Ever had a look at your living room or bedroom and thought it looked a little bare, but you just can't quite put your finger on it?
Even if you've already got an artwork hanging on the wall, sometimes it just doesn't cut it.
That's where an art wall comes in - it's the perfect way to display several artworks to create a statement and focal point in the room.
Also known as a gallery wall or poster wall, this method isn’t only reserved for large spaces, as you can easily set up an art wall in small-scale areas.
All you need are the right tools and tips to guide you along the way – and we’re here to help.
As well as guiding you through how to choose wall art for your home,
and how to hang art on your wall to create this gorgeous gallery-inspired display,
we’ll give you some inspiration with three different lifestyle shots and art wall examples.
You can then take this inspo to create your own art wall using your own pieces,
and perhaps some new ones from our huge online range of artworks, posters, homewares and furniture.
Step 1: CHOOSE YOUR ARTWORKS
While you can most certainly choose your favourite pieces to form your art wall, there are still a few things to consider before you throw them all together. During this initial step, it’s time to do your research – there’s a method to the madness!
Here are some crucial things to think about while curating your art wall:
- Choose an overall theme. This could be anything from palm trees, to florals, to animals. While the art doesn’t necessarily have to come from the same artist, you need to establish an overarching theme to help make it all look cohesive in the end. For instance, if you settle on a floral theme, each piece should have an element of florals within it. You can also merge a couple of different themes, such as landscapes and people (there are plenty of landscape artworks with people in them), but make sure there’s a fairly even mix of the two.
- Select your colours, but remember that they don’t have to be the same. Feel free to mix and match colours, although for the most cohesive look, we do suggest choosing a few pieces with the same shades, or at least the same undertones. This ties the whole look together, even if the artworks are completely different.
- Consider the art style. For this, you can go a little more niche than simply “abstract” or “contemporary” – you could choose a graphic line style for all artworks. Or, if you want to create more interest for the eye, you could combine graphic lines with pieces that include intricate drawings.
- You can never go wrong with a mood board! Mood boards help you visualise what your wall will really look like. You’ll find plenty of inspo for your mood board on our Instagram page and Pinterest, where you can properly envision how different colours and themes work together.
Speaking of mood boards, it’s inspo-time! Check out these three gorgeous art wall ideas, including overall lifestyle inspiration with curated picks from our homeware and furniture collections. You can go right ahead and recreate these exact ideas, or use them as a guide to creating your own space.
Heavenly Getaway
Pink is the obvious colour theme here, but if you look closer, there are also even underlying coastal and floral themes.
You can envision coastal through the rattan furniture, lightweight throw, and soft sandy beige tones.
Florals peek through in the colourful vessels, fluffy stool, and leafy imagery within the artworks.
As mentioned, pink is the queen here, but complementary orange, rose, and even some green tones are included to tie the whole look together.
Beige and white tones help balance everything out.
If you look closely, all the artworks are different in subject matter, but they work perfectly thanks to similar colours, and light, leafy imagery.
SHOP THE LOOK:
CANDY PINK MINI HAND PAINTED CANVAS
BOWL OF ORANGES CANVAS ART PRINT
LUCIA ROUND BOUCLE STOOL BLUSH
SANDSTONE LAYERED GAUZE THROW - 240X180CM
GOLDEN PICNIC LINEN CUSHION - 50X50CM
BONDI NATURAL HAND-BRAIDED JUTE OVAL RUG
Nature’s Gifts
This one’s for all those who love to keep in touch with nature. Tones of deep blue and green make a moody statement here, while warm oranges pop, and softer beige, white and grey shades keep the balance.
You’ll notice that each artwork has an underlying abstract theme – even the large landscape has an abstract element to it with its whimsical, almost graphic style. We love how those warm orange shades in several of the artworks are pulled through into the décor, like the cushion and glass vessel.
SHOP THE LOOK:
MOUNTAIN OF HOPE CANVAS ART PRINT
OLIVE GREEN BOUCLE CUSHION 60X60CM
JUNGLE LINEN CUSHION - 50X50CM
ATRIUM HATCH NATURAL FLAT WEAVE JUTE RUG
OLIVE GREEN BOUCLE BALL CUSHION
Light and Airy
For all those with a flair for simplicity, this one’s for you. Light, airy, and oh-so-calm, this space focuses on neutrals to bring a softened look and feel. The art wall carries an abstract theme, as well as a theme that focuses on organic linework and interesting shapes.
The landscape ties it all together by bringing it back to the calm, relaxed feel of the rest of the room, with soft, sandy neutrals to complement all the other beige tones. Deeper shades are pulled from some of the artworks and translated into the décor, creating a more cohesive look.
SHOP THE LOOK:
WHITE MINI HAND PAINTED CANVAS
NGANHALI LINEN CUSHION - 50X50CM
VANILLA CREAM BOUCLE BALL CUSHION
BLAISE ARMCHAIR - BOUCLE LOOP OAT
JAIPUR 88 GOLD PLUSH POWER LOOMED EGYPTIAN RUG
Step 2: SIZING & MEASUREMENTS
Take your time with this step – it determines the layout of your artworks, which can affect the entire feel of the wall. Now that you’ve got the artworks in mind, it’s time to decide how they’re going to be positioned beside each other.
We suggest using some wall-safe tape (make sure you can remove it afterwards without damaging the wall) and place it on the wall in the shape of the artworks. Think of them like frames, just without the artworks inside! Create the layout using the tape, and adjust to your liking.
You could also grab a paper and pen and sketch out the design, giving you a helpful visual. If you don’t think of yourself as much of an artist, jump onto any basic digital writing program and use the “Draw” or “Insert” tools to create boxes resembling the artworks.
Here are some other art wall tips to consider:
- Think about the gaps between each artwork – are they at an appropriate distance? If the pieces are too close, they can look too jumbled, and each artwork isn’t able to get the recognition it deserves. Try include gaps of anywhere between 5-15cm for the most aesthetically pleasing look.
- Do you enjoy perfectly symmetrical displays? Or could you go for something a little more off-centre? Symmetrical displays are gorgeous, but don’t be afraid to play around and hang the art wall in an asymmetrical way. This creates more interest, giving your wall more character.
- Try out different placements, but don’t forget to track your progress along the way! Take pictures or screenshots, so you can come back to them later.
Now you can choose your frames before heading onto the final step. The frames don’t all have to be the same, and you can even mix and match depending on what you feel fits best. You could include some thick, ornate frames, as well as sleek, modern ones. Just make sure they still look cohesive together, whether that be in terms of colour, or shape.
Step 3: HANGING UP THE ART WALL
This part can seem a little tricky, but all you need is a trusty ruler, a level, and confidence. Oh, and don’t forget to take your time with this step as well! There’s no rush – just trust yourself and be patient.
We suggest starting from the centre and working your way outwards. When it comes to how high or low you should hang the art, the key is to keep everything around 57 inches above the ground. This is the standard height used at exhibitions and galleries, as it’s an average eye-level height, which is where art is best viewed.
Simply measure 57 inches from the floor and make sure the centre of your art hits that mark. We recommend placing a little wall-safe tape to mark where the bottom of the artwork should go, as this helps keep everything straight and in its correct place. Use that same tape to indicate the distance between each artwork.
When you’re done, you deserve a huge pat on the back! Or maybe a drink, or bubble bath – reward yourself the best way you know how. Take a step back and admire the beautiful work you’ve done – now you’ve got your very own art wall!
Art speaks where words are unable to explain.
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