10 ways to display art in your home

By Homes & Antiques

Published: Friday, 11 November 2022 at 12:00 am

Whether you’ve been staring at a blank wall in your home wondering what to do with it or have an abundance of prints, artwork or posters you’d love to showcase but aren’t sure how, there are plenty of fun, creative and aesthetically pleasing ways to display art in your home.

From dramatic gallery walls and oversized murals to ceramics displays and pressed botanicals, here are ten inventive ways to display art in your home…

How to display art in your home

Create a gallery wall

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Prints from Desenio

A sure way to inject personality into a space is to create a gallery wall of carefully collected paintings, prints and photographs. For a truly Instagram-worthy display, we recommend laying artworks on the floor to find a composition that feels balanced and connected before taking a hammer to the wall. Try starting with a larger painting at the centre of your grouping, and surrounding with complementary works, for a gallery that feels unique and in-tune with your home.

Read our guide on how to frame art

Bid farewell to frames

 

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Katya De Grunwald

For a look that suggests informal elegance, why not do away with frames altogether and display artwork the natural way? Try hanging vintage wall charts from wooden skirt hangers or hooks for an industrial feel, or create a lively office space by sticking up posters and cards with colourful Japanese washi tape. Fully customisable and budget-friendly, these techniques mean you can play around with combinations to find an arrangement that perfectly matches your space.

Create an oversized mural

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Allegory of Love, IV (Happy Union) mural by Paolo Veronese from Surface View

We all dream of owning a dramatic Old Master or a sensual Renaissance portrait (anyone got £100m they could lend us?). But if you don’t fancy flashing the cash at Christie’s, oversized wall murals are an ingenious way to introduce works by the world’s most renowned artists into your home. From Picasso and Rossetti to Constable and Turner, murals are a daring alternative to paint or wallpaper. Most come in manageable strips for easy application and, for less confident DIY-ers, some are even available with a handy sticky back. Style with pared-back furniture for a look that’s chic and romantic.

Make use of the floor

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Prints from from Oliver Bonas

So as not to damage walls covered in precious wallpaper and panelling, or for those living in rented accommodation, leaning pictures against walls or atop dressers and cabinets creates a relaxed feel. It’s best to pick a sturdy frame to avoid any warping, and prints can be rearranged whenever a room needs refreshing.

Try using picture shelves

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Mosslanda picture ledge from Ikea

If you love to rearrange your collection of artworks, picture shelves are a great solution. This picture ledge from Ikea has been a hit with interiors bloggers, plus it has a special groove to keep prints at the perfect angle. We’ll take three, please!

Colour-match to your collection

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Create a coherent display by colour-matching paintings to existing antique collections. For example, black basalt teaware could look distinct alongside a moody monochrome photograph, or pair chalky pottery with a gentle whitewashed still life.

Mix and match your frames

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Padstow carpet from Brintons

If it’s the sleek and sophisticated look you’re after, choosing matching frames is the way forward. But for those with an eye for the eclectic, a hotchpotch of frames and prints from different styles and eras adds a sense of playful fun.

Read our expert tips on cleaning antique picture frames

Make a statement with the stairs

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Georgia Burns

The wall space alongside a staircase is often forgotten, and it’s prime for displaying artworks. Stick to monochrome prints and frames for a dramatic feel, or up the saturation with clashing tones and patterns. Try staggering frames in a gentle incline for maximum effect, and break up any similar works with quirky curios, wall hangings, ceramics or trailing plants. If you’re feeling particularly bold, why not paint your steps or balustrade in a contrasting colour? Or pick a stair carpet runner in a complementary shade to complete the look.

Raid the crockery cupboard

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Rethink classic displays with this charming plate arrangement.

We love displays of prints, paintings and sculptures… But why stop there? Whether you have a carefully curated collection of vintage china, or an incomplete dinner set inherited from a relative, positioning plates on a wall can be a whimsical way to update your scheme. Swirl around room corners, scatter across a wall, or create a striking display of colour and pattern with a tight cloud-like cluster. If you’re dreaming of an impressive arrangement, regional auction houses or antiques fairs are great places to pick up pretty sets or quirky one-off pieces to match the existing colours in your home. Pair with hand-painted contemporary counterparts, by designers such as Laura Bird or Rory Dobner, for a fresh and upbeat combination.

Love ceramics and porcelain? Read our antique ceramics guide here

Keep it simple

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Cothay Manor in Somerset

Subtle artworks can create a harmonious background in antiques-filled rooms that won’t steal attention away from statement pieces. For a traditional finish, look for art motifs that reference the past – vintage fairs and markets are a good place to start – along with gilt or solid wood frames to add an elegant finish. Oil paintings and watercolours naturally lend themselves to classic interiors, but for a look that oozes antique charm, try framed insects or pressed flowers to create a ‘cabinet of curiosities’ impression, or retro film and music posters for old-fashioned glamour.

Read our guide on how to buy art