You can endlessly look at three things: the burning fire, the running water and the repairs that are finally finished. It would seem that all that remains is pure nonsense - to place accessories and decorate the updated interior with works of art... With the latter, as practice shows, many difficulties arise: deciding on which wall to hang the paintings and in what pattern to place them is really difficult.
ReRooms publishes basic ways to place paintings and photographs on walls, and also gives several unusual ideas that will appeal to handmade lovers.
Which paintings for the living room should you choose? Features of the room
The size of the room, its geometric shape, should be taken into account both when creating the design of the room and when choosing paintings for it. Pictures should be selected taking into account the following factors.
- Ceiling height. Narrow, thin paintings can visually stretch out space, so they are ideal for spacious rooms with low ceilings, but not for narrow and small ones.
- Room volume. A small room will be visually reduced even more if large images are placed on its walls; medium-sized canvases are perfect here.
- Cluttered space. The more furniture and various interior items there are in the room, the less attention should be distracted by the paintings. They can be in harmony with the rest of the decor, but only if there is a competent approach to choosing their size, shape, and style.
- Image scale. The larger the picture, the greater the viewing angle should be. You should contemplate it from afar (that is, a meter-long canvas looks best from a distance of at least 2 meters from you).
The painting requires more space on the wall, and a wide viewing angle indoors
A painting with a shape close to a square can visually reduce the height of the walls
Avoid large paintings in a small living room
Any “flaws” or illiterate approach to hanging paintings, their form, meaning, can completely ruin the image and the chosen style of the room.
How to hang pictures
Modular paintings on the wall (photo)
The idea of decorating with paintings is by no means new, but still popular. When placing paintings on the wall above the sofa, you need to follow several rules to avoid mistakes.
The sofa is an important element of the living room interior design; the wall behind it becomes no less important than this piece of furniture. The wall is ideal for visually demonstrating various exhibits:
- own works;
- photographs;
- drawings made by children;
- paintings
Below is background information to help you avoid the most common mistakes when arranging paintings and images on the wall.
Rules for placing paintings and images above the sofa
- An image or a group of images should be placed at a distance no higher than 15-20 cm above the edge of the sofa. The idea is that the decoration is perceived as one whole with the upholstered furniture, and not as separate elements suspended.
- An image, a group of images, a painting should occupy at least 1/3 of the width of the sofa. A painting that is too small looks bad and does not fit with large furniture, giving the impression of an unfinished composition.
- When placing one painting, you should try to fit it within the width of the sofa. It is not necessary to maintain symmetry. The situation is different when you need to place several paintings on the wall - then you can allow them to extend beyond the furniture.
- If you plan to hang several paintings of different sizes, the bottom edge is preferably located in one line, introducing harmony and order into the composition.
- Compositions made from small paintings in identical frames look bad. If you need to beautifully present small paintings or photographs, you can diversify the composition with the size of the frames - some images are grouped together into one composition, placed in one large frame.
- If images or posters are maintained in the same color range, you can introduce additional color into the composition by using frames in different colors or made from different materials.
- If paintings made using different techniques, images made using different methods are placed nearby, for example, oil paintings, photos, posters, you need to place them in the same frames.
- If you are posting a small photograph and need to place a large image next to it, you can choose a larger mat for the small image, significantly increasing the size.
Conclusion
Mirrors, paintings, decorative panels, wallpaper, large inscriptions, wood, stone, karmic tiles, concrete, interesting colors, textures - these are just some of the ideas used to decorate the wall located above the sofa. Thanks to them, the sofa is beautifully displayed, the living room will acquire comfort and character. You can develop all or part of the wall space by focusing on decorative accents.
Faster way
There is one way to hang a modular picture quickly and easily. You will need plates made of transparent plastic. The thickness of the plastic is 2-3 mm, the dimensions of the plates depend on the distance between the modules. The width of the plate for hanging modular pictures can be calculated as follows: twice the width of the frame, plus the distance between the modules. This is the minimum value. It’s possible to make it wider, but no longer. The height of the plate is about 7 cm, so that at least three screws can be installed. The number of plates is two for each pair of fragments of a modular picture.
