Need help finding unique wall art ideas for your room? I’ve narrowed down tens of thousands of internet options for you and focused on creative wall art ideas for your living room, bathroom, kitchen, dining room, office, entryway and more! 😍🧠💪 Let’s do this!
Do you LOVE a good piece of art or wall decor — but struggle to know
- where to find
- which one to choose
- etc?
That’s what I’m here for! 😉
As an artist, I might prefer to DIY my own unique wall art…
…HOWEVER…
…not everyone has that kind of time it takes (or skillset) — and that’s okay! 🙂
I’ve had clients who are out there literally saving lives daily, and I have 0% expectation that they should be handmaking their own artwork to enjoy when they come home to rest.😅
Good news: I’m here to help you! It takes all types to make this world a more beautiful place.
So fix yourself a beverage, sit back, and…
(imagine me popping my knuckles even though I hate it when my husband does that 😂 but you know that thing people do — imagine me figuratively doing that because I’m about to get ROLLIN’)…
…let’s pick the perfect solution for you now! 🙂
PS: I am VERY PICKY about wall art, so this is a curated list done by me (not an assistant!) all from online retailers you can buy from immediately
1) without having to go through a designer like me and
2) immediately today before it disappears or the price goes up!
You’re welcome! 😘
I’ll also answer popular questions such as:
- “How can I make my walls more interesting?”
- “What is the trend in wall art?”
- “What art should I put on my walls?”
- “Do you have any ideas other than paintings?” (Yes, yes I do!)
So let’s get crack-a-lackin’!
(Ugh, now I apparently have knuckles on the brain…🤣)
Unique wall art ideas
First, the Most Common Request: Wall Art Ideas for Living Rooms!
Let’s start with wall art ideas for the living rooms, as that’s commonly asked for.
You may have noticed I often like to use abstract, bold, or unique round artwork in living rooms. So while the above are custom pieces, you can get the same look with something like these options:
Other variations are here:
We have many more Living Room-related design info in the following posts:
- Awkward, Narrow or Long Living Room Layout: 15 Clever Designs (With TV, Fireplace or Without)!
- Living Room Area Rug Size: The (Only) 7 Rules You Need to Know!
- 3 Fast Fixes: Awkward Living Room Layout With Fireplace (Even Corner Ones)!
wall art ideas for living room
If you DON’T Want to Go Neutral OR Full-Color…
If you don’t want to go 100% neutral but you also don’t want to go 100% bright colors, a subtle colored piece of living room wall art like the unique one below can bring just the perfect amount of color into the room without disrupting the calming feel:
Unique Wall art ideas for living room
Creative Without Being Too “Funky”: A Fine Balance!
As a professional designer, I do love me some creative wall art ideas…
…but you have to be careful not to get too funky!
**Although now that I’ve just typed that, I think the average homeowner reading today has a tendency to stay too “safe” and needs to be encouraged to move a step outside the box. 😉
So let me amend my tip into this:
Don’t worry about going too funky —
worry about going too average!
(a.k.a. BLAH BLAH BLAH wall art)
It reminds me of how people choose the wrong lighting. And yes, I mean WRONG — when you have lovely taste and you’re trying so hard to make your home look well-put-together, you often need to go BOLDER (again, not funkier — these are different and it takes skill to choose, that’s honestly why I offer phone consults to help you if you’re unsure or feeling stuck).
I will 100% focus on other gorgeous, classic wall art ideas as we continue, but I want to help you broaden your mind just a little — think cracking open the door just a wee bit so a little more illumination can come in! 🤗😘
Wall ARt Decor Ideas
One-of-a-Kind Metal Wall Art Decor!
I’ll mention further down how I love me some Matisse (new Jess t-shirt idea? I have so many you’ll see throughout this blog!🤣🕺🏽)…
…but here’s a metal piece in an extra-long horizontal measurement Picasso-style that I also am digging right now! (Not many premade-for-you art pieces come in such a long horizontal format, and I love this for living rooms above a couch, hallways or blank walls with sconces on either side, etc.
(Speaking of lighting, I have THIS POST that will only help you ;), as well as our Lighting Shop HERE!)
Similar to the above are these variations:
- Much smaller (and could be great in a bathroom like I talk about further down!)
- With more black in it (when you need a higher-contrast piece for your living room wall art!)
wall art décor ideas
Large Wall Art Ideas: Hanging Pieces
This comes in as large as a 72″ x 48″ option, which I love!
Honestly, choosing the perfect size for your living room wall art it’s like I say about living room rugs:
when in doubt, go bigger! 😉
Tapestries are a wonderful large wall art idea that don’t break the bank as much as some artwork or large-scale photography can.
Colors and sizes can range from everything including browns to greens, oranges to reds and yellows…
…and even blues and lighter colors all around!
Wondering which colors suit you and your living room best? My Essential Home Guide is literally the #1 step I make all my clients go through to ensure every single item in their room works together! (If you’re trying to DIY your living room design and coordinate wall art or decor yourself without training, you need this! I created it to help make it easy for busy people who want their home to reflect their good taste!)
If your style is less formal or traditional, and you find during the #1 step process that you need to go with something lighter and brighter, or more casual yet classic, you might want to go with a tapestry-style item like this on canvas:
The wood on these is also flexible to go with your unique living room:
Large wall art ideas
It Takes Two (Sometimes)!
Remember, you don’t need to feel forced to find just ONE piece of large wall art for your living room. You can do two (sometimes more, but be careful with that! It starts getting busy and lessens the power of your focal point past two)…
Living Room wall art ideas
Don’t Forget About Wall Lighting as “Art!”
I understand this will take a great deal of design cajones for some of you (and I’ll soon be showing you something in my own home where I do this, so you’ll have a visual)…
…but some of you will BE SO HAPPY I suggested this to you, so I’ve gotta do it!
Your unique wall art ideas don’t have to be paintings, baskets, or pieces made of wood or metal or moss…
…it can be a stunning lighting piece (or two!).
TRUST ME: in the right space, with the right design work, you’re going to look like a professional designer! (And not the average person who picks up their lighting at Home Depot. Nothing wrong with that, sometimes you totally can work with some of those pieces, but many of you are looking to me to help guide and encourage you to the next level so here ya go, homies!😘🤙)
Similar to the above, there’s this gorgeous one in more blacks and bronzes. Maybe it goes down a hallway, maybe it’s perfect for the person who loves candles and wants a “candle” feel in his or her living room, bedroom, even bathroom…without having actual candles? SO MANY POSSIBILITIES.
How much more interesting + functional is this
than a typical piece of wall art or decor hanging there?!?
(The answer is: 7x more, at least! 😉 )
wall art design ideas
Unique Wall Art Ideas: 5 Woven + Textural Options!
I approve of the following 5 options I found if you’re set on baskets (or find that you need more circular shapes in your living room, bedroom, dining room…even an office)!
Be picky about the baskets you choose! It can easily look amateurish or cluttered if not done right, and you want to find a beautifully handmade-looking pattern on them that has a bit of elegance and subtlety to it. You do NOT want baskets that look like they came from Target.
Other baskets I approve of using as creative wall art ideas:
- 3-piece large baskets I like!
- Love these from Tonga!
- Oversized baskets (less can be more depending on your wall size and what else is happening in the room!)
- If you must have a splash of color in your baskets, this option is good!
- Many baskets look “too perfect,” but these are still Jess-approved! 😉
Just BE CAREFUL WITH BASKETS if you already have a number of organic or woven items in your room or home, as it can skew more “boho” if you’re not careful. Unless of course that’s the aesthetic you need, in which case you go for it. 😉
BAthroom Wall art ideas
Stay Sleek!
I stay away from tapestries or non-framed paper-type wall art for bathrooms, because the moisture can damage them…
…but that doesn’t mean you can’t still get texture in your bathroom wall decor!
The brush strokes in wall artwork and paintings like this are delicious in a bathroom! (And unexpected.) Too many people do the same-old-same-old artwork in bathrooms, like text saying “wash your hands” or “pee this way” like “the beach is that way”…I encourage you to uplevel it, people! Trust me, takes your bathroom from typical to unique, warm and with an elegance not many have.)
wall art bathroom wall décor ideas
Somewhere In The Middle! 😉
If you want something a little more “fun” in your bathroom without being cheesy, I’d choose something slightly more graphic and slightly more colorful.
Other options I like are:
- Yes, I’m a sucker for green! 😆 (I also love that this isn’t typical bathroom art.)
- If you’re more into bright, vibrant colors, go with this one!
- A colorful Matisse print which is just not the usual (a.k.a. “refreshing colorful”)!
- If you’re a person who loves landscapes, go with something like this that has the warmth and energizing feel so many landscapes are lacking. (Not wrong, just different!)
- Back to cool colors, these with blues are scientifically proven to be calming.
wall art for bathroom ideas
Full Fun Bathroom Wall Art (That Isn’t Text!)
I love this in a bathroom because it’s so unexpected and “non-bathroom-y” if you know what I mean. 🙂
It’s almost like a wallpaper…without having to wallpaper your entire bathroom! 🙂 Which is often the perfect answer for some of you!
Similar unique and creative wallpaper-ish art I like is
- Almost wallpaper wall art
- This shows how being inserted on wall panels can be gorgeous!
bathroom wall art ideas
Unique Wall Art Ideas: Bathroom!
I’d bet a good amount of money you’ve never decorated your bathroom walls with this vibe, but I would LOVE to do a gorgeous, bold, classic-yet-modern blend bathroom with something unexpected like this:
Going bold in your bathroom wall art means you can go neutral in your other finishes (walls, floors, tile, etc.) which saves you money but doesn’t lack style!
At the same time, I understand 95% of you won’t be able to “picture” the above bold artwork in a chic bathroom like I’m picturing, so I’ll just have to design it (or trust your skills to pull it off in your own home, then send me a pic to enjoy! 🙂 ).
Understandably, given the last two years our family spent accidentally circumnavigating the globe, a more international style is on my mind as I design our new home. 🙂
UNIQUE wall art ideas
Final Thoughts on Bathroom Wall Art!
I’m going to show you two different pieces of art in similarly neutral bathrooms to show you just how much the artwork you choose will set the tone visually when you walk in every day.
Remember: your wall art is at eye level.
So it’s important to get right!
So in contrast to the above neutral artwork that blends with the browns and beiges, this beige and greens (with a hint of blue in there) gives a different feel.
KITCHEN WALL ART IDEAS
Unique Art In Your Kitchen is (Chef’s Kiss) Fantastic!
I love real art in a kitchen because it’s such a non-traditional way to display something that might feel very traditional.
Don’t have a window above your sink? Art that makes you feel calm, energized, or just plain happy is a top-notch option for you!
And while people tend to like food-related artwork in their kitchens (for obvious reasons), I do love landscapes because they’re less expected.
No matter which way you go, I also want you to think about the frame you choose. For some reason I tend to go with gold frames in kitchens, probably because it’s a warmer element, as well as a more sophisitcated element.
For example, in this very simple, small modern kitchen, the traditional artwork with gold frame helps balance the minimalistic and dare I say almost aescetic-feeling quality of the space. It’s extra-calming, which I love!
UNIQUE WALL ART IDEAS
Kitchen Wall Art Ideas Tip #1: Personalize!
For my final kitchen wall art ideas tips, I’m going to quickly share three stories of personalized artwork.
First, I found out this client loved Santa Barbara architecture and so we put in artwork that reflected that and brought her so much joy, multiple times daily! 🙂
Second, another client who loved Portugal and Italy, so we again made sure we found something that made her heart sing. Again, this is in your kitchen so it’s being seen so often — truly the art “that keeps on giving”!
Depending on your kitchen and your personality, you may want to go with neutrals or color…
Tip #1:
If you don’t have a designer or know an artist, places like Etsy are a great way for the average homeowner to find artists who can get them what they want!
Tip #2:
Don’t be afraid to direct message the artist and ask for something custom if you’re not finding any wall art that you LOVE!
Third example: this client grew up taking family vacations to Big Sur.
“I can smell the salt every time I look at this!” is what she says about the below. HOW COOL IS THAT?!
Bedroom Wall art ideas
Bedroom Wall Art: Remember the Purpose!
If you’re ever unsure what type of artwork or decor to put in your bedroom, I’m telling you:
go neutral here!
