Decorating with Art: Wall Decor Ideas for an Insta-worthy Home

by Vanja Przulj March 07, 2019

Decorating with Art: Wall Decor Ideas for an Insta-worthy Home

Real homes, real inspiration

Published on 7th March 2019 by Vanja Przulj in Home Decor

Contents:
1. Decorating with Art
2. Start with the Room
3. Let's talk about Colour
4. How to Display Art
5. Gallery Walls
6. Don't Hang it, Lean it
7. Shelfies
8. Ending thoughts

 

There’s an abundance of home decor posts these days, with tips and ideas for a beautiful home. I don’t know about you, but when I’m scrolling online, most of the homes I come across are lavish and well beyond my means. So as nice as it is to dream, I usually come away feeling uninspired as, well, a million dollar interior design project on a massive mansion just doesn’t apply to my modest flat.

In this post we’ll show you practical wall decor ideas, using real people’s homes as inspiration, so you can decorate your own place with art and get that insta-worthy look.

The good news is everything here is do-able on a budget, all it takes is a little research and inspiration, and I hope this guide can get you started.

 

 

A beautiful home filled with art. This could be you with a bit of research and inspiration - read on for practical tips and ideas you can use in your own home. (Credit: Instagram @the_wrens_nest__)

 

Decorating with Art

One of the easiest ways to up your interior design game, and add character to your home, is through wall art.

Art is a crucial layer in telling the story of a room. It draws the eye and just a couple of pieces can elevate a space. Plus there’s just something magical about handling and displaying a framed print that makes it all worthwhile.

I think people have this misconception that it’s really difficult, when in fact it really is not. And these days you can grab affordable prints from real artists, and fill your home with art for just a few hundred pounds/dollars while at the same time supporting independent creatives.

Further, art can be swapped out easily when you want to change the look and feel of a room, and there are lots of ways to display it as we’ll explore further in this post.

 

Start with the room

Which art you choose, size, type of display etc depends on the room, it’s size, character, existing furniture/lay out and most importantly how it’s used.

Take a good look at the wall you are going to be working on to decide which size and style art you are going to incorporate in your display. You might decide to hang just one large statement piece (this works particularly well with large walls or around focal points such as fireplaces), a pattern of smaller pieces either in a collage/gallery wall format (more on which later) or in a diptych or triptych pattern, which is basically hanging two or three similar pieces together.

Living room wall decor ideas

For most people, the living room is where they spend the most time in, therefore it only makes sense to fill it with your favourite art. Don’t be afraid to express your interests or sense of style here!

Gallery walls are perfect for the lounge (more on GWs below). If you feel intimidated by them, just remember that you can create really simple displays with just 5-6 pieces, which are far more manageable and won’t cost the earth. Check out some of these living rooms sourced from real folk’s homes to see what I mean.

(All @ mentions refer to the respective home owners' Instagram accounts, so if you like what you see, go follow them for further inspiration!)

Rustic Lounge

rustic wall decor

 

I love the rustic vibes running through this space in the home of @its_all_about_the_house. If you're wondering how to line up the frames in a display like this, imagine a line running through the middle of the display and notice how all the art is arranged around it.

A Homely Feel

homely lounge gallery wall

 

Jen (@the_wrens_nest) has created a homely feel with her living room gallery wall. The display is built around two medium sized artworks which are flanked by lots of smaller pieces.

Monochrome Simplicity

monochrome living room wall art

 

This corner of @fwhome1’s lounge is finished perfectly with a simple monochrome art wall, featuring photography and abstract planetary art.

Decorating around a TV or Furniture

decorate around a tv

 

If you have a TV or other piece of furniture to work around, why not try “framing” it with art? @wheelchichome shows us how it’s done in this beautiful and well thought out display.

The Scandi Lounge

scandi wall decor

 

@myscandinavianhome’s living room is a great example of clean, Scandi minimalism. If you can’t be bothered with the gallery wall, you could swap it out for a colour coded triptych or one large statement piece instead, both of which are much simpler to hang.