This way you can hang a modular picture quickly and easily
We make three holes in the plate so that there is a given distance between the modules and the fasteners are in the middle of the frame. Then, using plates, we connect all the elements. All that remains is to try the canvas on the wall and decide on the location of the hook. For a triptych, one hook is enough; for a modular picture of 4, 5 or more parts, it is better to install two.
Group location
Living room accent wall design. Accent wall in the interior design methods. Prints and textures
This method will help harmoniously group small-sized paintings. In the center of the combination there will be a larger piece, and around it there will be smaller images. The works must be similar in style, theme and color. This option can produce the same effect as modular paintings that are fashionable today. These can be city or natural landscapes, favorite photos, images of flowers or other scenes. The main thing is that they give pleasant emotions and charge with positivity.
One of the modern ways to decorate the space of a hall can be the use of paintings. The variety of available solutions opens up enormous scope for owners to be creative. But the most important thing is that the painting hung in the living room above the sofa (or a combination of paintings) pleases the owners and harmoniously complements the chosen design style, making the interior warmer and more comfortable.
Modern solutions
Previously, not everyone could afford to use such a decorative attribute as paintings for interior decoration, primarily because of its high cost. Usually this was the privilege of wealthy people; the decor added sophistication and luxury to the room.
However, modern technology has radically changed the situation. Today, anyone can choose and hang on the wall in the hall:
- A painting you like by a famous artist, or rather a high-quality reproduction of it.
- Collage of your favorite photos.
- Original poster.
But in order to understand which painting is best to hang in the living room above the sofa, it is advisable to first become familiar with today’s current execution techniques and popular interior styles in which the use of images may be most appropriate.
Advice. If you don’t have deep or even superficial knowledge of painting, you need to listen to your own feelings when choosing a painting. The heart will definitely suggest a reasonable decision. But at the same time, we should not forget about the competent combination of sizes and color content of the works with the style of the interior.
Some tips for interiors with paintings
The combination of colors in the interior, table and rules for creating a harmonious design
Chaotic hanging of paintings in the interior of a living room representing one style or another can ruin even the most beautiful design. Decorators recommend listening to the following tips:
To visually brighten the room and the walls, which rarely receive sunlight, several paintings will help to fill the dark and unlit area with their colors.
Paintings help maintain the proportional balance of furniture and interior items. For example, paintings hung above a large sofa in the living room interior will visually make it smaller.
An interior art gallery can be created thanks to paintings that represent a single style or are similar in theme. In this case, they should be hung in one place close to each other.
The background on which the paintings should hang should be dim and monochromatic, regardless of whether it is a painted wall or wallpaper.
A multi-colored wall can only spoil the impression of the painting, because it will dissipate attention between its drawing and the image in the painting.
The ideal background is a light wall. By the way, on such a wall a painting of the same tone, but contrasted with a dark or bright colored frame, will look harmonious.
A unified interior style is created by the harmony and integrity of details
So, for example, the baguette in which the paintings are framed should be combined in texture and color with the main furniture near which the paintings are located.
Painting size
For a certain size room, a painting should be selected according to size
This rule is very important for both large and small spaces. A rather large painting enclosed in a few square meters will look very inappropriate and inharmonious; its place is in a spacious room, where the space allows you to perceive its large size and enjoy the painting
In addition, large paintings require high ceilings and distance from corners and windows to it.
As for geometric proportions, vertical paintings create the visual effect of a high room, just as horizontal paintings expand and free up the room. In order not to adhere to one or another proportion, it is better to choose a neutral “square”.
Paintings in the interior of a small living room should also be chosen in medium-sized sizes. The ideal size is up to 50 cm on a larger frame. Several small (20 cm) pictures or images will also look harmonious, and they can be placed either individually or as part of a gallery - more than three pieces.
If we are talking about paintings by the same author, then from an artistic point of view they should be placed next to each other. The same principle of proximity should be followed with paintings made in the same style or technique, as well as with the same baguette.
Paintings, posters and photos
Properly selected and placed images are a classic design for living rooms and bedrooms. To make them look harmonious, you need to consider several points:
- The proportionality of the decor with the furnishings and area. In small rooms, large canvases will look bulky.
- The colors of the painting and the sofa can be both related and contrasting, echoing the pillows and blanket.
- Abstract works look good in a modern, simple and functional interior.
