advice | 15 creative ways to display art

Hanging art is either one of the first things you do when you move into a new home or, if you’re anything like me, the last thing you do. Paintings and pictures are left stashed away for months while I obsess over where to put them. Recently I spotted a few new and different ways to display art and I’m freshly inspired. So if you too are wanting to do something a little different than just plain hanging pictures on the wall, try one of these 15 creative ideas – Add a sculptural piece – A floral embellishment or a sculptural silhouette gives the eye somewhere to land on a wall full of frames. These compositions are not symmetrical yet they’re completely balanced with cohesive color palettes. Bring your art wall to the next level by adding a three-dimensional piece with visual appeal like antlers, a mask, or a wall sculpture.Go cheeky – Who says that art has to be so serious? This photograph of a tennis player is just the right amount of cheeky.  Switch it up on a shelf – Can’t commit then keep the pieces off the wall so that you can rearrange them as often as you like. Art shelves can also host prints, framed postcards and a variety of other objects. Here the colorful photos pop off the white wall and shelf and the different size pieces of art make it really work. 
Bring the outdoors in – Landscape and travel photos are sweet reminders of favorite places. Have a photo you took on a trip blown up and framed or printed on canvas and then hang above your couch or in your dining room. 
Take it to the floor – Have more pieces of art than free wall space? Leave your art on the floor and lean it against the wall. The key is making this look intentional instead of it just looking like you forgot to hang your paintings. It’s best if the arrangement can relate to something else in the room so place it close to a chair, a bookcase or a desk.Everyday art – Incorporate art into a high traffic areas like the kitchen or a bathroom. It’s unconventional but stylish so embrace the unexpected placement. A breakfast nook is the perfect place to add a small playful art vignette and why not put a painting in the bathroom?Make it a focal point – A large painting makes a statement. A big, bold graphic piece, like this one or this one, pulls the room together and gives the eye somewhere to land. Match it – Create balance. Here the colorful art unites the colorful pieces around the room instead of competing with them. Art can be an equal player in the room versus the focal point.Singled out – Limit yourself to a single color scheme for a minimalist look that will complement the space that your art hangs in. Pick a few coordinating colors then display your favorite pieces in each hue grouping them together for a simple gallery wall. A bedroom is the perfect place to use some restraint with color and styling. I especially love this simple black and white bedroom!  Make it fun – This dog portrait brings in an extra dose of whimsy and the purple and gray color palette is bold, fresh and exciting. This youthful vignette in a child’s playroom is created by pairing a a vintage black and white typographical poster, a collection of toys and books and a funky Acapulco chair.    Bring it up – Here art and photos are layered on a high simple white shelf with vases and knick-knacks sprinkled throughout which add depth and visual interest. Don’t be afraid to overlap your prints and photos like this one. You can also draw the eye up by using the tops of windows and doorframes to show off small artwork.
Go big and small – Asymmetrical patterns, like this one and this one, often work well in casual rooms. When building your gallery wall, try hanging one large piece and several smaller ones for an arrangement that is less formal.Use clipboards – Here three lines of clipboards fill the wall with sketches and swatches and serves as an ever-evolving inspiration board. These skirt hangers are just the right size and add a fun shape at the tops of the prints.  You could also use a clothesline and clothespins.Keep it close – Finish off a vignette, like a bar cart or this bedside table, with a small piece of art hung very low and close to the arrangement. It blends in as part of the tabletop display adding an interesting layer of depth and color.Door prize – Why not hang art on a door? Or a window? This graphic print framed in bold blue nicely contrasts the wooden door.