How to choose a painting for your living room
Size, colour, medium and hanging height: choose a painting that works with your living room and that you will enjoy for years.
A painting can organise a living room. It draws your eye as you enter, gives the space character and helps the room feel considered. Before browsing the available works, it helps to know what to look for. Choosing a painting for your living room begins with a tape measure as well as your own taste.
Size and proportions
A picture that is too small can look lost on a large wall, while a very large one can dominate the room. Above a sofa, a width of around two thirds to three quarters of the furniture is a useful starting point. If one large canvas feels too much, consider two or three smaller works arranged as a single group. Measure the free wall space and try a full-size paper rectangle on the wall before buying. This gives you a much clearer sense of the proportions than a photograph alone.
Colour and the room
The painting does not need to match the cushions or rug exactly. Think instead about a relationship: it can develop one of the room's colours or create a deliberate contrast. In a room of white, grey and natural wood, one vivid painting can provide a focal point. If the room already has many colours and patterns, a quieter work with a limited palette may be easier to live with. Look at the light as well. The same colours can feel quite different in morning daylight and warm evening lighting.
Medium and mood
The way a work is made has as much influence on its mood as the subject. Thick oil or acrylic paint can bring energy, texture and depth. Watercolour, a print or a delicate drawing may create a lighter, more intimate atmosphere. Consider how you want the room to feel: lively enough for conversation, or calm at the end of the day. Abstraction leaves room for interpretation and can fit many interiors, while a landscape or still life brings a particular setting and story.
Where and how high to hang it
Hanging a painting too high is a common mistake. A centre around eye level, roughly 140–150 cm from the floor, can be a useful guide, adjusted to the room and furniture. Above a sofa or sideboard, a gap of around 15–25 cm between the furniture and the bottom of the frame often helps the two read as one composition. Give the work enough light to be seen clearly, while keeping it away from harsh, direct sunlight that can fade colours over time.
Original or reproduction
An original is a unique object, with the artist's own marks and the physical texture of the work. A good reproduction offers a more accessible way to enjoy a composition, often with a choice of size, material or frame. Choose an original if the individual object and its connection to the artist matter most to you. A reproduction may be a good first step when flexibility and a smaller budget are the priorities. You can also combine both as your collection develops.
Once you know what you are looking for, take your time browsing the Gallery. It contains originals and reproductions with the available variants shown in each listing. Before buying, agree on payment, packaging and delivery with the artist. How to buy art explains the first steps; Shipping & returns covers delivery and return arrangements.