- A small space will be decorated with watercolors. Especially if it is light and decorated in shabby chic, country, scandi or Provence style.
- Oil, large-scale painting fits organically into a room with a classic design.
- Posters enliven high-tech, loft, Scandinavian, minimalist rooms.
The perception of such decor in the design of an apartment is also influenced by its location.
Paintings in the living room
The artistic style in the interior of an apartment is something that designers, decorators, and ordinary people pay attention to, who want to transform the apartment and give it an atmosphere of elegance and individuality. The main method of adding artistry to an apartment will be the presence of paintings in the interior of the living room, thus the function of filling the house with an aesthetic element is taken on by paintings, as well as photographs, prints, original drawings or graphic images.
The main method of adding artistry to an apartment will be the presence of paintings in the interior of the living room, thus the function of filling the house with an aesthetic element is taken on by paintings, as well as photographs, prints, original drawings or graphic images.
How to place a picture correctly
With the help of correctly placed images, you can easily change the geometry of the room.
A low ceiling will look visually much higher if you hang the images vertically.
Horizontal ones will help increase the width. If the room has a longitudinal arrangement, then it is better to hang a bright, large image, then the proportions of the room will be smoothed out a little.
Paintings in the living room above the sofa will look appropriate if the walls are painted in a light shade and are of medium size.
If you are going to make a composition from paintings, then do not forget to align them along the bottom edge.
The height of the paintings for better perception should be 1.5 meters from the floor. This is how paintings are usually arranged at exhibitions.
In cottages, the ideal place is above the fireplace, because it will attract attention and your painting will definitely not remain unnoticed.
Mirror
A large mirror behind the sofa is a beneficial solution for a narrow living room. A reflective object on a long wall can visually expand the room. To enhance the effect, the mirror must be positioned horizontally.
A mirror in an elegant frame looks luxurious above the sofa. If you wish, you can create a mirror wall here - for this you will need a large mirror sheet or reflective tiles.
Options for style and paintings in it
The English classical style, replete with expensive decor and accessories, harmoniously combines with the paintings of the Pre-Raephaelite era, which put the denial of academic traditions and imitation of classical art at the forefront of its ideas. At the head of the interior there can be a large painting, preferably a portrait of the hostess or owner, painted in the style of the palace era, which will crown the entire compositional content of the design.
The pop art style, filled with bright colors, pairs well with equally rich posters, placards and photographs. Moreover, such graphic design will have an undeniable advantage - price loyalty, because, unlike paintings, posters and photo paper are much more economical.
A completely unique modern style from all points of view will accept any painting on its walls. It can be contemporary art, classics, pop art, or vintage.
The Art Deco style can be perfectly complemented by expressional painting, which is very often found in antique stores, and is also made to order in framing workshops. In addition, the always relevant French Art Deco has expensive paraphernalia and a variety of details as its constant companion. Within one room, made in this style, you can place oil paintings, watercolors, posters, and graphics.
In addition to style, it is worth considering the criteria for choosing paintings by color and size.
Bookshelves
Decorating with bookshelves is an ideal way to transform a room and make it cozy and even smart. Book lovers will love this idea. After all, now shelves are made of various materials, different shapes, colors.
You can hang several shelves or just one, but it will be interesting to play with it and decorate it. In addition to books, display other items (figurines, souvenirs, decorative elements).
A comfortable and pleasant addition to this idea would be lighting built into the shelves or lamps installed next to it. They will help soften the interior and create an atmosphere comfortable for reading books.
Geographic map, plates
Such wall design options are more suitable for travelers, lovers of freedom, souvenirs and other attributes of travelers. The map can be modern or, on the contrary, ancient. Plates can be attached to the wall or placed on shelves.
Decor elements
Other decoration elements include:
- Forged Products;
- watch;
- various variations of lamps;
- mirrors;
- niches;
- themed decor (guitars, steering wheel, horns, skins, masks and other items related to a specific theme, hobby).
Geographic map
Modern or aged, black and white or color, framed or unframed - a geographical map is beautiful in its most varied incarnations. A special harmony reigns in its relationship with interior elements in the colonial style: for example, with a leather sofa, a rough wooden chest instead of a table, a globe-shaped lamp, a wicker chest of drawers, etc.
