How to Arrange Wall Art

How to Arrange Wall Art

Wall art is the most commonly used decorative element for setting up focal points, but it’s not as easy as just hanging them on the wall.

There are many ways to do this, but the central point of the space isn’t always at the literal centre of the room. Every room has its own focal point—whether it’s the central fireplace in the living room or the large windows that sit on top of the bed in your private room. These focal points are set in stone and immutable, but you can introduce another prime focus to your room.

There’s a strategy to drawing the attention from everything else and making your new wall art the real centre of attention. Whether you’re adding wall art to serve as a focal point in your room or to enhance its existing décor, paintings and photo prints are an excellent way to add and improve the atmosphere in your living space. 


Arranging Your Wall Art

Below are some key ways on how to arrange wall art.

 How to arrange wall art diagram


Canvas Size

You have two choices for the size and dimensions of your prospective wall art: either a large canvas print or smaller ones styled in a pseudo collage format that will fill out the wall. Larger canvases are an excellent choice if the composition of the subject within the print is very eye-catching from the start. For smaller prints, the individual compositions will ‘work together' as a group to draw your attention to them.


Advanced Arrangement Tips

Once you’ve decided on a canvas wall art, you’ll have to pick a spot to house it. The ideal location should be on a wall that you see immediately as you enter the room. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the one across you; just one that’s easy to see from the threshold of the room.

You also have the option to place the artwork within the confines of the original focal point. The space above the fireplace is often distracting due to how empty it is, and you can address that by using that same space to house your new wall art. Many will say this is cheating, but what you’re doing is utilising the static elements of your room to establish the canvas’ place in the room.

Picture ledges and floating shelves are a great alternative way to feature wall art in your home. These ledges give your photo prints and paintings an extra outline and definition that make them look tighter and closer to one another instead of appearing strewn about and untidy on the wall. This decorating strategy is great for apartments and home offices where wall space is limited and is easy to get cluttered with too much detail.

The corner of the room isn’t exactly the first place you’ll think to display your art, but it’s a good alternative if the room’s existing focal point is already occupied. The effect on your space is also a bit different. Instead of drawing your attention to the existing focal point of the room, draw your attention to the corner and turn it into the new focal point.

Wall art arranged together

Enhancing Your Space

The effectiveness of your wall art isn’t restricted to how eye-catching it is. As your new decorative piece, it should have a harmonious relationship with the other design elements of your room, specifically the furniture and static pieces.

The simplest way to accentuate your new wall art is to place furniture within the ‘extended space’ of the art. There is no set rule, but this space extends at least a metre from the wall. Within this ‘bubble, things like chairs and tables should act as complementary pieces to your canvas and will essentially frame it within the wall.

For contemporary décor that boasts an industrial look and feel, metal wall grids have grown in popularity. They make perfect additions to kitchens and home offices as they fill up the empty walls without making everything look cluttered. You aren’t limited to displaying your canvas or framed wall art, too. You can simply pin your unstretched photo or art prints on the mesh grid!

Wall art placed together in a living room with plants

Room Lighting

Although proper use of lighting will enhance your focal point and make it the room’s centre of attention, it shouldn’t be used excessively. What makes your new canvas piece the central piece of the room is how natural it fits within the space. An excessive amount of lighting makes the wall art stand out too much from the room until the focal point turns into an eyesore that intrudes on your field of vision wherever you go.

When it comes to lighting your canvas wall art, you must take a more natural approach. Instead of buying a different set of light fixtures for the canvas, choose the same kind of lighting from the room. If your focal point sits across from the windows, pull up the blinds and curtains and use the natural light to highlight the wall art.


BONUS: How to Arrange Wall Art Creatively

Looking for a little more inspriation? The Canvas Art Factory has 5 creative ways you can arrange your wall art.


1. Arrange Your Wall Art on Floating Shelves

Picture ledges and floating shelves are a great alternative way to feature wall art in your home. Apart from creatively displaying art and adding some texture to the wall, it allows you to feature two or more pieces of artwork without it looking cluttered.

Wall art arranged on a floating bedroom shelf

These ledges give your photo prints and paintings an extra outline and definition that make them look tighter and closer to one another instead of appearing strewn about and untidy on the wall. Since your wall art essentially leans on the wall supported by the ledge, it’s easier to redo your picture arrangements. This decorating strategy is great for apartments and home offices where wall space is limited and is easy to get cluttered with too much detail. Floating shelves and picture ledges are also easy to install, affordable, and come in a variety of styles to suit your artwork.


2. Use a Metal Wall Grid Panel

Metal wall grids have grown in popularity as a contemporary décor that boasts an industrial look and feel. They make perfect additions to kitchens and home offices as they fill up the empty walls without making everything look cluttered.

Wall art against a metal shelf

These mesh grid panels come in a range of sizes and colours to choose from and are multi-function so you can use them for more than just displaying your new wall art. They can be used to hang your kitchen utensils, display small decorations, or store your office paraphernalia. You aren’t limited to displaying your canvas or framed wall art, too. You can simply pin your unstretched photo or art prints on the mesh grid!


3. Display Your Wall Art in a Bookcase

Do you have an old bookcase that you don’t know what to do with? Instead of storing it away, use it to feature your new wall art! Like floating shelves, your wall art will lean on the wall supported by the structure. Depending on the size of your bookcase, you can solo feature your wall art or display more than two for each shelf.

Wall art arranged in a mutli-level bookcase

Since you’ll be using something that gives the wall some definition and depth, you can display another decoration with your new wall art without the risk of clutter. This method is perfect for any room with restricted wall space and is also an effective way to maximize storage space for apartment units.


4. Display on Inside Corner Walls

The corner of the room isn’t exactly the first place you’ll think to display your art, but it’s a good alternative if the room’s existing focal point is already occupied. The effect on your space is also a bit different; instead of drawing your vision to the existing focal point of the room, your attention is drawn to the corner – turning it into the new focal point.

Wall art positioned on the inside of corner walls

The great thing about arranging your artwork like this is that you can display prints of different sizes. You have more creative freedom to arrange each portrait and photo print how you want so long as you balance out the artwork on the free wall space.


5. Asymmetrical Wall Art Arrangement

You aren’t limited to displaying your new wall art at the very centre of the wall. An asymmetrical layout is another option and it gives your wall art a more dynamic appeal that never gets old to look at.

Wall art arranged on a wall asymmetrically

Keep in mind that there are many ways to arrange your wall art like this, and the asymmetry can be the result of different frame sizes or just by the arrangement. Use the existing décor and the shape of the room as a guide when displaying your art.

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