Ahh, the blank wall. When you’re decorating, that open space represents infinite possibilities. But with so many options — canvas, wood, a painting, a picture, or a meaningful quote — it can be really hard to decide where to start.  

To help narrow your focus, this guide takes you on a room-by-room walk through your home, highlighting the key principles to consider when you’re searching for the best wall art ideas for your space.

Ready? Let’s get started.

Bathroom Wall Art: Finding the Right Materials

You didn’t think the tour would start here, did you? But bathrooms are a good place to talk about your options in wall-art materials because there are likely more than you realize.

You can pick from things like:

  • Canvas art or prints: On these, an image (either one you create yourself or one you’ve selected) is printed on a fabric that is stretched over a wooden frame. These pieces don’t need framing, which creates a clean look, and the canvas is often treated, which could help delay moisture damage.
  • Metal prints: This is a very modern-looking option, one that seems to make colors pop and really grabs the viewer’s attention. Like canvas wall art, they can showcase pre-created images or art and photos that you’ve designed. Metal prints are typically made with aluminum because it’s light and durable, so they’re easy to hang.
  • Wall decals and adhesives: These are modern stickers of all sizes that you can attach to the wall. They’re formulated not to damage the paint and can be customized to match your idea or the room’s style.
  • Tapestries or fabric-inspired art: These options can bring another texture to a room, adding warmth and making the space inviting. Use caution choosing them for a bathroom or kitchen, however, because they can be tough to keep clean and mildew-free.
  • Wood art: Images on wood are incredibly popular because they reflect rustic and natural trends. Like the other examples in this list, you can find a pre-made wood art option, or you can have one custom printed. (Whether this works in your bathroom will depend on its overall décor style.)
  • Posters: Posters are an economical option that can be much more elegant than the choices you might have seen on teenagers’ walls. Keep in mind that posters are paper, so they’ll need to be protected with a frame in a damp space like your bathroom or kitchen.

Living Room Art: Showing Your Personal Style

Your living room, the dining room, an entryway — places your guests tend to see first and most often — are the areas where you can really put your personality and style on display.

One of the best ways to do that is to choose what your art shows. Do you want something concrete or something more abstract? Depending on your personal style, that might mean displaying a photograph, a painting, or even a favorite quote.

Kitchen Wall Art: Working With What You’ve Got

The kitchen is a perfect place to remind you that your style isn’t the only consideration when picking the best wall art. You also need to suit the room itself, factoring in things like fixtures you can’t move, windows, and lighting. (Modern art might be distracting in a cozy log cabin, for instance.)

Why the kitchen?  Because it’s one of the rooms where your wall décor options are most constrained. Think about what you can’t change — the cabinets and appliances, the flooring and lighting, and choose art that complements it.

Bedroom Wall Art: Using Space Effectively

Bedrooms almost always have at least one great big wall space to decorate: The area above the bed. That makes your bedroom the ideal spot for thinking about how to fill a big wall.

You could choose to use an extra large or oversized statement piece. This will have a powerful impact on the room’s mood. But you could also fill big spaces with a collection of smaller objects in a themed gallery display or by selecting wall panels that go together to create an impactful single piece.

With these guides in mind, it can be fun to fill those blank walls with art you’ll truly love.