What to hang above the sofa? For example, a map
Basic rules for placing paintings
The living room is the face of the house; it can say a lot about its owners, so the interior design of this room should be thought out to the smallest detail. And, of course, this applies to placing images on the walls. They cannot be hung randomly. To place them, there are certain rules that must be followed. Let's look at the main ones.
For paintings of the same theme or a series of photographs, it is better to select the same frames. In this case, in the living room they will look like a single composition. If they are not related, then this is not necessary.
Paintings in the living room should not stand out from the basic style of interior design. In addition, they must match it in color. For example, in a classic interior with calm tones, you should not hang a picture that contains an abundance of bright colors. Also, in a modern bright interior, an image of a landscape in pastel colors would be inappropriate.
Choosing a wall to hang pictures on.
In this case, we consider the house as a set of walls suitable for placing a gallery. It is necessary that these walls:
- were convenient for viewing paintings
- had good lighting
- not exposed to direct sunlight
- fluctuations in temperature and humidity should be within reasonable limits
Therefore, we keep the following things in mind:
Availability.
Choose the most accessible place where it is convenient to hang pictures, easier to wipe dust from frames, and easier to add or remove art objects. You can put images on shelves. This will allow you to easily change the exposure. It is important that the images are not obscured and are visible from different angles.
Lighting.
Lighting is one of the factors that significantly affects the preservation of images. In terms of importance, it ranks next after temperature and humidity.
Therefore, let's monitor the lighting of the wall throughout the day. It should not be exposed to direct sunlight. They contain ultraviolet rays, which have a detrimental effect on images.
It is better to illuminate works of art with incandescent or halogen lamps
Oil and tempera paintings are less susceptible to ultraviolet radiation, while images on paper suffer more.
Temperature and humidity.
Temperature and humidity have the greatest impact on the preservation of paintings and drawings. Of course, it is impossible to achieve ideal conditions in the house for storing paintings, but it is better to know that works of art are afraid of changes in temperature and humidity.
Therefore, kitchen and bathroom walls are not suitable for gallery walls. There should be no heating or air conditioning radiators on or near this wall. And, if you turn on the humidifier, it should not be constantly running next to the wall.
Unusual painting ideas for the interior
Because such an accessory, I’m not afraid to put it this way, is not perceived as something expensive and requiring a lot of thought on its creation and plot.
Frankly speaking, there is only one nuance in interior design with paintings - the right canvas!
Watch the video: Paintings in the interior of modern living rooms
https://youtube.com/watch?v=gxN6jTMlM9M
Nowadays, light walls, light furniture, light curtains are relevant in the interior - all this is light and delicate in spring, but you need to know when to stop and so that your living room does not become boring - add bright accessories - bright pillows, colored glass vases or elegant curtains in a contrasting color . Bright accents emphasize the individuality of both the interior and your taste! An atmosphere of coziness, warmth and comfort is created.
Where to hang the picture
It is not difficult to fix the paintings with your own hands. If we are talking about modular ones, then even more so, because this does not even require nails, and the whole process can take about 15 minutes. However, it may be difficult to decide where to hang a painting or a composition of several paintings? You can hang paintings for the interior on your own:
- above the sofa;
- on an open wall;
- Above the fireplace;
- over the table;
- Over the bed.
The easiest place to place fashionable paintings for the interior is the wall above the sofa. Both one large canvas and a triptych look good here. In the living room combined with the kitchen, in the dining area on the wall you can hang stylish paintings for the interior depicting a cup of coffee, lime, glass of wine, coffee beans or any other suitable theme.
It is better to place panoramic paintings for the interior on open walls. With their help, you can create false windows, which will make the room visually more spacious. The traditional location for a painting in a classically designed living room is the wall above the fireplace. In ancient times, portraits were hung above the fireplace; today it can be any image you like.
You can arrange paintings on the wall in different ways. When it comes to several canvases or a single painting, experts use the following approaches.
- Modern paintings for the interior can be arranged symmetrically. For example, if you have two small paintings of the same size and one larger, then the largest one should be placed in the center, and the smaller ones at the edges.
- You can hang paintings for the interior yourself, as usual, “in a line.” This is the simplest option, but it requires that the canvases be the same size and shape, since even a small difference in dimensions will be very noticeable.
