How to choose the right painting for a typical Swedish home – the guide that lifts every room
There are two ways to decorate a Swedish home. Either you let the sofa, rug and pillows take the lead – or you start on the wall, with the art. At Artiley, we always do the latter. When the painting sets the tone, the rest falls into place: colors, materials and balance. Here we share our most proven tools for choosing the right motif, size and placement so that your painting becomes the soul of the room, not an accessory.
Start at the board – not on the couch
Ask yourself what you want the painting to do. Should it create calm in a bright living room, or energize a kitchen? In our showroom we have seen how a single strong motif can make an entire room feel well thought out. Choose a motif based on feeling first – then match details such as textiles and wood types to the colors and character of the painting, not the other way around.
Size and proportion that feels right
The right size is the most common mistake – most people choose paintings that are too small. A rule of thumb we often use is the 2/3 rule: if you are hanging over a piece of furniture (sofa, sideboard, headboard), the total width of the painting should be about two-thirds of the width of the piece of furniture. If you have a 210 cm sofa, 120–140 cm in total painting length works great (a large painting or a diptych).
In rooms with a normal Swedish ceiling height (240–250 cm), a vertical painting adds dynamics to small spaces, while horizontal formats lengthen walls and calm large rooms. When we try on sizes in stores, we use painter's tape on the wall to simulate the surface - do the same at home for five minutes and you'll avoid hesitation.
Color that sets the mood
The palette of the canvas controls the entire room. A motif with muted blue and beige tones makes light walls feel warmer, while deep burgundy or forest green creates weight that supports even simple furniture. If you want to deepen your color selection, we recommend our guide How to choose the right colors for your canvas painting for the home - where we show you how to pick up shades from the motif in textiles and lighting so that the painting becomes the room's color compass.
Placement that allows the wall to breathe
Hanging height affects the experience more than many people think. The line of sight in Swedish homes often lands around 145–150 cm to the center of the painting. Above furniture, leave 12–20 cm of air. If you need to build a greater presence, work in groups: a triptych with three narrower paintings or a gallery wall with a clear main motif in the center.
Examples that change the whole
Living room: Let a central motif carry color and character. We've seen how a sober sofa and white walls get a lift with a bold motif where gold and ruby red give the room soul. A concrete example is Regal Refreshment - Limited Edition , where the deep tones and elegant composition provide a sophisticated focus that allows neutral pillows and wood details to be kept simple without making the room feel flat.
Hallway: A narrow, vertical painting provides direction in a standard Swedish hallway. Choose a motif with clear lines so that the painting "draws" the eye inwards. The effect is that fewer practical items are needed - the painting carries the expression.
Kitchen: Use art for energy. A graphic motif in a warm red or mustard yellow tone makes light kitchen cabinets feel more elaborate. Art becomes the spice that allows you to keep the countertop clean and still have character.
Bedroom: Choose soft contrasts and a cohesive palette. A wide painting over the headboard in misty blue, sand and warm white adds weight without being distracting. When the painting harmonizes with bed linen taken from the motif's secondary colors, the room feels hotel-like calm.
Materials and finishes that make a difference
Canvas prints have a slightly textured surface that catches light softly – perfect in rooms with both daylight and evening light. We always test motifs in different lighting conditions; a canvas with a black background maintains contrast even under warm LED lights, while a matte finish reduces glare in rooms with lots of windows. Choose a print according to where it will hang: bright colours in the kitchen and living room where they can withstand a lot of light, muted tones in the bedroom for soft evening light.
Build a whole with several paintings
Two or three paintings can often solve a difficult room better than one. Let a main motif set the tone and complement with smaller works that repeat a color or shape. We tend to think 60/30/10: 60 percent focus on the main painting, 30 on a secondary one, 10 on a small accent. This makes the room feel curated rather than full.
Last: let art lead the interior design
When the painting chooses the colors, the rest becomes easy. First, find the motif that speaks to you, determine the right size based on the wall and furniture, set the hanging height carefully and let textiles and details respond to the painting's palette. That's how we work daily – and that's why the art always looks like it "belongs" when we unpack it in Swedish environments.