space you’ll love.

However, if you need help with inspiration and are unsure which pieces are for you, we're here to help. Some of the most popular types of wall art and art prints in Australia include the following:

Aboriginal Art

There's no denying that Aboriginal artworks are exquisite. The intricate designs most commonly consist of thousands of tiny dots, but there are also pieces formed using lines (or a combination of both). Urban Road sells both traditional and modern Indigienous artworks.

Aboriginal art shares a story with the viewer, and the detailed patterns are truly mesmerising. They often are available in earthy tones, including browns, greens and neutrals – which are versatile and suit most homes. However, more modern pieces to suit specific interior styles are available if you prefer a bolder colour palette. Local Indigenous artists craft our Aboriginal art prints, and more information about each creator can be found on their product page.

Textured Art

Textured art is a great way to add depth and dimension to your walls. This type of artwork often uses mixed mediums such as acrylic paints, palette knives, chalk pastels and watercolours. The result is an artwork that comes alive in its unique texture. It adds visual interest and creates an eye-catching statement to your room of choice. 

Abstract Art

Our collection of abstract pieces may be right up your alley if you're looking for something modern. From bold colours to muted shades, all of our abstract artworks are sure to make an impression and inject a sense of contemporary individuality into your home.

Hanging wall art in your home is far easier than you may think. However, before hammering nails into your wall, you must work out exactly where you want to place your new artwork. Don't be afraid to bring out tape measures or test hanging your print in different locations. You want your artwork to not only be the centrepiece of the room or wall gallery visitors' eyes are drawn to but also complement the rest of your furniture and home decor.

Framing your wall art is a great way to add an element of sophistication to the piece and elevate the room's overall appearance – especially if the frame suits the colours in the artwork and the surrounding furniture. However, this is not a must. Having your canvas without a frame allows the work to speak for itself and offers a more modern approach. Urban Road offers you the choice between stretched canvas, framed print or boxed frame canvas works.

If you frame your Urban Road wall art, it may be heavy due to the frame’s weight. Therefore, hanging your artwork with a nail and hammer is best. However, a wall hook should do the trick if it is a lightweight canvas you're working with.

Accentuate the beauty of your wall art print or painting by decorating the room with home decor and furniture from our collection that complements the colour stories in the piece. If your painting consists of varying shades of blue and black, it is best to pair your painting with darker furniture and homewares, with blue accents throughout. Integrating orange here and there would also offer a vibrant contrast that will liven up the room further. Urban Road offers a free design service to help take the difficulty out of decorating your home. With multiple packages available, you can have art prints, cushions and paint swatches chosen for your home.

Truthfully, there is no set colour palette that is the superior choice for wall art. This answer will vary depending on your home and the atmosphere you want to establish (or add to).

If you have light walls and neutral-coloured furniture, selecting wall artworks that are vibrant in nature will brighten the room. Alternatively, if you're accessorising a room with dark walls – or a feature wall – simpler pieces with light shades and patterns is the way to go.

For rooms that are already decorated with statement homewares and decor, wall art with a neutral colour palette is the best way to go. This will help to tie the room together and allow for a more cohesive look that isn't overbearing.

Your living room is one of the main communal areas of your home, wherein everyone spends time together. Whether you're watching your favourite show or playing a board game with friends or family, you want your living room to be an open and inviting space. The best way to do this is through wall art.

Big, bold pieces such as oversized canvases, prints, sets or even gallery walls (multiple artworks on one wall) can make a strong statement. However, if you're after something more subtle and minimalistic, try a landscape painting with muted tones to bring some life into the room while still maintaining an air of sophistication.

Decorating a space and finding the perfect wall art for it can be a daunting task. To make sure you get the most out of your selection, here are some tips to keep in mind when choosing artwork for your home:

• Think about what colours, patterns and textures already exist in the room — this will help you ideate what's missing and what artwork will help tie everything together.

• Consider the size of your walls and furniture — scale is paramount when it comes to selecting the right wall art, as artwork that's too big or too small for a room can make the space feel out of proportion.

• Evaluate how much light a room gets — if you have limited natural light in a room, opt for lighter-hued artwork to brighten up the space and make it feel more inviting.

Urban Road offers a free design service that makes choosing wall art easy. You send us images and measurements of the room you’re decorating, and we create a mood board using curated artwork and home decor from our website. Additionally, Urban Road also has a free app you can use to make the most of our design service. If you have any questions, our customer service team is always happy to assist.

Browse Urban Road's extensive collection of artworks online. From contemporary abstract pieces to classic landscape artworks, you're sure to find something that will elevate the look of your home. With artwork available in a range of sizes and styles, there's something for every space. Shop the range today.