Working with Large Walls

colourful wall decor

 

If you have large walls and aren’t sure how to fill them, steal this neat trick from Geraldine @littlebigbell’s living room. What I love here (apart from all the colour) is how she’s “managed” her big walls by grouping a small art display and hanging it right down at eye level. It would have been tempting to fill the walls top to bottom with large wall art or a big gallery wall (both of which would work just as well though give the room a different vibe) but this is so much more practical and easier to manage!

All Black Everything

dark interior maximalist wall decor

 

This is not for the faint hearted. @flower_heart_flower goes with an all black everything approach, featuring gold and animal print accents. Absolutely love those gold frames and the off-centre triptych arrangement!

The Cosy Living Room

cosy wall decor

 

I love this cosy space in the home of @agi_at_59. It just wouldn’t be the same without some wall art hung up, wouldn’t you agree?!

 

Bedroom wall decor

When it comes to the bedroom, personally I prefer minimalism, a soft palette and walls that aren’t too busy — this is where you come to unwind and sleep, after all. I’ve had really bad insomnia in the past, so my preference is for a calm and uncluttered sleeping environment.

However, as you’ll see in the examples below, you can be a lot more adventurous in the bedroom (steady...).

People will tell you it’s the most difficult room to decorate, but after seeing some of the inspiring bedrooms below, you’ll be wondering what all the fuss was about!

A Cosy Retreat

bedroom wall decor cosy

 

This characterful bedroom belongs to @barnestowers, and I love it. Styled with framed art above the bed and plenty of greenery - this is definitely a space I could see myself retreating to after a long day.

Elegant Simplicity

monochrome bedroom ideas

 

@northumberland_family_home have opted for simplicity and elegance in their bedroom. A calm and neutral environment, featuring a triptych of framed black and white photography above the bed, and monochrome styling through out.

The Statement Piece

 

Sometimes all you need is one well considered statement piece above the bed, as shown here by @e.t.shown_home

The Boudoir

boudoir decor

 

This adventurous little number belongs to @flower_heart_flower. I just love the colour scheme, vibrant pinks and elegant greens against a dark backdrop - it just works. If you thought art doesn’t go with patterned wallpaper, think again. The choice and positioning of the framed art breaks up the busy rose pattern adding breathing space.

The Colourful Bedroom

colourful bedroom decor

 

Geraldine aka @littlebigbell is the queen of colour. The colourful prints hung above the bed work to nicely tie everything together, creating a cheery, playful sleeping environment.

Scandi Minimalist Bedroom

scandi minimalist bedroom

 

The best thing about the minimalist style is its simplicity and the fact that it’s really easy to pull off! Forget drilling holes in your walls, incorporate art simply by leaning it on a chest of drawers. And minimalist line art is the perfect choice for this style, as seen here in the bedroom of @fwhome1.

Vintage meets Contemporary

eclectic bedroom decor

 

@the_idle_hands mixes vintage and contemporary in her eclectic bedroom proving there are no rules when it comes to modern interior design. One statement piece above the bed can be really effective, and boy does this contemporary print make a statement in this room.

The Rustic Bedroom

rustic bedroom decor

 

Earthy tones, plants hung from the walls and abstract art prints complete this rustic bedroom in the home of @agi_at_59.

Monochrome Style

black and white bedroom

 

Don’t be fooled, monochrome doesn’t necessarily mean playing it safe. I love the use of artwork here in the bedroom of @hello_haus continuing the calming black and white theme that’s running throughout the room.

 

Dining room decor

For most people lucky enough to have one, the dining room is either the social hub of the home or never used at all! So think about this when deciding how to decorate it. If you use this space less, but still want to style it with art, you might go for something that doesn’t require much effort, like a simple triptych in one of the examples below.

If on the other hand you use the space regularly, you might want something more dramatic, wall art that creates talking points for example, or a characterful gallery wall. Either way, here are some dining room decor ideas however you use this space.

