Not sure how to choose abstract art for your space? Artist Kasey Wanford shares practical tips anyone can use.
5 Tips For Choosing Abstract Art for Your Home
Everyone wants art on their walls, but not everyone feels confident in how to choose the right art to fit their space. The best tip I can give you is to worry a bit less about how the art will fit in, and instead focus on buying art you love.
There, I said it. Just buy what you love. I'd leave it at that, but I'm sure you came for more help than that, so here are five practical tips on choosing abstract art for your home:
1. Start With Size
Rule of thumb: art should fill 50%-75% of the wall width above furniture, with the bottom of the frame 4-8 inches above the top of the furniture. Measure that out (tip: use blue painters tape to mark it out), stand back to look at it, and adjust the desired size if needed.
If you are grouping framed work, place them 3-5 inches apart.
2. Think About Color — But Not Too Hard
You don't need a painting that matches your wallpaper or couch. What pairs better with your decor is art that complements the colors in your room. Complements are opposite colors on the color wheel. Here's a tutorial by the folks at Benjamin Moore.
For extra cohesion, pull one color from the painting, and use it elsewhere in the room as an accent (vase, pillow, etc.) Not too many accents, or it stops being an accent color and becomes the entire theme of the room. No judgement if that's what you want, though. It's your space and there are no rules.
Love bold, colorful abstract paintings like *ahem* mine? Bold, colorful art looks fantastic in many rooms, but especially neutral rooms. They can take a boring white expanse of wall and give it life. In fact, my own home has mostly light colored walls, allowing the art to be the main eye-candy.
3. Where to Hang It and Lighting
- Best spots: above a sofa, bed, console table, stairwell
- Eye-level hanging tip (center at 57–60" from floor)
- Consider the light— natural vs. artificial. Natural light is ideal, but you should avoid hanging art in direct sunlight to avoid it getting sun-bleached. If artificial lighting, choose a daylight bulb vs a warm bulb, so the colors will look natural. Bonus if you can find a bulb with a high CRI (color rendering index) score.
4. Trust the Feeling
- Abstract art is about emotion, not literal meaning
- If a piece stops you, that's the one
- Live with art you love vs. art that "goes" with things.
5. Questions to Ask Before You Buy
- Does it ship ready to hang?
- What are the return/exchange policies?
- Is it an original or a print? Originals are amazing to own, but often reproductions are the more affordable option and give you more flexibility to swap seasonally within your own frames.
Browse my original abstract paintings for your home →TDL Art