How to choose artwork that really matches your interior design - pro tips from Artiley
Finding wall art that feels natural in a room is rarely about building everything around a single painting. Instead, it’s about letting the artwork support what you already love about the room – the color scheme, the materials, the light and the mood. At Artiley, we’ve helped hundreds of customers go from hesitation to accuracy, and the same principles work just as well in living rooms as they do in hallways, kitchens and bedrooms.
Start with the undertones
The most underrated trick is to read the undertones in wall color, textiles, and wood. A gray wall can lean toward blue, green, or purple; oak can be honey yellow or cool beige. Choose canvas prints that harmonize with these undertones rather than exactly matching the main color. A simple test: place a pillow or blanket against the wall in daylight and compare it to the canvas's color sample on the screen – take photos and compare the images, then the undertones will appear more clearly.
Proportions and placement
Scale is key. Above a loveseat, a painting that is 60–75 percent of the sofa’s width often works. In the dining room, a horizontal canvas can tie the length of the room together, while a vertical painting in the hallway builds height. Tape down measurements with masking tape before ordering. A good rule of thumb for hanging height is that the center of the painting lands around 145 cm above the floor, depending on the room and furniture.
Visual weight and texture
Art does more than add color – it distributes visual weight. A room with lots of light, bright surfaces benefits from a motif with depth and texture. If you have a lot of tactility in the room (bouclé, linen, wood), a smoother, more subdued canvas can provide balance. Many of our abstract paintings use an impasto-like texture in the print that is reminiscent of oil painting, which adds dimension without being messy.
The effect of light
Light changes color. In rooms with warm white lights, gold and beige become warmer, while cool daylight-like lights enhance blues and grays. Look at the painting both day and night. If you have spotlights, try a 30-degree tilt to avoid glare. Silver tones and cool palettes sparkle more in cooler light, earth tones become more embracing in warmer light.
Color strategies that work
- 70–20–10: Let the painting pick up one of the room's 10 percent accent colors, or lie in the 70 percent base for calm.
- Tonal harmony: Choose art in the same lightness level as the textiles for a sophisticated whole.
- Contrast enhancement: In neutral rooms, a motif with a single, clear contrasting color can provide energy without dominating.
An example from Artiley
In many Nordic homes with light walls, natural materials and soft textiles, we have seen how a low-key but generous canvas anchors the room without stealing the focus. A good example is Muted Elegance – a large canvas in creamy, white and subtly textured tones. It acts as a calming anchor above the sofa or bed, tying together beige rugs, white curtains and light woods.
We usually recommend that you try two scenarios: above a sofa at a height of 90–110 cm to the top edge, and as part of a gallery hanging with two smaller motifs in an equally gentle palette. This way you can switch between solitary presence and interaction, without losing the peace of the room.
Motif, style and feel
Choose a style based on the function of the room. In social zones, dynamic abstract paintings are suitable, in study rooms, graphic motifs act as a focal point, and in bedrooms, softer horizons or tonal paintings are best. If you want to delve into the bedroom specifically, please read our guideThe Art of Choosing the Perfect Canvas Painting for Your Bedroom, where we go through proportions, color temperature and placement for peaceful environments.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Too small a painting: Better a slightly larger canvas than one that gets lost on the wall.
- Pixel-level color matching: Match undertones and lightness rather than exact hues.
- Ignore lighting: Always test the board in both daylight and evening light.
- Ill-considered placement: Make sure the painting has air around it – 10–20 cm from the top edge of the furniture is usually enough.
Practical pro tips
- Determine your purpose: Should the painting calm, frame, or add energy? Let this guide your choice.
- Take a room photo: Photograph the room from the front and sketch the size of the painting on your mobile phone for quick visualization.
- Think series: Diptychs and triptychs can solve difficult walls and create rhythm in long rooms.
- Material dialogue: Pair soft textiles with a faint sheen in the motif, and matte surfaces with clearer texture in the art.
With the right eye for undertones, proportions and light, choosing wall art becomes a safe and enjoyable process. Whether you want to create a calm backdrop with a neutral canvas or add a dose of character with a bolder pop of color, there is one common thread: art should serve the room – not the other way around.