Oversized Wall Art, Just What Your Boring Walls Need
A blank & boring wall can be a gift as well as a frustration.
On one hand you have a completely blank canvas to be as creative as you like.
On the other hand you may be overwhelmed with different ideas or have no idea where to start.
But nothing can be simpler, yet still really effective, for bringing some life & colour to a space than a large piece of art.
Oversized wall art may be just the cure for your blank & boring walls.
There are affiliate links in this article. This simply means you don't pay any more, I just receive a small commission.
So thanks if you find something you like as it helps me to keep the show on the road!
You can read why I only promote certain business's here.
But Is My Wall Big Enough?
You like the thought of a dramatic sized art piece, but you have doubts if your wall or room is big enough.
There’s a common misconception that you need a large wall or space to accommodate oversized artworks.
But it ain’t necessarily so.
Rooms can be different shapes, sizes & layouts.
Just as paint is an effective method to lighten or darken walls, to either give the illusion of them receding or coming forward, so too with artwork.
A big artwork with light tones & colours can actually help to open up a smaller space.
Large photographic prints, or paintings of open scenes such as a desert or the ocean, is like a window which can make you feel like you could step into it.
Even a small wall in a large space can be utilized for hanging big artworks.
So it’s also important to choose the right size & proportion artwork for the wall.
These landscape canvas prints can be found at CanvasFreaks.com as single or multi-panel large prints.
How Large Should The Artwork Be?
Measuring up the available wall space first will prevent any disappointment of bringing your new artwork home only to find it doesn’t look right on the wall.
Here are some useful rules of thumb when it comes to hanging art.
There’s the 80/20 rule which dictates art hanging above furniture, like a sofa or bed for example, should be roughly 80% the width of the object it’s hanging above.
Just because it’s a large art piece, don’t feel you need to hang it higher.
You should aim for no less than 6 inches & no more than 12 inches.
When art is hung to high above furniture it can look disconnected & lost.
The 2 pieces should look connected & work as one unified element.
Whether your artwork is going on a completely blank wall, or snuggling in between other decor elements, it needs to be proportionate.
The popular advice for how high art should be hung is at eye level, which is around 54 to 57 inches.
But with oversized art this measurement may just be impractical or simply look wrong.
So another handy guideline you can use is the 66% ratio.
There should be approximately 66% of the wall space below the art & 33% above it.
If that doesn’t look balanced, try flipping the measurements.
How to Display Large Art
Supersize art can be a standalone piece or work well alongside other wall art.
- If you’re the more minimalist type, you can create a single wall as a feature.
By having the artwork take up most of the wall space & arranging the sofa or chairs toward it as you would with a fireplace for example, it creates a focal point in the room, a nice cosy area for conversations or relaxing with a good book.
- Alternatively, arranging other smaller artworks around a large artwork can make for interesting compositions like a gallery wall.
Use a big artwork to express your personality.
Do you want to be bold? Graphic & colourful abstracts speak loudly, whereas a painting with soft hues & palette can bring a sense of calm to a space.
These beautiful abstract prints are available at CanvasFreaks.com
For a more casual & bohemian feel, simply lean a big artwork against the wall.
For this to look like a deliberate choice & not just like you haven’t got around to hanging it, place stacks of books either side.
Vases & other ornaments can be implemented as well & try leaning smaller artwork in front for a layered effect.
Red & black abstract print ( & many others too! ) available from CanvasFreaks.com
Which Type of Art Medium?
One of the first things to consider when buying & displaying artwork large or small, does it suit the decor & theme of the room?
So thinking about texture & print material, as well as the image, will ensure the right choice of medium to use.
A more formal decor with muted colours & plush furnishings may be more welcoming of a traditional painting, whereas a more modern environment may suit a fine art photograph or abstract.
CanvasFreaks.com have a range of large prints from photography to traditional paintings.
There’s many print mediums to choose from nowadays.
As well as original work, there’s also a lot of choice in canvas prints.
These can be bought in very large sizes many feet tall.
There’s also metal & acrylic prints, which with their amazing quality are also available in sizes of 6 feet or more.
Here's an article if you'd like to learn more about metal prints & why they're so amazing.
Metal & acrylic can offer a very modern & sleek look as they are fabulous unframed, but there's also a wide choice of frames for these style prints.
But large art isn’t just prints, it can be wall tapestries which can bring a softness & warmth to a space.
Even though they may not be technically called art, I feel mirrors should be included.
They can be bought in huge sizes & as with metal & acrylic prints, unframed they give a more contemporary feel.
But there’s also a wide variety of framed wall mirrors, some can be very ornate.
These & many more styles of mirrors can be found at CasaGear.com
Are clocks art? I wrote an article a while back about choosing the perfect wall clock & I was gobsmacked at the amount of designs available.
There are some really unique & beautiful wall clocks on the market & a good choice of large ones too.
These & other oversized wall clocks can be found at CasaGear.com
But Isn’t Large Art Expensive?
Often there’s the misconception that really large art pieces have a price tag to match.
But there are art stores offering oversized prints for a few hundred dollars.
Canvas prints up to 6 or 7 feet on the long edge can be bought for around $300.
Metal & acrylic photo prints are more expensive, but the quality is a wow factor to be considered.
For a fairly huge one you could be paying at least $1000.
Tapestries are very affordable, 6 to 7 foot in length around $200 or so.
So as you can see, you don’t need to break the bank for a wonderfully large artwork to zoosh up a blank, boring wall.
How Many to Use
You’re going large, so no time to feel hesitant.
Why just stick to one large art piece?
Getting the balance of a room right can be an art, all the elements need to be in harmony.
The layout of the space, the size of furniture & decor colours need to be working together.
With the right proportion & balance, more than a single artwork can be used to great effect, either on the same wall, or on other wall space.
Final Thoughts
As a keen photographer, really large prints can be a joy to experience.
It can be a bit scary too, as any mistakes or lack of quality is going to be glaringly obvious!
But you’ll be purchasing artwork, so these concerns belonged to someone else before the print was made.
Whether you live in a large house or a smaller apartment, going big with your choice of art could be just what those blank & boring walls need.
I hope this article has helped you to see the possibilities of using oversized art & please feel free to share it with anyone who you feel may benefit from it.
Are you already using large art in your place? If so, please leave a comment, I’d love to know.
More Large Art Ideas
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Hang Art Over Wallpaper?
Absolutely! And when you know a few tricks, it can be done with minimal to no damage to the wallpaper. Learn more.
You May be Interested in These:
