Layering With Wall Art

Finding the perfect piece of wall art to decorate your walls is a task successfully accomplished. Of course, your artwork will probably look attractive hanging on a blank white wall. A further challenge, though, is combining different colors, patterns, and textures on your walls and artwork. Layering artwork requires some careful thought; you don’t want to just add more stuff on a wall. Here are some tips to consider when layering artwork on your walls.

Use background to complement art

The mood and meaning of your artwork can be enhanced by the color and pattern of the wall on which it is hung. For example, layering prints of traditional farmhouses on a panel of faux brick wallpaper adds to the flavor of the art, more than if hung on a plain white wall. Additionally, a particular paint color or wallpaper pattern can give historical context to the piece of art you have chosen. For instance, traditional damask wallpaper complements framed vintage portraits.

Find a unifying color in artwork

Another way that the color of a wall may serve to enhance the artwork is by unifying several pieces of art. If you have a collection of different artwork on the wall, see whether you can find a particular shade that is used in all the pieces. Using that shade as a background wall color will visually pull your collection together.Use color to make artwork stand out. Choosing the color of the backdrop for your artwork can be an important decision for determining the degree to which your artwork with stand out. For instance, a black and white photograph will be more prominent on an orange wall than a white one. Likewise, a painting that has lots of yellow will stand out more on a purple wall than on an orange wall.

Add dimension

A great layering effect can be achieved by adding dramatic three-dimensional art pieces on a painted wall. Metal wall art in vibrant colors and striking lines is a good example. Or try layering a painted wall with decorative tile and a simple wrought iron plaque as a finishing touch.Layer texture. Textured wallpaper can serve as a base for layering artwork of contrasting textures. For example, on a grass cloth wallpaper, hang a sheet of cork board and tack a collection of art prints on it. The layers of texture provide interest in the space and highlight the artwork.

Use frames and mats to define artwork

Layering artwork over heavily patterned wallpaper may result in obscuring or diminishing the impact of the artwork. One way to address this problem is to use frames and mats that stand out against the pattern. For instance, wide mats and solid metal frames help to set apart the pictures from the wallpaper in the background.

Vary height and materials

In addition to hanging it on the walls, artwork may be displayed on a wall shelf. When layering artwork on a wall shelf, place the taller pieces against the wall and smaller items toward the front. Display art of different materials like wood, glass, fabric, and metal to create a more interesting layering effect.

Staff writer for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, Jessica Ackerman, has extensive design experience using metal tree wall art and wall art musical