Colour-coded Triptych

triptych wall decor

 

This elegant triptych in the home of @northumberland_family_home is really easy to pull off. They’ve used three matching framed prints that go with the rest of the room, a larger one in the middle flanked by two smaller ones on the sides - really simple but effective. If you’re looking to create something similar, but are not sure which kind of art to use, check out our abstract collection where you’ll find lots of similar style prints perfect for creating matching sets.

More Triptych Simplicity

triptych wall art set

 

I love a good triptych for its simplicity. A triptych is simply a set of three artworks that are meant to be appreciated together. This definition is subjective and up for interpretation of course, but a simple rule of thumb is there should be some kind of common theme running through them. Here in the dining room of @eclectic_street, that theme is the playful tone of the three pieces.

The Statement Piece

frida kahlo wall art

 

If you really want something fuss free, you could go with just one large statement piece, as seen here in the apartment of @loftnq. Just make sure you go with a piece that does make a statement, like this Frida Kahlo print, which, in case you were wondering, you can buy right here on arthaus!

The Colour Pop

colourful dining room wall decor

 

For even more of a statement, use colour like this example in the home of @agi_at_59. I love how the artwork colours go with the rest of the room, and the four piece mini gallery wall is pretty straight forward to pull off.

Scandi Dining

scandi dining room decor

 

For colour-phobes, look no further than this monochrome dining room found in the home of @keeleytara. There’s an air of Scandi cool running through the space, which makes a statement in an understated kinda way.

Industrial Chic

industrial dining room

 

You might think that colourful art doesn't belong in a dining room that has industrial vibes, but of course you'd be wrong, it's actually the perfect accompaniment. The proof is here in the kitchen/diner of @haveyouseenherhouse.

 

Home office decor

If you use your home office/study room for creative pursuits, you might want to incorporate art that inspires you and gets the juices flowing (think typography posters for example).

On the other hand, if you often find yourself knuckling down and needing to focus, then perhaps something that won’t easily distract you is called for. In this case keep things muted and minimal.

Here are some decor ideas for however you use your study space.

Home Office Gallery Wall

home office gallery wall

 

Gallery walls can be incorporated into any room if you’re willing to put the effort in. In Jen’s (@the_wren_nest) home office we find the desk has been kept free from clutter, and she’s created an inspirational gallery wall that’s sure to get the creative juices flowing.

Focussed Study

study room decor

 

In @lifeateightysix’s study corner, things are kept quite simple. One inspirational piece is leaned against the wall for minimum fuss and minimal distraction.

Use Pastels

colourful home office

 

@littlebigbell’s study room is much busier than both of the previous examples, yet never overpowering or distracting thanks to the use of pastel colours throughout.

Scandi Home Office

scandi home office

 

Another way to insure distraction free styling is by incorporating Scandi aesthetics. This means clean, minimal design like in @myscandinavianhome’s home office. I particularly like the monochrome artwork and matching natural frames.

The Busy Study

study room wall decor

 

If you don’t want to do any hanging, and you don’t want to clutter your desk with art, how about this compromise found in the home of @agi_at_59? I really like this space, it’s busy yet never overwhelming.

The Indigo Study

indigo home office

 

There's a calming quality to this study space which belongs to @the_indigo_house.

 

Children’s rooms and nurseries

It’s never too early to get the little ones into art. Whether they take to it or not, as these examples show, at least you can create a beautiful environment for them. And who knows, maybe it sparks something inside of them!

You might not want to decorate their rooms with the kind of art you like for yourself. Thankfully, there’s a plethora of artists creating art for younger people. If you’re looking for inspiration, we just happen to have a collection dedicated to children’s and nursery art.

As for styling, check out these examples for ideas.

The Chic Girl's Room

girl's bedroom wall decor

 

@deecampling’s daughter’s room feels like the perfect space to escape to. Prints adorn a shelf above the bed along with carefully selected accessories that hang from it.

Rustic Vibes

children's bedroom decor

 

@nestandburrowuk has gone with a rustic vibe for her son’s bedroom. Really love the earthy tones and those macrames, which offer an alternative to hanging prints, finish off the room nicely.