Your bedroom should be free of busyness, distraction, chaos… It is a place for SLEEP! High-quality, uniquely deliciously sleep!🥰
Textured items are one of my favorite ways to decorate without having to have extra visual busyness in a bedroom, so I approve of this as an upleveled bedroom wall art idea:
If you don’t want the texture, this is a beautiful neutral option for wall art for bedrooms:
WALL ART FOR BEDROOM IDEAS
Warmer + Darker Wall Art Ideas for Bedroom!
If you’re looking for something warmer and darker for your bedroom wall art (which sometimes the room calls for!)…
…then I would get this in a size that is at LEAST 50% of the width of the bed it is under, and a max of 75-100% of the bed width (depending on your bed style and whether this is serving as a headboard, which is when I’d do it closer to 100%…less if you already have a headboard, like 75%).
Variety of options I approve of as well:
WALL ART FOR BEDROOM IDEAS
Bolder n’ Bigger: Another Bedroom Wall Art Idea!
If the tapestries feel too traditional or “cushy” for your bedroom, and you don’t like the neutral one-color pieces above, I’d suggest something bolder like this for you:
Wall Art For Bedroom Ideas
Blue Bedroom Wall Art: This Is Also Calming!
If you love color, blue is the #1 choice for a bedroom for its proven calming effects.
GUEST ROOM WALL ART IDEAS
Guest Room Artwork: Don’t Forget About This!
Don’t forget about your guest bedroom! (Even if it doubles as an office, which I’ve written about HERE.)
Many of these unique wall art ideas I’m sharing here are perfect for guest rooms!
Click on the names below to see three guest bedroom resources I’ve created for you:
- Guest Bedroom Ideas: The #1 Ultimate Guide (From Decor to Office Combos)!
- The Only 7 Office Guest Room Ideas You (Actually) Need To Know About!
- Small Guest Bedroom Ideas: Avoid These Three Things (+15 Expert Decor Tips)!
DINING ROOM WALL ART IDEAS
Unique Wall Art: “What To Think About In Dining Rooms?”
One of the biggest mistakes I see people make in choosing dining room wall art is not thinking about what’s hanging in front of their art from certain viewpoints.
Usually this means their dining room lighting.
Another thing people forget to think about is
how much
their dining room wall art will set the tone when you walk in (or by) the room!
WALL ART FOR DINING ROOM IDEAS
Large Wall Art: “Is Bigger Always Better?”
I typically encourage you readers to go bigger than you think, as too-small items are often a tell-tale sign of a poor design.
And I know you guys are trying to UPLEVEL your spaces, from the organization to the decor! 😉
However, don’t forget about successful use of hierarchy…
For example, the above dining room has two pieces of artwork that aren’t competing — one is quite large and one is much smaller (and even a different shape)!
I teach you my FOUNDATIONAL methods for good design in my Essential Home Guide! It’s literally the #1 step you should do before you buy a single piece of wall art, let alone
before you do anything else in your home!
Another tip: When you use a good minimalist or abstract piece of art in your dining room, don’t be afraid to work with a large pendant as long as it doesn’t distract. Black is great for this. (Above)
By contrast, here’s a similar style piece of large artwork with a more minimalist piece of lighting. You can almost “see through it” to the artwork, so it’s still not distracting even though it’s quite different than a large pendant (or two).
Office art ideas
Fabric Wall Art Ideas!
Entryway wall art ideas:
Big + Neutral + Warm Feel
Like I mentioned at the start of this post, when in doubt, GO BIG!
This one is also a great example similar to many I’ve done for clients, because it has both the neutral + warm feel that works so well in so many different types of unique home styles!
Some variations on the above in increasingly lighter colors are:
- Darker brown abstract painting I like!
- Or a more medium brown step towards the next lighter one…
- A lighter brown-white to grey-black artwork!
And if your walls won’t accomodate (or you determine you don’t need) a tall vertical piece of entryway wall art, don’t forget horizontal options like these!
- This is absolutely gorgeous with warmer neutrals!
- Cooler “silvery” colors (almost metallic)!
- Textural option I like!
wood wall art ideas
Talk About Texture: Wood Wall Art Ideas & Designs!
