How to Choose Original Art for Your Living Room: A Guide to Colour, Size, and Style

Buying original art for your home is one of the most personal decisions you can make as a decorator. Unlike furniture or textiles, a painting carries emotion, story, and the hand of its creator. But with so many options — abstract, floral, textured, large-format — where do you begin?

This guide walks you through the key considerations so you can choose a piece you'll love for decades.

1. Start With the Room's Colour Palette

Before browsing, note the dominant colours in your space: walls, sofa, rugs, and curtains. Original art doesn't need to match exactly — in fact, a slight contrast often creates more visual interest. Look for a painting that picks up one or two accent colours already present in the room.

For neutral interiors (whites, greys, beiges), bold abstract works with deep blues, terracottas, or golds add warmth and drama. For already-colourful rooms, a more tonal or monochromatic piece can anchor the space without competing.

Explore our Abstract collection for bold, colour-forward originals that work beautifully in contemporary living rooms.

2. Get the Size Right

Scale is the most common mistake buyers make. A small painting on a large wall looks lost; an oversized canvas in a narrow hallway feels overwhelming.

A practical rule: the artwork should occupy roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of the wall width above a sofa or console. For a standard 2-metre sofa, that means a canvas between 130–150 cm wide, or a curated grouping of smaller works.

If you're unsure, cut out paper templates in the dimensions you're considering and tape them to the wall. Live with them for a day before committing.

Our large-format originals — like Petal Symphony (122×62 cm) — are designed to make a statement as a single focal point.

3. Choose a Style That Reflects You

Art styles broadly fall into a few categories relevant to home buyers:

• Abstract: Non-representational, emotion-driven, often textured. Works in modern, minimalist, and eclectic interiors.
• Floral/Botanical: Timeless and versatile. Ranges from loose impressionist to bold graphic. Suits traditional, Scandi, and maximalist spaces.
• Textured/Palette Knife: Built-up paint creates physical depth and catches light differently throughout the day. Adds tactile richness to any room.

Browse our Flowers collection for original floral paintings, or the Textures collection for heavily worked, dimensional canvases.

4. Consider the Framing

Most of our originals arrive ready-framed, which simplifies installation. When choosing between framed and unframed, consider the room's existing trim and furniture finishes. Natural wood frames suit warm, organic interiors; black or dark frames work well in contemporary spaces; gold or antique frames add elegance to traditional rooms.

5. Trust Your Instinct

Ultimately, the best piece of art is the one you can't stop looking at. If a painting makes you pause — if it evokes something — that's the one. Original art is not an investment strategy; it's a daily relationship with beauty.

If you'd like personalised guidance on choosing a piece for your specific space, feel free to get in touch — we're happy to help.