Colourful Boy's Room

 

@agi_at_59 demonstrates a real skill in using shape and colour in her boy’s bedroom. Love everything about this, from the wallpaper, to the colourful art sitting atop shelves placed really high up above the “mountains”. Brilliant.

Gender Neutral Nursery

gender neutral nursery decor

 

If you prefer something more gender neutral, this is a great example, as styled by @littlebigbell. Gender neutral does not necessarily mean being devoid of colour - splashes of yellow are used with great effect, amongst the otherwise minimal monochrome vibe.

The Pink Girl's Room

pink girls bedroom

 

Now this is how to do pink, in the home of @barnestowers. I particularly love that side-cabinet, and on top of it a nice child friendly penguin print with a pink frame ties it all together. It’s a good reminder that when it comes to framing, there’s more out there than just black, and different coloured frames can be used to great effect.

The Blue Boy's Room

blue boys room

 

Chic and stylish, this boy’s room styled again by @littlebigbell, oozes personality. Great use of shape and pattern running through out, from the prints on the wall to the shape of the room itself.

Kid Friendly Gallery Wall

kids bedroom gallery wall

 

Thought you couldn’t incorporate a gallery wall in your child’s bedroom? Think again! @house_of_wolf_interiors uses lots of animal art along with an interesting selection of frames to create this gallery wall that works just as well for adults as it does for children. Animal art prints are a great choice for kids’ bedrooms, as children love animals, and artists have a subject matter they can really get creative with.

The Grown-up Girl's Room

monochrome kid's bedroom

 

@its_all_about_the_house's daughter's room has a grown up feel to it with the stylish monochrome colour scheme and inspirational typography art prints.

The Black and White Boy's Room

black and white bedroom decor

 

A bold black and white look full of personality in @e.t.shown_home's son's bedroom.

 

Fireplace decor and decorating around focal points

If your room has a focal point, such as a fireplace, there’s two ways you can go. Either keep it as a focal point and incorporate art around it. Here it would be a good idea to keep the artwork and particularly the frame, a similar colour to surrounding walls to keep the focus on the fireplace/focal point.

Alternatively you could make the fireplace be a part of a bigger display. Here you would blend the fireplace into its surroundings, so it’s no longer a focal point but just another part of the overall display.

The general rule for displaying art above fireplaces is to keep the size to two thirds of the fireplace/feature so the artwork doesn’t hang over the edges. But that rule can be broken if you go for a really large statement piece that reaches all the way up to the ceiling.

Here are some fireplace decor ideas that you might like to try in your own home.

Fireplace with Large Statement Artwork

fireplace with large statement artwork

 

Despite the gorgeous pink walls and the large statement piece, the fireplace still remains the centre of attention in the home of @pink_at_twentyone. I just love this skull artwork. If you wanted to do something similar, we have a big collection of skull prints in the store.

Beautiful Contrast

fireplace decor

 

I love how the dark walls contrast with the fireplace in the home of @benjaminstownhouse. Notice how the artwork background and the black frame both blend into the walls so as not to distract too much from the fireplace, but still provide a nice balanced pop of colour.

Fireplace Takes Centre Stage

fireplace decor

 

Here in @northumberland_family_home there’s no escaping the fact that the fireplace takes centre stage no matter what. So it’s been styled appropriately with a simple piece of framed art and matching accessories.

Fireplace Blends In (Dark Walls)

dark interiors fireplace decor

 

In Rachel’s home (@rachel_bradshaw_70) the fireplace and walls have been painted the same dark grey colour ensuring the fireplace blends into the room and doesn’t stand as a focal point on its own. She’s then expertly used pops of colour (red and pink neons no less) for added drama and character.

Fireplace Blends In (White Walls)

stylish fireplace decor

 

In contrast to Rachel’s fireplace previously, here we see an example where a white fireplace blends into white walls in the home of @vintagecuratorinteriors. Instead of pops of colour, they’ve used one black statement piece hanging above the fireplace (which offsets the dark inside the fireplace), and green accents (a green chair and plants) across the rest of the room to create contrast and character.