If your wall needs help from one of the most beautiful natural, organic materials in this universe, you’ll want to go with wood!
The right carved wood piece of wall art can take a room from Blah to Buenisimo in a heartbeat!
Especially when we might want to do some carved wood sculpture in a space, but it’s too tight — putting that “wood sculpture” directly onto the wall is a chef’s kiss solution!
Tip: The below is shown horizontal but 95% of the time I would do it VERTICALLY in a client space!
The movement in this one is fantastic for a room where you want to increase the feel of energy (as opposed to something more calming in a bedroom or bathroom over a tub where you want to relax and not get jazzed up), like a home gym or office space:
Plus I love that they give you the option of three different colors to give the right feel needed in your room design.
GUEST ROOM WALL ART IDEAS
Guest Room Artwork: Don’t Forget About This!
Don’t forget about your guest bedroom! (Even if it doubles as an office, which I’ve written about HERE.)
Many of these unique wall art ideas I’m sharing here are perfect for guest rooms!
Click on the names below to see three guest bedroom resources I’ve created for you:
- Guest Bedroom Ideas: The #1 Ultimate Guide (From Decor to Office Combos)!
- The Only 7 Office Guest Room Ideas You (Actually) Need To Know About!
- Small Guest Bedroom Ideas: Avoid These Three Things (+15 Expert Decor Tips)!
wall art design ideas
Tip: Make It Personal to You!
I tell people the same thing about artwork that I tell them about wine:
Go with what you like best!
Your taste may develop over time, but go with what inspires you NOW!
For example, I love me some Matisse and the organic shapes, so I might do something like this in an office or bathroom in my own home:
Similar to this (in neutrals and colors!):
- Reversed black and white/beige
- I am a sucker for green! If you don’t have a lot of plants in a room, green wall art is one of my favorite ways to bring “life” into your room!
- Set of 3 in a beautiful blue that I kinda want to put in our beach house bathroom
- Fun colors!
- And back to a lovely neutral for a space where you want calm!
CREATIVE WALL ART IDEAS
Multi-Purpose Option
This would be cute in a little girls’ room, or a feminine bedroom, or even a living room or office that fits with your overall aesthetic and goals.
Creative wall art ideas
Tip: Mirrors Can Be Wall Art Too!
Before I move on to the next batch of room ideas (for bedrooms and entryways), I want to mention mirrors because
these can go in any room!
I talk more about types of mirrors in this post about wall decor ideas, so go check those out to read in more detail about everything from angled floor mirrors propped up against the wall to antique treatments on mirrors in a dining room…
…but here are some quick-n-easy options I approve of for mirror ideas!
- A large-yet-simple mirror is my go-to! Remember, when in doubt, go BIG!
- If your room needs to swing the other way, this one is a good classic option with much more detail and interest. (Some rooms need this, some don’t.)
- Many rooms need a round element; use THIS when it does!
- A simpler variation (and will fit with many rooms without being too much of a focal point — you’ll only want ONE primary focal point if you want a good room design.
- This is one you could use for a high-contrast or Spanish-revival style – it’s versatile!
Bonus tip: Use mirrors in any dark spaces where you need to bounce light around!
Moss Wall Art ideas
Unique Wall Art Ideas
Honesty, I’ve never used moss wall art ideas before, but they could be extra-fun in a kids room or a space where you want literally “living color” (and/or don’t want things to be taken too seriously). 🙂
Next…
Don’t assume you can only fill a wall with art – think about the “canvas” of your wall as well by looking at my latest post on walls: Nail It: 35+ Clever Wall Paneling Ideas (+ The Essential 5)!
- WALL DECOR: The (ONLY) 10 Types of Wall Decor You Actually Need to Focus On! 🙂
- BOOKSHELVES: 12+ Modern & Timeless Floor-To-Ceiling Bookshelves (From Built-In To DIY)!
- LAUNDRY: The 13 “Freshest” Laundry Room Decor Ideas & Must-haves!
- BATHROOM: The Genius Hack No One Tells You About!
- MULTI-PURPOSE: The Only 7 Office Guest Room Ideas You (Actually) Need To Know About!
PS: See all our design advice + house projects HERE!
