What Is Wall Art Called: A Total Complete Guide 2024

So, if you’re here then you’re probably wondering: “What Is Wall Art Called?”

Wall art, also commonly referred to as wall decor, encompasses any artwork, decoration, or design mounted on a wall. Wall art includes a wide variety of options from classic framed prints, posters, and paintings to modern 3D screen decor pieces and functional décor like mounted mirrors or shelving.

With so many possibilities, it can be hard to know where to start when decorating your walls. This Nousdecor guide will break down the most popular types of wall art and design so you can find pieces that fit your personal style and complement your space.

Key Takeaways of What Is Wall Art Called

Wall art includes paintings, prints, posters, photography, mirrors, shelves, and 3D pieces.
Consider the style, color scheme, size, and arrangement when choosing wall art.
Frames, gallery walls, wall decals, and murals are great wall decor options.
Make sure wall art fits the overall aesthetic and purpose of the room.
Wall art brings visual interest, personality, and style to any indoor space.

Defining the Main Terms for Wall Art

Let’s start by looking at some of the main terms used to describe the different forms of wall art:

Painting: An original art design created by applying pigment to a surface like canvas or paper. Paintings may use various mediums like oil, acrylic, watercolor, etc.
Print: A reproduction of an original art design created through a process where ink is transferred to paper. Common types are serigraphs, lithographs, digital prints, etc.
Poster: An artistic print, often with text, made for mass production and public display. May depict artwork, photographs, or promotional content.
Photography: Photographic imprints of images captured with a camera. Black and white or colored images printed on paper or canvas.
Mirror: A reflective glass surface mounted on a wall that serves both decorative and functional purposes. Learn wall decor with mirrored art now!
Wall Decals: Plastic stickers and designs that adhere to walls to create decorative effects, patterns, or images. Also referred to as wall stickers.
Shelving: Wall-mounted storage units like floating shelves, rail systems, or cubbies are used decoratively to display items.
Mural: A large artistic design like a hand-painted image or photograph directly applied to a wall or ceiling.
Graffiti: A style of artistic street art done by spraying, marking, or carving images, letters, and shapes on surfaces.
Canvas: Woven fabric (usually cotton) used as the surface for paintings. Can be stretched over a wooden frame.

Now that we’ve defined some of the main mediums and styles, let’s look at some of the most popular types of wall art.

Framed Art Prints and Posters

One of the most common and affordable options for adding art to your walls is framed imprints and posters. Reproductions of existing art designs printed on paper or canvas can be displayed in standard or custom picture frames. Sizes can range from small 5×7 imprints to large canvas gallery wraps.

Framed prints allow you to decorate with high-quality replications of great masterworks, photographs, or modern pop culture images. Frames also give prints a polished finished look. Choose wide ornate frames for traditional décor or sleek modern frames in colors that pop for contemporary styles.

Original Paintings and Photography

For unique art designs, consider investing in original paintings or photographs. Local artists and photographers at art fairs, craft shows, and galleries offer one-of-a-kind creations to liven up your walls. Commissioning a custom painting of a favorite place or person can add special meaning. Limited edition numbered prints signed by the artist are also typically available.

When purchasing original art design, pay attention to the materials and techniques used. Oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media? Abstract, impressionist, modern styles? Match the painting style and subject to your overall design tastes.

Large Scale Canvas Prints

Another way to make a bold visual impact with art design is to go extra large. Oversized canvas prints can transform any space. Photo printing services through online galleries allow you to blow up your high-resolution personal images captured on your trips, of your family, pets – anything meaningful to you.

Extra large canvas prints work great as the focal point above sofas, beds, and fireplaces. Scale up a breathtaking landscape photo or fun candid shot for lots of artistic flair. For huge wall murals, professional photographers also sell images of cities, landscapes, abstract designs, etc. printed on multiple canvas panels.

Gallery Walls Showcase Eclectic Mix

One trendy way to display a curated collection of varied wall art is through gallery-styled arrangements. Gallery walls feature an eclectic ensemble of frames, prints, paintings, photos, mirrors, etc. grouped closely together on one wall. You can combine different shapes, sizes, colors, and subject matters for a collage effect.

When planning a gallery arrangement, map out the positioning of artworks on the wall before hanging for optimal flow. Use templates if needed to play with layouts. Mix in some floating shelves for additional display space within your clustered gallery of art.

Styled and Themed Wall Décor

For a coordinated decorative wall design, consider a themed or styled wall décor concept. Arrange wall artworks that share a common style, color scheme, or subject matter. Some ideas:

Botanical prints, plant shelves, floral decals
Black and white cityscape images
Beach cottage vibe with shells, starfish mirrors, driftwood wall art decor
Rustic charm with Barnwood signs, mason jar sconces
Minimalist gallery wall in neutral tones

Whatever you’re passionate about, you can create a stylized wall décor display with art and accents centered around that idea, hobby, interest, or aesthetic.

Make Your Own DIY Wall Art

If you want to get creative, there are endless possibilities for Do-It-Yourself wall art projects to spruce up your space with handmade touches. DIY wall art decor ideas include:

Wood Wall Art: Use reclaimed wood slices, boards, pallets, etc. to craft signs, monograms, and geometric designs to mount.
Painted Canvas: Make abstract painted designs on blank canvases using colors and techniques that appeal to you.
Framed Collections: Arrange and frame special memorabilia or 3D found objects like pressed flowers.
Fabric Wall Hangings: Felt balls, pom poms, woven fabrics like macrame become artsy wall hangings
Vinyl Wall Quotes: Use removable wall decals and vinyl to stencil inspiring quotes or meaningful words.

Not artsy? Try painting, drawing, or decoupaging a favorite Bible verse, inspirational quote, or printed typography as easy DIY wall art.

Choosing Artwork for Each Room

Now let’s explore how to select wall art for different rooms based on their aesthetic, purpose, and unique considerations:

Wall Art for Living Rooms

As the main gathering place in most homes, the living room deserves special wall décor. For backgrounds behind seating areas, lean into inspiring landscape photography, colorful abstracts, or oversized prints. Shelves let you display collectibles. Mirrors make small spaces appear larger.

Enhancing living space — Wall Art for Living Rooms

Wall Art for Bedrooms

In restful bedrooms, choose peaceful wall art that promotes tranquility. Botanical prints, flowing fabrics, gentle Impressionistic styles, or muted color palettes help continue the zen vibe. Black and white photos add modern flair without being too distracting.

Wall Art for Kitchens

Stylish kitchen wall art tends to be decorative yet functional. Vintage tin signs, floating shelves, rail systems with hooks, and wall-mounted utensil displays keep useful items attractively organized while personalizing the cooking space.

Wall Art for Home Offices

Stimulate productivity in home offices with inspiring quotes, prints related to your profession, organization tips, or any art design with an uplifting theme or color palette. Framed maps, reminder boards, and gallery walls also neatly liven up workspaces.

Wall Art for Kid’s Rooms

For children’s rooms, look for fun, colorful artwork that aligns with their interests. Character prints, alphabet art, maps, sports themes (see soccer wall art for fans), and educational artworks make learning delightful. Frame kids’ art designs to display their creations.

Wall Art Display Tips

To make your screen decor really stand out, keep these tips in mind:

Choose sizes and proportions fitting the wall space. Art too small gets overpowered, and too large looks disproportionate.
Hang art at eye level for best viewing. Larger pieces can be placed slightly higher.
Frame, mat, and style art to suit the room’s color scheme and decor.
Group pieces thematically for a cohesive gallery wall aesthetic.
Add visual interest by layering art over wallpaper, wainscoting, shelving, etc.
Properly secure frames and canvases on walls using anchors suited for the weight.
Adjust the placement of leaning mirrors and shelves for ideal angles.
Re-arrange displays seasonally or when you need a change.

With the right placement and presentation, you can take any wall from blank to beautiful!

Frequently Asked Questions

Great screen decor doesn’t have to be expensive. Affordable options include posters, prints of famous paintings, canvas prints from your own photos, wall decals, and DIY projects like painting, framed collections, wood signs, etc. Watch for screen decor sales.

Both shopping online and in stores have pros and cons. Viewing screen decor online allows you to see more selections and customer photos. But buying in person lets you evaluate quality and scale. Mix online browsing with visits to local shops.

Select screen decor that fits the room’s purpose and decor style. Consider the color scheme, size, medium, subject matter, arrangement, etc. Focus on your interests and what makes you happy when choosing art.

Use the right hardware for each piece’s size and weight. Small pieces under 15 lbs can use adhesive hooks. For larger heavier art, use anchors and screws drilled into studs. Hang art at around eye level for best ergonomic viewing.

Matching all frames creates uniformity, which works well in modern or minimalist rooms. Mixing frame sizes, colors, and styles is preferable for eclectic gallery wall arrangements. Choose a frame aesthetic enhancing the art.

Conclusion

The options for stylish, meaningful screen decor are endless. By learning the different mediums and design styles available, you can creatively decorate walls that reflect your personality and inspire you. Use this guide’s tips to display stunning gallery walls or standalone focal artworks.

With so many possibilities, you can easily refresh screen decor for any new season or stage of life. Let your love of art shine by filling your home with pieces that make your heart sing.