Fireplace Simplicity

fireplace wall decor

 

There are two things to take away from this fireplace, found in the home of @flawsomehome. First, another great example of a fireplace blending into a room and not taking all the attention. Second, the elegant simplicity of leaning two framed prints on the mantel. Really easy and cheap to do and the whole space is lifted.

Stylish Fireplace Takes Centre Stage

stylish fireplace decor

 

Once again we see a great example of contrast being used, this time to create a stylish and elegant fireplace in the home of Jen (@the_house_that_jen_built).

 

Let’s talk about colour

Colour can be used with great effect to set the mood or character of a room. For example, pastels can be used to create a playful feel, monochrome is great at instilling minimal elegance, browns and earthy tones are perfect for a rustic vibe and a darker palette suits an eclectic, maximalist style.

How art interacts with an interior is key, especially when we’re considering colour. Think about the other furniture in the room, its layout, lighting, the wallspace and how the art responds to each of these elements.

Don’t forget that when we’re talking about art, it’s not just the subject matter. The type of frame you choose and print finish (e.g. full bleed vs matted vs a simple white border) is equally important.

But how do you know which colours will go together? Colour wheels can help provide guidance. We’ll be publishing a separate post on this soon, but in the meantime check out this resource on BBC Homes discussing how to use the colour wheel in interior design to figure out which colours to use together.

And here are some of my favourite uses of colour found in the homes of real people that I hope can give you a bit of inspiration and guidance.

Use the Colour Wheel

pink and green wall decor

 

As mentioned above the colour wheel is a great guide in assessing which colours to use together. At first thought you might think that pink and green aren’t particularly well suited, but according to the colour wheel they’re complimentary colours, which is confirmed by @_charlottesweeting_’s epic use of them in her bedroom.

Two-tone Walls

framed wall art

 

I love the two tone walls in the home of @vic_at__46. Yellow walls might sound like too much, but having a two tone effect with a grey bottom half balances the yellow off nicely. Notice the framed prints have a predominantly white background too, which works well to add some breaks to all the yellow.

Muted Colour Pops

dark interiors wall decor

 

I love the muted tones in @tinkywinkymauve’s living room, and I especially love how she’s incorporated colour without taking away from the overall tone.

Use Art to Tie the Room Together

colourful wall art

 

@oxfordone’s home is full of colour, and I’ve chosen this particular pocket of her home to show how art can tie the rest of the room together.

Colourful Pastels

colourful pastel gallery wall

 

If you want to inject lots of colour without it being too brash or in your face, consider using pastels ala @littlebigbell. Pink, blue and green pastels compliment each other particularly well and create a playful tone.

Monochrome Style

monochrome wall decor

 

Use a monochrome colour scheme when you want to create a feeling of elegance or minimalism like in the home of @hello_haus. Remember, monochrome isn’t just blacks, whites and greys, but can be varying tones of any colour.

Patterned Wallpaper

patterned wallpaper decor

 

Art on patterned wallpaper? Hell yes. Remember I mentioned the importance of using the right frames? @_town_to_country_ does this expertly by using white frames to create “space” for her prints on an otherwise very busy patterned wallpaper.

Diptych Colour Pop

diptych wall art set

 

We’ve mentioned colour pops already. This room in the home @my_british_home is another great example. The pink art prints “pop” in an otherwise dark interior creating lots of talking points. The fact that the prints are full bleed (which simply means printed edge to edge) and in a white frame only help them stand out further.

Use Accents

gold accents bedroom

 

Remember I mentioned the importance of using the right frames for your art? I love these gold frames in @lifeofaninteriorstylist’s bedroom, they’re used expertly here as accents to lift an otherwise monochrome colour scheme.

 

How to display art

You’ve already seen some inspirational rooms which I hope have gotten your creative juices flowing. Now we’ll talk more about the specifics of displaying art in your home and the different ways you can do so, including tips on picture framing and hanging.

