Tips for selecting art that complements room design

Selecting art that complements room design means choosing paintings, prints, photographs, sculpture and wall hangings that feel part of the scheme rather than added afterwards. The right artwork connects the colours in a room, sets its mood and gives it a focal point. The wrong piece, or the right piece at the wrong size, makes even good furniture look unfinished.

This artwork selection guide covers style, colour, scale, placement and sourcing. It's part of the room design ideas series.

Which types of art work in interiors?

Art for interiors falls into a handful of types, each suiting different rooms and budgets:

How do you match art to a room's style?

Match the art's character to the room's style, or contrast it deliberately. Abstract and minimal work suits contemporary and Scandinavian rooms; landscapes and figurative work suit traditional and rustic ones; graphic prints and photography suit industrial spaces. A deliberate contrast, such as bold modern art in a traditional room, works when everything else is restrained. The comparison of interior design styles shows each style's palette and materials.

How do you choose colours that work with the decor?

Take one or two colours from the room and repeat them in the art. In a 60-30-10 scheme, art often carries the 10% accent. Wood tones count too: art with warm ochres and rusts sits naturally above a walnut sideboard, while cool blues and greys suit pale oak. If a room is mostly neutral, art can introduce colour that cushions and a rug then repeat.

What size should art be?

Art above furniture should be around two-thirds the width of the piece below it. Undersized art is the most common mistake in otherwise well-designed rooms.

How high should art be hung?

Hang art so its centre sits around 145–150 cm from the floor, which is roughly eye level. Above furniture, leave 15–25 cm between the top of the piece and the bottom of the frame so the two read as one composition. In dining rooms, hang slightly lower so art reads well from seated height.

How should art be chosen for small rooms?

Choose fewer, larger pieces. One generous artwork makes a small room feel considered; many small frames make it feel busy. Vertical formats add height, light-toned art keeps the room bright and a large mirror can double as art while bouncing light around. See space optimization techniques for the furniture side of small rooms.

How do you plan a gallery wall?

Lay the frames out on the floor or trace them on paper and tape the shapes to the wall first. Keep a consistent gap between frames (5–8 cm is common), align either the centres or one edge, and tie the group together with a shared colour, frame finish or subject.

How do art and furniture work together?

Art and furniture should feel like a composition. A strong piece of furniture, such as a handmade solid-wood console with visible grain, can anchor a wall with only a lamp and a small artwork above it. A quieter piece can take a bolder painting. Sculptural objects on a sideboard or cabinet bridge the two.

Where can designers source art?

Source art from galleries, art consultants, print studios and artists directly. In Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario's shop, artist societies such as the Society of Canadian Artists and local galleries are good starting points. Art consultants can source, frame and install art for a whole project, which suits hospitality and commercial work.

How does art work alongside patterned textiles?

Treat art as one of the room's patterns. If the room already mixes patterned textiles, choose calmer art; if the room is plain, art can carry the pattern. See best practices for mixing patterns in room decor.

Letting the furniture be the focal point instead?

Sometimes the furniture is the art. A sculptural dining table or a richly grained sideboard can hold a room on its own, with art kept minimal so the piece stands out.