- By placing paintings for the interior on your own, you can use them to balance the interior composition. For example, if there is a huge palm tree in the corner of the room, almost reaching the ceiling, and the space on the wall nearby is not occupied. It can be balanced with other interior items to create a designer transition. Namely, by hanging two or three small paintings depicting flowers and plants vertically next to each other.
To summarize, we note panoramic paintings for the living room interior, as well as images with other content, are perfect in almost all cases
The painting has always been a very advantageous accent element, which emphasizes the features of the design composition and attracts the attention of guests. The main thing is to place the paintings correctly, and then they will definitely reveal their full interior potential.
Features and choice of modular painting for the home
Advantages of modular paintings in the living room
You should listen to the recommendations of experts - most of the specialists in residential interior design suggest choosing the wall of the living room where the sofa with armchairs is located. This approach allows you to unobtrusively demonstrate to as many guests as possible your good taste, independent contribution to the development of wall decor and a non-standard approach to room decoration. If you correctly decorate the living room with a painting consisting of several parts, then a single comfortable island of relaxation will be created from the wall, furniture and other adjacent parts. When a decorative work of art is correctly selected and placed on the wall, it in no way overloads a small room, creates comfort in a spacious space, and the image is perceived by the viewer as holistically and harmoniously.
savannah landscape with elephants above the sofa in the living room
yellow-orange composition with flowers in the living room above the sofa
stylized figures of people from three elements on a sofa in the living room
white flowers in three elements in the living room above the sofa
How to choose the best modular painting?
In order for modular paintings in the living room interior above the sofa to be correctly selected and fully cope with their decorative task, photo examples from our article can be taken into account and used as a source of inspiration for free creativity. We advise you to give preference to such compositions that will organically fit into the overall concept of a particular interior. At least one tone from the range used in the painting should echo the color scheme in the room. For example, sofa pillows, textile blankets and other items can be a harmonizing element. On sale you can find many paintings made on glass; it is impossible to take your eyes off them; they are well suited for modern interiors. Images printed on natural canvas go with both modern and classic styles. Complex modular paintings, represented by huge panels with embroidery, often become an integral part of the interior in the Provence and Vintage styles. Antique and rare cars, cultural monuments, fortresses and ancient castles fit perfectly into the classic style. In Fusion and High-Tech styles, modular abstraction can become the dominant feature of the living room interior - it is this that will complement and enliven the room.
cityscape over upholstered furniture in the living room
large tree in purple tones in three parts above the corner sofa in the living room
large tree in pink tones above the sofa in the living room
branch with white flowers and butterflies over upholstered furniture in the living room
As practice shows, living rooms often use modular paintings showing flowers and other vegetation, picturesque landscapes, countries and cities along with their attractions, lush still lifes, auto and motorcycle equipment, photographs of people, and abstract patterns.
Molded rosettes
For interior decoration, heavy gypsum stucco is rarely used, preferring lightweight ones, for example, polyurethane. It sticks to any surface without any problems. Medallions randomly scattered across the wall are an element of playfulness that is quite appropriate in a modern interior.
Deciding on the size
Having decided on the genre of the image and its color scheme, you need to decide on the size of the painting, which would optimally combine with the size of the living room itself. This is a fairly important criterion when choosing a canvas. After all, all efforts to find the right painting will be nullified if it turns out to be too big or, on the contrary, small.
So, for a living room with high ceilings of 3 meters or more, vertical paintings in portrait format are suitable. In ordinary apartments, medium-sized paintings with a horizontal pattern will look best. You can calculate the optimal size that the painting should have as follows.
Suppose you are hanging a picture above the sofa, then the width of the canvas should be half the width of the back of the sofa. If there is not one painting, but two or even three, for example, a modular triptych, then the area occupied by the paintings on the wall should be 2/3. The rest remains free. This clear calculation is important for two reasons:
- firstly, you need to perceive the picture from a certain distance from it. This means that the larger the canvas, the greater the distance, which may simply not be available in the apartment;
- secondly, if the paintings are too large, the living room will seem smaller. Or loaded with unnecessary details. The same applies to very small paintings, which can simply get lost on a large free wall.