There are already some great resources out there showing you how to frame and hang your art. But just know that you are no longer tied to just drilling holes in your walls (if this is an issue for you, for example if you live in a rented property).

Nowadays you can use adhesive strips that are simple to use, don’t require a drill and won’t leave a mess. Meaning you can experiment with placements and arrangements without leaving holes everywhere. I recommend trying Command’s range of wall adhesives.

As you’ll see below there are also plenty of alternatives to traditional framing and hanging, including displaying your art unframed, leaning it against the wall or placing it on shelves/mantels/ledges.

 

Gallery Walls

One of the best ways to show off your art collection is with a gallery wall (also known as an art wall). Especially if you have a large wall to fill, though gallery walls of all sizes can work well.

E.g. if you have a small corner in your home with a little bit of empty wallspace, why not fill it with a mini gallery wall consisting of 3-5 small and mini size prints? 8x10” (20x25cm) and 11x14” (28x36cm) size prints work particularly well, though you could go even smaller.

Many people are put off creating their own gallery wall, as it can feel intimidating. But it really need not! For novices, the main thing to get over is the hanging process. So if you have never hung anything on a wall before, perhaps start by simply learning how to hang one piece to get confident with the process. Then it’s just a matter of arranging your collection and rinsing and repeating the process!

Since creating a gallery wall is an artform itself, we’ll be writing a separate more detailed post on this soon. But until then here are some key points to consider, and links to useful articles that go into more detail where our guide currently does not.

Figure out your style. Love whimsical illustrations? Have a passion for animals? First you’ll want to figure out what to include in your gallery wall. Don’t be afraid to mix different art styles with personal photos, artifacts and even children’s drawings.

Plan your arrangement.Once you know what will go in your display, plan out a gallery wall in advance prior to actually hanging anything. Place the pieces on the ground in front of the wall and play around with the arrangement until you find one that satisfies you. You could also cut out old newspapers in the size of each piece, and place on the wall with masking tape to get an even better sense of how the arrangement will look.

Start with the largest artwork first.Think about balance and symmetry when creating your gallery wall. This is best accomplished by creating a focal point with your biggest piece first. Also it’s generally best to start in the centre and work your way out. I’d recommend spacing artwork at least 3cm or 1.25 inches apart so each piece can stand out on it’s own.

Hang it at eye level. Galleries tend to hang artwork so the centre of the piece is on average 150cm/59 inches from the floor. This ensures it’s at eye level. For your gallery wall, since you’re not hanging just one piece, you’ll want to make sure the centre of your gallery display as a whole is eye level. This means there will be pieces that are nearer the floor and vice versa, but the display as a whole will be eye level.

Don’t worry about it being perfect. Some people will say all the frames need to be the same colour/style. Others will say the gallery wall needs to tie in with the rest of the room. In truth, there are no rules. Some people like a theme, others like a certain frame style or finish. But personally some of my favourite gallery walls have been eclectic af, mixing different artwork sizes, frame styles and art themes.

Have fun and don’t be afraid to experiment, and check out the examples below for even more inspo!

Live Life on the Edge

gallery wall framed art

 

I love @agi_at_59’s “edgy” gallery display. This gallery wall feels like a standalone artwork in itself. Great use of this wallspace!

Gallery Walls

gallery wall on two walls

 

Who says a gallery wall should stay confined to just one wall? @keeleytara’s gallery display stretches across two walls for an intimate and cosy feel.

Incorporate Shape and Colour

pink and white gallery wall

 

I just love how shape and colour work together in @nijland_nina’s gallery wall. Pink and white two tone walls mix with white rectangular artwork and gold circular accessories. Don’t be afraid to try different shapes in your displays!

Use Matching Sets

london gallery wall

 

If you’re stuck for what to include in your gallery wall, take a page from Sarah aka @nudeandthenovice’s book by using several matching sets of art. Two and three piece sets in different sizes work wonders in this display.

