Choosing Art Without Overthinking It
Art is one of the most personal parts of a home—and also one of the places people tend to freeze. Art can be expensive, can feel random, and just too time consuming to get around to
The good news? There are very few hard rules. But there are a handful of tricks that make choosing and living with art feel easier and more intuitive.
Let’s start with the biggest one.
Many People Choose Art That’s Too Small
If you’re unsure between two sizes, go bigger.
Small art can easily feel lost on a wall, especially in rooms with standard or higher ceilings. As a general guideline:
Over furniture, art should be about ⅔–¾ the width of what’s below it
On a large wall, one substantial piece often works better than several tiny ones
Don’t be afraid of negative space around the art—scale matters more than filling every inch
Larger art grounds a space and helps it feel intentional rather than tentative.
Support Working Artists (It Feels Good—and Looks Good Too)
One of my favorite ways to find art is by supporting artists who are actively working today. Original art brings depth and personality to a home, and knowing the story behind a piece makes it even more meaningful.
A few artists I love:
Many of these artists offer both originals and prints. Originals make incredibly special gifts or meaningful pieces for milestones, while prints are a more affordable way to build a collection over time.
Frame Kids’ Art (and Their Notes!)
Kids’ artwork doesn’t need to live only on the fridge.
Framing a favorite drawing, painting, or even a sweet handwritten note instantly elevates it—and tells your child that their work matters. Simple frames work best, and rotating pieces in the same frame keeps things fresh without adding clutter.
These are often the pieces people treasure the most years later.
Use Washi Tape
Not everything needs to be framed—and sometimes the charm is in not making it look too planned.
Washi tape is one of my favorite ways to display kids’ art, sweet notes, postcards, or random drawings that deserve a moment on the wall. It’s low-commitment, easy to change out, and adds a playful, relaxed feel that works especially well in kitchens, hallways, playrooms, or near desks.
A few tips:
Use simple colors or subtle patterns so the art stays the focus
Let pieces overlap slightly for a collected, casual look
Don’t over-align—slightly imperfect placement is part of the charm
This approach makes it easy to rotate artwork often, keeps walls from feeling overdesigned, and signals that creativity is welcome here. It’s fun, flexible, and very real-life friendly.
Frame Images from Art Books
Another favorite trick: buy beautiful art books and frame pages you love.
Artists like Lois Dodd and Fairfield Porter have books filled with incredible images that look stunning when framed. This is an affordable way to bring art into your home—and it’s completely okay to use books this way if it brings the work into your daily life.
If you have the space, consider getting a mat cutter. It’s one of those tools that quietly changes everything:
You can use inexpensive standard frames
Customize the mat to perfectly fit the image
Instantly make book pages or prints look custom and intentional
It’s a small investment that opens up a lot of flexibility.
Think About Color—But Don’t Over-Control It
When choosing art, notice how colors relate to each other across your home. You don’t need a perfect match, but some cohesion helps spaces feel connected.
A few simple tips:
Pull one or two colors from nearby furniture or textiles
Let art introduce new colors, then echo them subtly elsewhere
Remember: you see different art in different rooms—everything doesn’t need to match perfectly
Homes feel more collected and layered when art evolves naturally rather than being overly planned.
You Don’t Have to Fill Every Wall
This one is important.
Not every wall needs art. Some spaces benefit from breathing room. Whether your home feels best with full gallery walls or just a few thoughtfully placed pieces depends entirely on your personal style.
Art should feel joyful—not like a checklist.
Trust Your Eye
At the end of the day, the best art is the art you love living with. Choose pieces that make you pause, smile, or feel something. Scale them generously, frame them thoughtfully, and let your collection grow over time.
That’s how homes start to tell real stories.
