Back when I first started caring about how to choose wall art that actually complements your home, I thought it was basically: find something you don’t hate, hammer a nail, step back, nod like you know what you’re doing. Done. Easy.
Yeah… no.
Turns out wall art is one of those sneaky things. Like jeans shopping or trying to pick a Netflix show with other humans involved. It looks simple until suddenly you’re overwhelmed, questioning your taste, and wondering why your living room feels like a dentist’s waiting area from 2003.
This post is me talking to you—not as an expert with a clipboard, but as someone who’s absolutely bought the wrong art, hung it anyway, lived with it out of stubbornness, and then quietly took it down at 2 a.m. because it was bothering me.
Coffee in hand. Shoes mismatched (emotionally). Let’s talk about how to choose wall art?
Why Wall Art Is Weirdly Personal (and Kind of Emotional?)
No one warns you about this part.
Wall art isn’t just decor. It’s vibes and that one print you bought on a trip and now can’t get rid of even though it doesn’t match anything. It’s also the reason guests say things like,
“Oh wow… that’s… interesting.”
(You know the tone.)
I once hung a massive abstract piece above my couch because it was “bold.” My friend stared at it for a full ten seconds and finally said,
“It’s giving… hotel lobby.”
I laughed. Then I cried. Then I took it down.
So yeah—choosing wall art that actually complements your home isn’t about trends or price tags. It’s about balance. Personality. And not letting one random canvas bully your entire room.
Start With the Room, Not the Art (I Learned This the Hard Way)
Look at your space like a stranger would
Before you buy anything, stand in the doorway and just… look.
What’s already happening in the room?
- Loud couch?
- Calm walls?
- Too much beige? (No shame. Beige happens.)
- A rug that’s doing a LOT?
If your room already has drama—patterns, colors, textures—your wall art might need to chill out a bit. If your room is whisper-quiet, art can be the main character.
I didn’t get this at first. I kept buying art I loved individually, then wondering why my house felt like a group chat where no one knows each other.
The Color Thing (Or: Why That One Blue Never Works)
Here’s a secret no one tells you:
Your art doesn’t need to match your room. It needs to talk to it.
Think of it like an outfit. You don’t wear shoes that are the exact same color as your shirt (unless you’re doing something very intentional… or it’s laundry day).
What actually works:
- Pull one or two colors from the room and echo them in the art
- Or introduce a new color that feels related, not random
- Repetition is your friend (same color showing up in pillows, art, maybe a vase)
I once bought a print online that looked “soft sage green.”
In my apartment? Neon dentist mint.
I stared at it for days thinking, Is it me? Is my lighting haunted?
(It was the art.)
Size Matters (Sorry, It Just Does)
Tiny art on a big wall is a crime. I’m sorry. It just is.
If you hang one small frame in the middle of a large wall, it doesn’t look minimalist. It looks… lost. Like it missed the bus.
A few loose rules I live by now:
- Over a couch? Art should be about 2/3 the width of the furniture
- Big empty wall? Either go large-scale or gallery wall—no awkward middle
- When in doubt, go bigger than feels safe
I used to be scared of big art. Thought it was “too much.”
Turns out empty walls were the real problem.
Gallery Walls: Chaos, But Make It Intentional
Ah yes. The gallery wall. Equal parts dream and disaster.
I’ve done this wrong more times than I care to admit. Crooked frames. Weird spacing. One piece slightly higher for absolutely no reason.
But when it works? Chef’s kiss.
My messy gallery wall advice:
- Lay everything out on the floor first (yes, all of it)
- Mix sizes, but keep some consistency (frame color, theme, or vibe)
- Leave more space than you think you need
- Imperfect is fine—random is not
Also: not everything has to be art-art. Photos. Tickets. Postcards. Weird little objects. That’s where personality sneaks in.
Stop Buying Art Just Because It’s “Trendy”
I say this as someone who absolutely fell for the beige line art era. Twice.
Trends are fun. But your walls shouldn’t feel like they’re trying too hard to keep up with Instagram.
Ask yourself:
- Would I still like this if no one else did?
- Does this remind me of something?
- Would I miss it if it wasn’t here?
If the answer is “meh”… keep scrolling.
Some of my favorite pieces came from:
- Local artists
- Flea markets
- Etsy at 1 a.m.
- That one weird shop I wandered into while avoiding real responsibilities
(Highly recommend.)
Frames Are Not an Afterthought (I Repeat: NOT)
I used to treat frames like socks. Necessary but boring.
Wrong again.
Frames can:
- Elevate cheap prints
- Calm down loud art
- Tie different pieces together
Black, wood, brass, white—pick one or two and stick with them. Mixing everything is how chaos wins.
And please, for the love of walls, ditch the plastic poster frames if you can. Your art deserves better.
When You’re Stuck, Do This One Thing
Take a photo of your room.
Then look at it on your phone like it’s someone else’s space.
You’ll immediately see:
- What feels empty
- What feels crowded
- What’s fighting for attention
It’s weirdly clarifying. Like hearing your own voice recording and realizing… oh. That’s what’s happening.
A Quick Pep Talk about How to choose wall art
Your home doesn’t need to look perfect.
It needs to look lived in.
Some of my favorite walls are slightly off. A frame that’s not centered. Art that doesn’t “match” but feels right. Stuff that tells a story, even if that story is,
“I bought this because it made me laugh.”
That counts.
Outbound Links (Because Rabbit Holes Are Fun)
- A fun, very human take on art collecting: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com
- Pop culture wall inspo rabbit hole (you’ve been warned): https://www.pinterest.com
Final Thought about How to choose wall art
Choosing wall art that actually complements your home is less about rules and more about paying attention. To the room or yourself. To that tiny voice that says,
“Yeah… this feels like me.”
And if you hang something and hate it later?
Congrats. You’re doing it right.