Black and White

 

By using artwork that’s predominantly white and set against a black frame, Tamara aka @tlee79’s gallery wall is never overpowering despite covering the entire wall. The sporadic use of colour then creates accents and draws the eye within the display. What I also love here is the imperfection - the gaps are uneven, some of the frames are wonky and it all adds to the drama.

Build Around Two Central Pieces

wall art decor

 

Sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start when building your arrangement. So how about this - start with two large central pieces and work around them? That’s exactly what artist @restyleart did with his living room gallery wall.

Mix Different Styles

lisa dawson gallery wall

 

Vintage, pop art and even family photos all sit comfortably together in @_lisa_dawson_’s gallery wall. Add to that different frame types and print finishes and you have a truly eclectic display. The more eclectic the better in my humble opinion.

Small and Delightful

small gallery wall

 

Don’t think your gallery wall needs to take up the whole wall. Small displays like this one by @flawsomehome are equally delightful, and much simpler to build.

Merge two arrangements together

gallery wall ideas

 

What do I mean by merging two separate arrangements? Notice this gallery wall can be split into two; the three framed prints on the left and the four on the right. So if you're stuck for arrangement ideas, break your gallery wall down into two or even three parts and bring them together as one just as @apogee_interiors has done here.

A Simple Grid Arrangement

grid gallery wall

 

Who says you need to go for a complicated arrangement when styling your walls? A simple grid pattern does wonders in @pink_at_twentyone’s sitting room.

 

Don't hang it, lean it

Can’t be bothered hanging your art? Or perhaps you live in a rented apartment and you are not allowed to drill holes into your walls?

Lean your art against the wall instead. Whether you go for one large statement piece, or group a bunch of smaller frames, either way it’s super easy to do and allows for no fuss experimentation.

Here are some awesome examples from real homes for extra inspiration...

Lean art on a chest of draws

bedroom art

 

The bedroom can easily be overlooked when styling your home. But this is a really easy way to bring art into the bedroom, as demonstrated by @margyforshaw with this awesome little arrangement.

Transform any little corner with art (part 1)

bedroom decor ideas

 

Any little nook and cranny of your home can be elevated by finding space for art. Just ask @fwhome1

Transform any little corner with art (part 2)

lean art against the wall

 

@keeleytara demonstrates this perfectly - see what I mean? The pooch is an optional extra..

 

Shelfies

Shelfies have been doing the rounds on Instagram and Pinterest lately, with people sharing pictures of their shelves, often full to the brim with books.

An interior design twist involves leaning small and medium sized artworks on shelves and ledges for an easy alternative to gallery walls.

No need to hang anything, and it’s really easy to refresh whenever you need a change. Check these art shelfies out for inspiration.

The Cascade

art shelfie

 

I love this cascading effect created by @the_wrens_nest. The plants nonchalantly hanging off the edges further add to the effect.

The Duo

art displayed on shelves

 

Two shelfies of different proportions, arranged in a step formation = an elegant way to display your favourite mini prints, as shown by @fwhome1.

Mix a shelf with traditional hanging

wall art ideas

 

What I love about this is, by hanging artwork on the same level as the shelf, and across two walls, @deecampling has created the effect of a continual display - almost as if an invisible shelf carries on beyond where the actual shelf ends.

The Stack

wall decor ideas

 

Stack multiple standalone shelves on top of each other to bring life to a narrow bit of wallspace. Just make sure you leave enough space between the shelves to allow for the art. This example is the other side of @agi_at_59’s living room, which we saw earlier in the living room ideas section of this post.

Display a Shelfie instead of a Gallery Wall

shelfie gallery wall

 

This example from the living room of @_onehundredandtwelve gives me the same feels as a good gallery wall, proving shelfiescangive you the same effect, just minus the hassle.

Another Gallery Wall Alternative

lean art on ledge

 

And one more time for good measure, more evidence that a couple of shelves/ledges can work just as well as a gallery wall, this time in the home of @barnestowers.

The Step

 

A simple step arrangement gives this little corner a lift in the home of @_charlottesweeting_. Is that a Ruben Ireland print I spy?

