How to Choose Wall Art That Actually Fits You As A Person
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Choosing wall art sounds simple until you actually have to do it. There are endless prints, posters, photographs and paintings to choose from, and somehow the pressure is always to find something that "works" with the rest of your interior. Something that matches the sofa, fits the colour palette and fills the empty space above your bed.
But I think we're approaching it backwards.
The best artwork for your home isn't necessarily the piece that matches everything you already own. It's the piece that feels like it belongs in your life.
That’s exactly how professionals look at it too, and so should you. Want to know their secrets? Click here!
Start with the feeling, not the colour
Before looking at colours, frames or sizes, think about what you want to feel when you walk into the room.
Maybe you want your bedroom to feel calm and quiet. Maybe your living room should feel warm, playful and full of personality. Or perhaps you want your home to remind you of summer, even when it's raining outside.
That feeling is a much better starting point than your existing colour palette.
When I photograph, I'm always looking for that feeling too. I'm drawn to light, movement, texture and those small moments that make you want to stay somewhere a little longer. It's one of the reasons I love photographing the coast. There's something about an open horizon, strong sunlight and the movement of the ocean that can completely change the atmosphere of an image.
The right photograph can bring some of that feeling into a room.
Don't try to make everything match
One of the easiest ways to make a home feel generic is to make every element match perfectly.
If your sofa is beige, you don't need beige artwork. If your walls are white, you don't need a white and neutral print. And if you've chosen a coastal interior, your artwork doesn't have to contain a beach, a shell or a shade of blue.
In fact, a little contrast is often what makes an interior interesting. Want to know more about this? Read this article
A bold photograph against a simple wall can create a focal point. A colourful print can add energy to an otherwise quiet room. A vintage-looking image can give a modern interior a little more character.
Your artwork doesn't have to disappear into the room. It can be the thing that gives the room its personality.
Think about what you want to keep looking at
Trends are useful when you're looking for inspiration, but I wouldn't use them as the main reason to buy artwork.
The print you choose will probably stay on your wall much longer than the current interior trend. So instead of asking yourself whether something is "in", ask whether you can imagine still enjoying it a few years from now.
For me, that often comes down to a feeling or a memory.
Maybe a photograph reminds you of a trip you took. Maybe it captures a place you've always wanted to visit. Maybe you simply love the light, colours or atmosphere of the image.
Those are the pieces that tend to become part of a home rather than just another decoration.
Consider the space, but don't let the space decide everything
Of course, practical things matter too. The size of your wall, the furniture underneath it and the amount of natural light in the room will all influence which artwork works best.
A small photograph can disappear above a large sofa, while an oversized print can completely change the feeling of a smaller room. If you're creating a gallery wall, think about how the different images work together rather than choosing every piece individually.
But these decisions should come after you've found something you genuinely love.
It's much easier to find the right size for a photograph you can't stop thinking about than to find a photograph simply because you need something that is 45 by 60 centimetres.
Choose art that says something about you
Your home doesn't need to look like a showroom.
It should look like the person who lives there.
Maybe that means mixing a bold contemporary print with a vintage frame. Maybe it's a colourful photograph next to a collection of objects you've picked up while travelling. Maybe it's one large image that gives an otherwise simple room a completely different energy.
There isn't one correct way to choose wall art.
The only thing I'd avoid is choosing something simply because you think it's what you're supposed to like.
Choose the photograph that makes you stop scrolling. The one you keep coming back to. The one that makes you remember somewhere, someone or a version of yourself you want to keep close.
Because ultimately, the best wall art isn't the piece that matches your home perfectly.
It's the piece that makes your home feel more like you.
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