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sarah_bablabla75

What kind of wall art should I put on this big wall?

Sarah
2 years ago

We're building a house that will be done in September. (Originally it was supposed to be June/July, lol.) The large living room has a big wall, and I'd like to start my decorating plan by choosing some wall art that I love and then building the rest of the color scheme around that. I've read over and over that people usually choose too-small wall art, but when I look at the space, I'm not sure what I should put in this space.


The photos below are from a virtual tour of an older version of this house, but the living room is basically identical.


Here's the furniture layout we're planning, though it's still up in the air since we don't own any of this furniture yet.



This photo below shows the room "upside down" from the floor plan above. Note that the window wall is on the left in the floor plan but it's on the right in this photo below.



And here it is with the furniture marked out (ish).



The main place I'm thinking about for wall art is the 12'5" space between the two doorways. They're 8' doors, so the space is bigger than it looks at first glance.


My first idea was to put one big piece of art between the two doors. But that would need to be 8x4 feet, and looking around online I haven't seen much wall art in that size. Also, maybe that would look weird above the console table or whatever piece of furniture we put along that wall?



Another option is some sort of matching set of art in the big wide space. But if we do that, will it look weird with the console table or whatever? Also, should we add more matching art on the outer walls (indicated by the arrows below)? Or would that be too matchy-matchy? The same question applies with the 8x4' option: should I just put some other art with a similar color scheme? Isn't it going to be hard to find art with a similar color scheme?



If it matters, I like non-abstract painted landscapes, though the occasional abstract art is okay. I'm leaning towards and ocean theme right now because I want blue to be a primary component and I just like it in general.



So let's say I put one of those sets of three ocean pics in the big space. I feel like it would look weird to have some other artist's ocean pic in the far-right or far-left position. Should I pick art of some completely different medium that still fits with the color scheme?


I just don't know where to start here, but I want to have an idea in mind so I can choose some art and then have that guide the rest of my color/decorating decisions.


With the space we have, what do you think is the best arrangement of art? How big should it be? Should I leave more space around/between the art?


Thank you!


Comments (14)

  • PRO
    Patricia Colwell Consulting
    2 years ago

    I love huge oversized art on large walls and BTW forget the sectional IMO the most expensive way to buy the most uncomfortable seating since comfort comes from arm resta and 2 people get those and all the rest are lined up like the horrible middle seat on sofa. They are also bad for conversation IN that space I would do 2 sifas and 2 chairs that aslo aloows for rearrangement of furniture from time to time

  • threers
    2 years ago

    Please buy art that you love. Look around at local museums, art schools and art stores for local work that appeals to you. Your furniture and art do not have to match; they should reflect your taste and interests. The advice you have been given on size is good advice. My comments refer to the content of the art.

  • lindac92
    2 years ago

    And don't even TRY to buy "wall art" before you buy ands ee the furniture in place. My thoughts are that a lamp on that console will be needed and that changes the space for anything hanging on the wall.


  • Ann Marie
    2 years ago

    There are many websites where you can search 1000's of photographs by every imaginable topic, color, etc., which can be downloaded for free. I have had a few gorgeous photos I found on some of those sites printed on 40x60 and 36x48 canvases from canvasdiscount.com for very reasonable prices. They often have up to 92% off regular prices on different size canvases. I love having unique art instead of mass produced prints.

  • Sarah
    Original Author
    2 years ago

    @Ann Marie Thanks for the suggestion! I will look there. I'm a little partial to painted art rather than photography, but I'll see what they have.


    @lindac92 That sounds like good advice! How would the need for a lamp change what art would go in that space? I have no idea how to think about that at all. But you're right, probably I would want a table lamp there. I know from browsing around that sometimes art just goes behind a lamp, which honestly feels weird to me, but maybe it's fine. But I'm not sure how that changes what I would want to put on the wall there.


    @threers Thanks for the advice! I can assure you that I will most definitely only get art I love. If I'm going to look at it every day, it had better make me happy! But I would also like it to match the rest of the room if I can possibly arrange it. :)


    @Patricia Colwell Consulting I actually was originally thinking of having two couches (which I think may have the result of another comment of yours in another thread), but the problem is that I can't seem to make it work with our TV placement. I definitely want a couch to face the TV, and then the only real arrangement that works is to have an L-shaped arrangement. And if I'm going to have that, well, I have always liked couches with corners, so that's how I arrived at a sectional. But I'm open to other alternatives - I just don't know of any good ones. :)

  • PRO
    Flo Mangan
    2 years ago

    Please avoid sectionals. You are going to have a wonderful home. How many adults will use this room every day? I think a oversized piece of art with a long bench would look amazing in this space. Let me hunt around. If you use large art, the furniture under it needs to be of good size as well. Bbl

  • PRO
    Flo Mangan
    2 years ago

    This is art from Etsy site.

  • PRO
    Flo Mangan
    2 years ago

    Here it s source for art.

  • everdebz
    2 years ago

    How's your house coming along?

  • PRO
    M&D Photography
    2 years ago

    We offer a wide range of award winning wall art and photography you may like at http://mndphoto.com

  • Sarah
    Original Author
    2 years ago

    @everdebz Pretty well! They finished framing, plumbing, putting in the windows, and the plywood exterior walls are all wrapped in Tyvek. They've been working on the roof for the last week and were putting the shingles on when we drove by yesterday. :) They're running about a month behind because there was a big delay in finding a framer, so we've got a long ways to go.

  • everdebz
    2 years ago

    Great, and fun to watch it all. We went into our framed house, empty, and took photos.

  • Tara
    2 years ago

    The kind of art you get is the kind that speaks to you. I would recommend to wait until you've actually moved in and lived there a little bit, then look for local artists. Now some prints are good, but again, don't buy it just because it matches the rug or sofa.

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