 

Closing Thoughts

And there you have it. I hope you've enjoyed reading this post on how to decorate with art as much as I have enjoyed putting it together.

Will you be trying any of the ideas mentioned here? Anything we've missed you'd like to see? We'll be keeping this post regularly updated with fresh ideas, so let me know in the comments below.

And thank you to all the instagrammers for taking part, here's a full list of all accounts again so you can follow them directly for more ideas and inspiration:

Jen @the_wrens_nest__ (for gallery walls galore)

Vicki @wheelchichome (for disabled friendly interiors)

Alex @benjaminstownhouse (revamping a 2003 townhouse)

Mel @its_all_about_the_house (for all things monochrome)

Lucy @barnestowers (injecting personality into a 50s home)

Rachel @tinkywinkymauve (revamping a Victorian house in London)

Lissi @oxfordone (for all things colour)

Fran @fwhome1 (for lots of minimalist monochrome)

Niki @myscandinavianhome (for all things Scandi)

Geraldine @littlebigbell (for more styling with colour inspo)

Ellie @e.t.shown_home (renovating a house in Devon, UK)

Charlotte @_charlottesweeting_ (self professed queen of wallpaper)

Keeley @keeleytara (for monochrome style)

Nina @nijland_nina (for Scandi style)

Dee @deecampling (for chic interiors)

Sally @flower_heart_flower (for dark, edgy interiors)

Kath @pink_at_twentyone (for all things pink)

@northumberland_family_home (currently doing a self build)

Rachel @rachel_bradshaw_70 (for colour popping tips and inspo)

Jennifer @the_house_that_jen_built (for stylish interiors)

Emma @flawsomehome (for gallery walls galore)

Samantha @vintagecuratorinteriors (for vintage chic)

Sam @eclectic_street (for arty interiors)

Jess @loftnq (for loft interior inspo)

Agi @agi_at_59 (for arty displays and gallery walls)

Hannah @haveyouseenherhouse (for industrial chic)

Jen and Grant @lifeateightysix (renovating a 1890s Victorian house)

Laura @the_indigo_house (stylish, minimalist interiors and art)

Suzanne @nestandburrowuk (for rustic vibes and macrames galore)

Lou @house_of_wolf_interiors (styling with colour and pattern)

Sandra @the_idle_hands (for eccentric, vintage styling)

Katie @hello_haus (for Nordic, monochrome aesthetics)

Amy @_town_to_country_ (seasonal styling ideas)

Charlotte @my_british_home (for styling with dark walls)

Vic @vic_at_number__46 (styling with art and colour)

Laurie @lifeofaninteriorstylist (interior stylist working with clients)

Sarah @nudeandthenovice (for maximalist style)

Tamara @tlee79 (for gallery walls and art)

Jan @restyleart (artist and designer)

Lisa @_lisa_dawson_ (for epic gallery walls)

Emma @apogee_interiors (for cool, rustic vibes)

Margy @margyforshaw (interior designer at Ikea)

Amy @_onehundredandtwelve (for art and colour)

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Vanja Przulj
Vanja Przulj


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Size Guide
Size
Paper Size

A

20x25cm (8"x10")

B

28x35cm (11"x14")

C

30x40cm (12"x16")

D

40x50cm (16"x20")

E

50x70cm (20"x28")

F

70x100cm (28"x40")

Size
Paper Size

A

20x20cm (8"x8")

B

25x25cm (10"x10")

C

30x30cm (12"x12")

D

40x40cm (16"x16")

E

50x50cm (20"x20")

F

70x70cm (28"x28")

Please note

All sizes are paper sizes (this includes our measurements for framed prints)

Minimum borders/matting (where chosen) of 1" - 2.5" (2.5cm - 6.25cm) will be added around images and will vary depending on the appropriate aspect ratio/paper size. Images are centered and 'padded' for non-standard sized images (no border will be added to Full Bleed prints). Please refer to the product images for an idea of how the art will look with the border/matting for each size.