When choosing the size of the painting, do not forget about its shape. After all, if the image has the shape of an elongated rectangle, then the entire wall, along with the entire room, may appear elongated. And the ceiling will seem lower. A square-shaped painting does not visually change the shape of the room. The exception is when the picture is too large. With this option, the living room will not only seem smaller, but there may be a feeling of slight discomfort. What is undesirable in a reception room?
Bottom line
To summarize, we note that a painting can become the very “highlight” of the living room interior, which will not only decorate the interior decoration of the room as a whole, but will also become a connecting link that makes the design composition of the living space more organic.
The difficulty in choosing a painting lies not only in the fact that you need to take into account the design match of the image in color, size, subject, interior of the room, but also determine the artistic correspondence of such a painting to the spirit of your room for receiving guests. To make the right choice of paintings for the guest room, you either need to trust your subtle taste. Or, if you are not sure about it, contact a professional designer.
Large wall clock
This decor is typical for living rooms with vintage motifs. A huge clock, similar to a street or station clock, gives the living room a special touching quality, but at the same time gives it the energy of movement.
What to hang above the sofa? For example, a watch!
Rules for posting paintings
Where to hang the picture can be planned at the renovation stage. This is not difficult if there is one or two canvases. If there are several images, then you should adhere to the following rules for their placement:
- If the paintings are large, then they should be placed at a sufficient distance from each other.
- The asymmetrical arrangement of large canvases will add dynamism to the interior. To decorate a traditional interior, you should use the method of placing identical paintings on the same line.
- With the help of paintings you can structure the space. Photographs on an empty wall visually divide the room. Canvases placed in the center create a symmetrical design.
- To revive an empty wall, you can use large panels that should be placed in a row.
Image options
The plots of modular panels can be very different. The most popular options include images of flowers, as well as paintings with waterfalls, seas, rivers and lakes.
No less popular are panoramic views of Parisian streets, avenues in New York, Roman squares and Moscow boulevards. Brazilian and Indian motifs are considered an original solution.
The classic interior will be decorated with images of fortresses, castles and landscapes. For rooms in high-tech or fusion style, it is worth choosing canvases with abstractions.
Canvas sizes
Paintings for decorating a living room can be original and bright. However, their height should not be less than 60 cm.
Large canvases can be placed on a free wall. They can even be on the entire wall. Large products will look great in an interior with a soft corner or a large sofa.
If you have compact furniture, you should use medium-sized decorative items.
Lamps
Cute wall lamps are appropriate everywhere, including behind the sofa. However, there should be no wires “crawling” along the wall, unless, of course, this was intended as part of the composition. It is better to make the decision to install sconces before renovation - this will allow you not to disturb the aesthetics.
Most often, one or two lamps are placed above the sofa. If the room is large, you can hang many more sconces, creating a gallery or “light wall” out of them.
Photo wallpaper
An interesting solution is to decorate with photo wallpaper. You shouldn’t give up on this design, thinking that photo wallpapers are a thing of the distant past. Today you can purchase options with interesting effects that will become a real decoration of the living room. For example, images with a depth effect, as they are called, photo wallpapers with projection allow you to create not only original interior decoration, but also visually enlarge a small room.
Photo wallpaper with a depth effect on the wall behind the sofa – photo
Among the photo wallpapers there are other interesting images, for example, futuristic, fantasy - which will appeal to fantasy lovers.
An interesting idea on how to decorate a wall is to decorate it with photo wallpapers that imitate some natural or finishing materials, for example:
- stone,
- tree,
- brick.
Today, stone, wood, and concrete walls have become real hits.
In a small apartment, photo wallpaper in light colors with well-designed lighting will visually enlarge the interior and emphasize its cozy character.
An interesting effect is achieved if photo wallpaper with a city panorama is placed in a frame that imitates a window frame. The built-in lamps in the upper part in the photo below emphasize and realistically imitate the atmosphere of a night city outside the window with lights and glare.
Backlight
Lighting of canvases is of great importance. But if in a museum they can be placed along one wall and lamps installed above each, then in an apartment it is better to use good natural lighting. Additional lighting can be useful when glare appears or you want to focus attention on the wall. For these purposes, it is better to use LED lamps that do not heat up and create a directional ceiling of light.
Important! The maximum permissible illumination for painting is 150 lux. You can use a 100W incandescent lamp or a 20W fluorescent lamp. They should be located at least 1 m from the canvas.
