How Do I Choose Wall Art for Big or Small Spaces? a Guide

Artwork can show the world who you are. It’s a perfect way to define your home, personality and is an everlasting way of expressing your uniqueness. 

Not only does art reflect your own style, it can tell a personal story, create a little drama, and also help to design an illusion. 

Choosing art can be super simple when you’ve stumbled upon a perfect piece, but how do you weave it into your space? And how do you choose wall art which perfectly complements your big or small space? 

Let’s take a look at the brief takeaway before we delve into the details. 

How do I choose wall art for big or small spaces?

When choosing art for smaller spaces, keep it simple, use coordinated colors, use vertical arrangements in narrow spaces, or lean prints on furniture or the floor. For larger areas, get creative with a gallery wall, some oversized art, and hang art closer together for visual impact. 

Now we’ve hit the brief, let’s begin by looking at some design tips and some general guidelines on wall decor. 

Wall decor design tips 

From gallery walls to statement pieces, and abstract prints to vintage posters, well-chosen artwork gives your space an on-trend ‘curated’ look.  

So how do you buy the right piece for your space, either big or small? 

Let’s take a look and find out. 

• Love it - although when choosing furniture pieces for your home, it’s important to think about shades and hues; art is where your heart plays a large part! Choose your art for your connection to it and feel free to mix up textures, colors, content, and style. Abstract and vintage for example will always work if you love it! 
• Connect with the artist - even if you don’t get a chance to meet your artist in person, search Google for info or follow their Instagram. Many galleries offer up artist profiles, so stay connected.
• Mix and match frames - experiment with frame texture. For example, minimal white, black or oak can look ‘gallery-esque’ when combined with a statement frame.
• Places and people - the general rule of thumb is not to mix; however, rules are made to be broken. 
• Landscape and sofas - a landscape print will often work best above landscape objects, for example, sofas. Your wall art should be about 2/3 of the width of your sofa. Measure 15-20cm above for the perfect place for your artwork.
• Gallery wall - create your own Instagram feature with a gallery wall. Choose one print as the centerpiece and a 5cm gap between each frame. Add your focal print first. Lay your prints on the floor first and take a picture for reference. 
• Threes - In general, odd numbers of objects are more appealing visually. Go either symmetrically to give a more structured look or get casual with a more asymmetrical arrangement. 

So now we’ve got started with some general tips on the design, let’s delve a little deeper and explore how to choose your art for those amazing smaller spaces! 

 

Tips on choosing wall art for smaller spaces 

When decorating smaller areas, art can create an illusion of space. Striking a visual balance between art and space is a technique that can create a cozy, uncluttered look. 

But how do you achieve the ideal look without overwhelming or overcrowding compact wall areas? Read on for our top tips to maximize the impact of your wall art, even in smaller spaces. 

Less is definitely more 

It’s a great tip to imagine your walls as the pages in a book. So as each paragraph is separated with spacing to offer a little breathing room for the reader, use this technique on your smaller spaces and more compact interiors. 

Let’s take a look below at some other super design tips to bring a small space alive with personality and design. 

• Keep it simple - a smaller space can really benefit from a simple, uniform, and clean lines with perhaps a pop of personality, such as a bespoke frame or eye-catching statement print can keep a relaxed look which still makes an impact. 
• Uniform color Although mixing colors and hues in larger spaces can be eye-catching, in a smaller space using too many contrasting colors can cause overwhelm. Choosing a uniform color scheme in complementary shades will help to create a cohesive, relaxed look.
• Skyscraper art - Smaller wall areas such as the one between your door and the corner of a room, for example, is a perfect space to add interest with wall art. By stacking art horizontally you can make a visually appealing design statement.

You can visually expand your space by mixing frames, styles, and sizes which will add a pop of personality which although displayed in a smaller area will create harmony and balance.

• Get creative - If you find that even your walls might be too small to accommodate your prints, Instead of hanging art, lean it against a wall, bookshelf, on a vintage desk or piano, or even your floor. Use smaller prints in front of larger ones for impact. 

So what about larger areas of your wall? How do you provide balance and create an eye-catching visual feast? 

Tips on choosing wall art for larger spaces 

It can seem a little overwhelming when faced with a large blank area of the wall. This is where oversized art and gallery walls can offer a perfect design option. 

Let’s take a closer look at how you can bring your inner designer to life with wall art in a larger space. 

• Gallery wall - a large space is a perfect opportunity to add an ‘art gallery’ look to a large wall. Follow our tips above in design tips and also we love the idea of using paper templates to start off your design. Don’t be afraid to let your creativity flow!
• Keep it close When creating a display on a large wall, hang artwork close together rather than leaving large gaps between each print. This rule also applies if you are hanging art over buffets or couches. They don’t have to cover the entire length of your furniture. 
• Oversized art - Make a statement with a large oversized piece. Larger pieces will give a dramatic effect and give focus to your larger space 
• Grids - a grid is a perfect way to add interest to a large wall. This requires a more uniform approach than a gallery wall, so choose art with a common theme or from the same artist. It’s also important for this look to have all your artwork the same size. 3 rows of art look stunning with maybe 4 prints per row, depending on the size of your chosen artwork. 

 

And finally…

We hope you are ready to create some visually stunning art arrangements on the more challenging areas of your home such as smaller or extra-large areas! 

Don’t forget to browse our ever-growing collections of posters, framed posters, printable wall art, and more from a curated mix of stunning original art from around the world.