5 Ways to Style Wall Art for Home Decor

'Luella'

Injecting an extra dose of personality starts on the walls. Here, my top five favorite ways to style wall decor at home.

Finding the perfect piece of artwork for your home can be quite daunting. Does the scale fit the space? Does the palette suit the furnishings? Does the subject amplify or distract from the vibe of the room? And that’s just the functionality questions. There’s still the big one, which is, “does this artwork speak to me?” What’s on your walls represents your character and really works to set the mood in the home, so you want to make sure you pick out pieces that are just right for who you are and what feeling you want your home to encapsulate.

Artwork adds a lot of personality to any space, no matter the size, and most often, for my collectors, it sparks a memory. Whether adding color, texture, or even the right frame, the right piece of artwork can bring an entire look to life.

'Dining In Yellow'

I’m not an interior designer nor am I a self-made expert in interior design. My home decor and wall art is styled through my own aesthetic. Styling your art and home decor is a very personal thing, as it reflects a part of ourselves. It doesn’t matter if it’s an unframed canvas, a sketch, family photographs, art prints or vintage movie posters, mixing up how you display your wall decor at home is a quick way to add interest and contrast to your space. The options are numerous—you can lean it, you can hang it, you can group it—but I’ve gathered my top five favorite ways to style wall art throughout your home.

Framing Fine Art Prints

Giclée or fine art prints on paper are typically displayed in frames with acrylic or glass, protecting them from environmental exposure and making them easier to care for. There are various types of glass available, ranging from basic acrylic to museum-quality options that diffuse sunlight to prevent damage (though these can be quite pricey!). You can choose between reflective and non-reflective glass based on your preference. For most artworks, a medium-quality frame works well, though the choice may depend on the value of the piece.

All of my Giclée prints are printed with top quality papers and archival 12 color ink systems using professionally calibrated giclee machines. (If you see companies with lower pricing, be sure to ask which inks they use and how many inks. Most lower priced companies are using 5-6 color, non archival printing).

It's important to note that there is a significant difference between a poster and a fine art print in terms of paper or canvas quality and color richness. Fine art prints are usually giclée prints made with archival-quality materials designed to last a lifetime. So, treat your favorite artist’s work with the respect it deserves!

Now, let’s style these framed prints! Here are my 5 favorite ways to style wall art at home.

Style No. 01 | In the Kitchen & On Shelving

Styling artwork on kitchen shelving feels a bit unexpected, and that’s what’s so perfect about it. Artwork leaned or hung on the back of kitchen shelves helps bring your shelving to life, adding contrast and interest when paired with some of your more display-worthy kitchen pieces like ceramic bowls or wooden cutting boards.

'Ceramics' leaning on kitchen shelf 

Artwork hung in the kitchen can add a pop of color to a neutral kitchen or add interest with a whimsical illustration or anything else that speaks to YOU!

'Dining In Blue' adds color to an otherwise neutral kitchen

Style No. 02 | A Gallery Wall

It’s no secret that a collection of art is a powerful design moment when you have a vast wall that needs to be filled. You can have fun here by experimenting with different sizes of artwork hung together, different colors and materials of frames, varying orientations, utilizing some unframed pieces, etc. If you’re going in this direction, I suggest laying out the pieces on the floor beforehand to determine the best arrangement. Or, for a more minimalistic vibe, try hanging a collection of artworks in identical frames and sizes, with slightly different artwork inside. In this case, hanging them in a perfect grid is the only way to go.

Gallery Wall in dining room

'All'aperto No. 01, 02 and 03' hung as triptych in a dining room / living room combination

Living room gallery wall

Style No. 03 | A Single Frame

A statement moment is easily had by hanging one single piece of artwork on a smaller scale in a slightly too large wall space. The key here is to place it close to something else, whether it be a nightstand, a tall lamp or an entryway bench. You can hang it off center to create a moment of drama by going against the rules of symmetry. In this case, it’s almost the placement itself that’s the art.

'Hôtel du Louvre' hung above desk styled with beautiful objects, books and accessories.

'Positano' hung above sofa with a neutral color palette of warm tones and textures.

'Cerámica San Nicolás' framed above dining table.

Style No. 04 | Above a Bed

When it comes to home wall decor and that awkward space above the bed, a large horizontal art print or canvas is the perfect pairing, or, similar in shape when it’s hung, a set of three or four smaller frames. Height is important here. Hang it high enough that you won’t damage the hanging from leaning on or stacking your bed pillows, and low enough that it visually replaces a headboard. If you’re hanging it above a headboard, make sure you have enough breathing room between the top of the art and the ceiling. I recommend at least 8 to 10 inches.

'Sis No. 03'

'When You Run Out of Hands, Floral'

Style No. 05 | A Leaning Vignette

There’s a certain skill that comes with leaning artwork in order to make it look as if you didn’t forget to hang it. While it’s a cool and casual feel, it also allows for you to easily switch out and mix-and-match art pieces if you’re the type of person that enjoys doing that. If so, start with a star piece and work out from there. Layer in different color palettes, different shapes and sizes, and then add some accessories on the flat surface in front. Layers add depth and dimension and give a healthy dose of visual interest to your table or windowsill vignettes.

'Parisienne Rooftops' styled with accessories.

'Le Tresor' large framed print for BIG impact in an entryway.

'Anemones'

How to Style Artwork Throughout Your Home