Wall Art for Living Room: What to Buy?

Why Choose Wall Art for the Living Room?

A Natural Fit

Of all the rooms in a home, the living room or sitting room as it is also known, is perhaps the most suited to displaying wall art. It is often the largest room in a home and a social space where people come together to sit down to watch TV, read a book or chat. Unlike a kitchen or bathroom, the living room space is without the clutter of appliances and its walls are a natural fit to show off pictures.

A Gallery Of Your Own

The living room is a gallery in waiting, in which to curate your very own display of works that are meaningful to you. You may want to consider creating a theme for the room, perhaps around a subject and/or a colour. By doing so you can set the mood and general ambience. Take in to account the wall colour, as well as the texture, size and colour of furniture, where the light falls, focal points, sight lines, the artworks subject matter and your budget. These are just a few of the things to think about, see our post, Modern Wall Art: Transform Your Space with Contemporary Designs where we discuss in more detail how to layout your rooms.

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So what living room wall art pictures should you buy?

Buy Art You Like

Having thought about the theme and ambience of the living room we now need to think about what artwork to buy. Maybe you are buying artwork to add to an existing collection? Maybe you need a single piece to act as a focal point? Or, maybe you are starting from scratch? With a bit of thought you can make a purchase that suits both you and the room, without the expense of an interior designer. The most important thing to remember is to buy wall art that you like. Pieces that resonate with you and reflect your interests, style and thoughts.

We are not all lucky enough to be able to afford the level of exclusivity of a Picasso, but there is a huge selection out there of artworks for all budgets and places to buy it from. Here are some ideas:

Where Can I Buy Wall Art?

• Gallery – Perhaps a purchase from a local gallery of an up-and-coming artist might be more attainable than a Picasso. Museums often have shops, stocking posters and prints from their collections.
• Art College – Art school final year degree shows are another great place to find new artists at affordable prices. Who knows they could be the next Picasso!
• Artist’s Studio – Artists are often open to commissions so check out their website for contact details. They may also have open days selling off work.
• Auction – You never know what you might find. Go with a budget and don’t spend more than you can afford, as it is easy to get carried away in the heat of the moment.
• Antique Shop/Market/Fair – Again, you never know what you might find here. Great for finding artworks of all types and other objects that could complement your wall art.
• Charity Shop – A bit of a lottery. There are no guarantees they will have wall art for sale from week to week so you may need to become a regular visitor. Stock can turnover quickly, so if you see something buy it or ask if it can be put aside while you think about it. Prices can be very affordable.
• High Street – Lots of shops stock wall art in their home departments. Independent stores are going to have a more curated selection with unique pieces harder to find elsewhere.
• Online – Where do you start? A great place for researching wall art ideas and inspiration for your living room. High street e-commerce stores offer mainstream options with a greater selection than in store. You will find many independent stores online and solo creators selling wall art. Also, lots of marketplaces like Etsy where independent creatives sell unique artworks.

What Should I Buy?

• Wall Hanging – This could include a tapestry or other textile such as a rug, throw, macrame or even a sculpture or banner hung on the wall. Great for adding texture to a room.
• Photography – Have you ever thought of getting your own photos printed out and displayed rather than keeping them on your phone? Our phones these days are able to capture images effortlessly with great clarity. What could be more personal on your wall than a picture you took? There are so many online print companies that you can upload your snaps to and get prints made. Create a gallery wall grid display of family portraits for example. If you aren’t confident in your skills consider commissioning a professional or buy original photo prints online. Black and white photography looks really dramatic and punchy on a wall for example
• Painting – There are many types including oil, acrylic, watercolour and gouache painting in the styles of portraiture, landscape and abstraction, and can be on a variety of supports such as canvas, panel or paper. Paintings are a very subjective thing so buy what you respond to. Instead of hanging artwork you could paint a mural directly on the wall or ceiling, perhaps of a pattern for example.
• Drawing – Most often on paper, drawing is a very direct process commonly using pencil, charcoal or ink. If you like expressive mark making and the elegance of a line, then adding a unique drawing to your wall is an affordable option.
• Print – Many artists produce limited edition prints of their artworks. You can pick up prints by well known artists at much more affordable prices than one off artworks. Posters can be an easy way to add interest to a wall, perhaps a reproduction of a well known painting or how about a movie or advert.

Owning a picture that is unique or rare is a desirable thing to have on your wall. This needn’t cost the earth though.

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Have you ever considered a personalised print?

Make a statement with living room wall art prints that are personalised and unique to you. You can easily and affordably purchase a print for those bare walls. Many companies allow you to choose the text, image or background and select from a choice of frames and sizes. This gives you a chance to get something more bespoke that fits and matches your room and style.

Here at Cypher Printworks, we offer personalised modern wall art prints and stationery that are both intriguing, affordable and made with quality materials, all with free delivery included. Our personalised prints are inspired by codes and hide your message in the code of your choice, which is a great talking point when you host guests in your living room. Of course, we won’t stop you displaying these fantastic prints elsewhere in your home. View our prints.

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