The living room usually has the biggest wall in the home and the most people looking at it, which is why it is the hardest one to get right. Too little and the room looks unfinished; too much and it looks busy. Here are twelve living room wall decor ideas that work in real rooms, with the measurements that make wall art for a living room look intentional rather than random.
1. One large canvas over the sofa
The simplest idea is often the best. A single large piece above the sofa gives the room a focal point without any fuss. Aim for art that is about two thirds the width of the sofa, and hang it 8 to 10 inches above the back cushions. Our guide to using one canvas as the anchor of a living room goes into this in detail.
2. A matched pair
Two pieces of the same size, hung side by side with a 2 to 4 inch gap, fill a wide wall while feeling calmer than one huge piece. Portrait canvases work especially well as a pair over a long sofa, and two pieces from the same artist or palette look like a set.
3. A row of three
Three identical frames in a line read as one unit. Keep the gaps equal, and treat the whole row as one piece when you work out the width. Odd numbers tend to look more balanced than even ones, because the eye settles on the middle piece.
4. A gallery wall
If you have many pieces you love, group them. Start with the largest piece slightly off centre, keep the gaps between frames the same, and stick to one or two frame colours so it looks planned. Plan it on the floor or with paper templates on the wall before you make any holes. Our post on gallery wall art walks through layouts, and mixing canvas, framed prints and posters covers combining formats.
5. Art that picks up one colour from the room
Pull one colour out of your cushions, rug or curtains and choose art that contains it. The room instantly looks more connected. The 60-30-10 colour rule is a simple way to plan it, with the art as the 10 per cent accent.
6. A statement piece on the wall opposite the sofa
The wall you face when you sit down is the one you see most. If your TV is not on it, it is the best place for your strongest piece.
7. Art above the TV, or beside it
A TV is a large black rectangle. Art either side of it, or a slim piece above it, stops it dominating the wall. See art above a TV or behind a monitor for spacing.
8. A tapestry for a renter-friendly feature wall
If you can't put many holes in the walls, a large wall tapestry covers a lot of space with almost no damage. It also softens echo in a room with hard floors. See how to hang a tapestry without nails.
9. Vertical art for narrow walls
Narrow sections between windows or doors suit tall portrait pieces. They draw the eye up and make the ceiling feel higher.
10. Lean art on a shelf or mantel
Layering two or three framed pieces on a picture ledge lets you swap them around without new holes, and looks relaxed rather than formal. Overlap them slightly and vary the sizes.
11. Light the art
Art that is lit in the evening looks completely different from art in shadow. A picture light or a warm LED strip above the frame makes a big difference for very little money. See how to light wall art with LED strips.
12. Leave some wall empty
Not every wall needs something on it. Empty space around a piece is what lets it stand out. Our post on negative space explains how much to leave.
Living room wall decor by style
- Modern and minimal: one large abstract canvas, white or light grey walls, plenty of empty space.
- Cosy and warm: landscapes and forests, wood frames, warm lamps.
- Bold and colourful: one neon or cosmic piece on a dark wall. See how to hang a neon canvas in a warm, neutral room.
- Grey walls: deep blues, teals and art with one warm accent. See wall art for grey walls.
- White walls: almost anything works; bigger is better. See wall art for white walls.
The measurements that matter
- Height: hang the centre of the art at about 57 inches from the floor, or 8 to 10 inches above furniture. See how high to hang wall art.
- Width: over furniture, aim for art (or a group) about two thirds the width of the piece below it.
- Spacing: 2 to 4 inches between frames in a group.
- Size: when in doubt, go bigger. Most living room art is too small. Our canvas size guide gives sizes for common sofa widths.
Common living room mistakes
- Art that is too small for the wall, floating in the middle of it.
- Hanging everything at the same high level, regardless of furniture.
- Lots of unrelated small pieces scattered around the room.
- No light on the art in the evening.
Our canvases come in portrait sizes from 11 x 14 to 40 x 60 inches, ready to hang. You can browse them in the canvas collection, or see how to match wall art to your couch before you choose.