5 WAYS TO
Decorate with Wall Art
Great wall art can define the entire style of a room, but interior designers know it’s not just about hanging a painting or two: Something slightly unexpected – be it a gallery wall, an oversized piece of art or a triptych – can transform a space. These are the five wall art and wall décor ideas that can instantly up the style factor in any space.
1. GO WITH A GALLERY WALL
WHAT IT IS
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A collection of art arranged together to showcase a collection of your favorite pieces. A gallery wall can be a grid of identically shaped pieces, or a salon-style collection of art in a more organic shape.
BEST FOR
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Oddly shaped walls, smaller spaces or someone with a collection of art and objects that have a cohesive visual feel, be it a common color scheme, theme or texture.
STYLE TIP
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For larger walls, avoid a too-cluttered look by embracing a graphic grid instead of a salon-style layout. And don’t stop at framed art: Sconces, mixed media art or mirrors can be modern, stylish additions to a gallery wall as well.
2. MAKE A STATEMENT
WHAT IT IS
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A singular, large-scale piece of art. The design itself may be subtle; it’s the size that makes an impact.
BEST FOR
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A room with other competing wall elements, like a big window, that needs a statement piece to feel balanced, or a minimalistic feeling room where a single oversized piece can really stand out.
STYLE TIP
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Be sure to leave at least twelve inches of empty wall space on each side of the piece to avoid overwhelming the room. If you’re hanging it above a sofa, choose art that is the same length as the sofa, or smaller, for the most balanced appearance.
3. MAXIMIZE MIRRORS
WHAT IT IS
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Get reflective with a well-placed mirror that can act as an “indoor window” to expand your space.
BEST FOR
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A small space you want to feel bigger, or a room already adorned with art on other walls.
STYLE TIP
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A mirror above a dresser or vanity feels natural, but don’t forget about other spaces that could benefit from a little reflection: A mirror works great at the end of an entry hallway, hanging above a bar cart, or even in the midst of other artwork above a sofa.
4. LEAN INTO ART
WHAT IT IS
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For an eclectic look, prop framed art up on a picture ledge of floating shelf instead of hanging it on the wall, or even place a statement piece on the floor and let it lean against the wall.
BEST FOR
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Indecisive designers (the no-nails philosophy makes it easy to remove, redecorate and reorganize every season) or bold decorators looking for a loft-inspired look.
STYLE TIP
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This is a more avant-garde, modern approach to showcasing art, but more traditional designers can try on the look by incorporating leaning art on a fireplace mantle or behind a console. Start with a bigger, statement piece, then layer on a smaller frame or two in a similar theme.
5. DO THE DIPTYCH (OR TRIPTYCH)
WHAT IT IS
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A continuous photographic scene, painting or art design divided into two or three panels of art.
BEST FOR
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An elongated wall above an anchor piece of furniture, like a sofa or a bed, to help unify the look. Or, arrange a triptych equidistant down a long hallway.
STYLE TIP
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Diptych and triptych arrangements should always have simple frames in order to maintain the effect of a single piece of art. In most cases you’ll want to keep spacing between pieces to less than six inches to give the multiple pieces of wall art a more unified feeling.
