How to Style Large Wall Art Without Overwhelming the Room
Share
Large wall art has an incredible way of transforming a space. It can make a room feel polished, intentional, and full of personality. A single oversized print can act as a focal point, set the emotional tone, or pull a whole interior style together. But many people hesitate to go big because they worry it might overpower the room.
The truth is, large art can look beautifully balanced and harmonious — you just need a few gentle styling principles to guide you. With thoughtful placement and the right supporting elements, oversized pieces make a space feel calmer, more cohesive, and more spacious, not crowded.
Here’s a friendly, practical guide to styling large landscape prints so they elevate your room without overwhelming it.
1. Choose a Piece That Matches the Room’s Mood
Large art makes a statement, so the emotional tone of the artwork matters even more. When a big piece carries the right mood for the room, it feels naturally “at home” instead of intrusive.
Ask yourself:
What feeling do I want this room to radiate?
- Calm and peaceful? Choose soft oceans, gentle forests, or misty horizons.
- Vibrant and energised? Mountains, sunsets, dramatic coastlines, or bold colours work beautifully.
- Grounded and cosy? Earthy deserts, warm tones, or deep greens support a comforting atmosphere.
When the mood of the art matches the intention of the space, the piece blends effortlessly.
2. Let the Artwork Breathe
Negative space — the empty area around a large piece — is your friend. It’s what keeps big artwork feeling airy rather than heavy.
A helpful guideline:
Make sure the artwork has at least a hand’s width of visual breathing room on each side.
If the wall is too cramped, the print will look squeezed. But with space around it, the artwork feels intentional and elegant.
Rooms where this works especially well:
- Above a sofa
- Behind a bed
- On a long empty wall
- Above a console or sideboard
Think of the space around the piece as part of the artwork’s frame.
3. Anchor the Art With Furniture
One of the easiest ways to make large art feel balanced is to anchor it to a piece of furniture rather than hanging it on an isolated wall.
This creates structure, harmony, and a clear visual relationship between the piece and the room.
Great anchoring options:
- A sofa
- A bed headboard
- A dining table
- A console table
- A credenza or entertainment unit
When the artwork is centred above a grounding object, it becomes part of a cohesive vignette rather than floating alone.
4. Pay Attention to Height — It Matters More Than You Think
Hanging large art too high is one of the most common styling mistakes. When it’s placed at the right height, the piece feels integrated and connected to the room.
The sweet spot:
Hang the centre of the artwork at eye level (roughly 145–155 cm from the floor).
This creates a natural, soothing line for the eye to rest on. If the art is above furniture, the bottom edge should sit about 12–20 cm above the item below it.
When the height is right, the room feels calmer instantly.
5. Keep the Colour Palette Gentle and Harmonious
Large prints take up a lot of visual space, so choosing an artwork with a balanced colour palette helps it settle softly into the room.
If your space is already colourful:
Pick a landscape with softer tones that complement what you already have.
If your space is neutral:
Feel free to go bold or keep it minimal — both work beautifully depending on the mood you want.
A simple trick is to choose artwork that includes at least one colour already present in the room, even if subtly. This creates a sense of fluidity and cohesion.
6. Mind the Frame: Subtle Is Often Better
The frame plays a huge role in how the piece interacts with the room. A very thick or ornate frame can overwhelm small spaces.
For large art, minimal frames usually create the cleanest look:
- Thin black frames for modern or Scandinavian interiors
- Natural wood frames for warm, earthy spaces
- White frames for coastal and relaxed homes
- Floating frames for a refined, gallery-inspired feel
When the frame is simple, the artwork becomes the hero — not the edges around it.
7. Use Large Art to Open Up the Room, Not Close It
Landscape photography is incredible for this because it naturally creates a sense of depth and expansion. Big landscapes can actually make small rooms feel larger, not smaller.
Scenes that open up space beautifully include:
- Wide ocean horizons
- Mountain ranges with open skies
- Rolling hills or misty valleys
- Long forest pathways
- Minimalist deserts or plains
These give the illusion of stepping “through” the wall, which brings a feeling of spaciousness to the entire room.
8. Keep the Surroundings Simple
If you’re using a bold or oversized piece, let it shine by keeping the surrounding décor a little more subtle.
This doesn’t mean the room has to be minimalistic, just gently balanced.
A few examples:
- Don’t cluster too many small frames nearby.
- Use décor pieces that complement the artwork rather than compete with it.
- Let the colours in the art echo through cushions, throws, or plants.
When you simplify the surroundings, the art feels purposeful and harmonious.
9. Consider Pairing Large Art With Soft Textures
Large-scale prints look even more inviting when paired with natural textures like linen, timber, rattan, wool, or soft fabrics.
This helps balance the visual weight of the artwork and creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Try combining your print with:
- Linen sofas or throws
- Woven baskets
- Timber sideboards
- Soft rugs
- Potted plants or dried branches
Textures create depth, grounding the artwork so it feels perfectly placed.
10. Trust Your Eye: If It Feels Balanced, It Is Balanced
Styling is personal. Rooms have their own personalities, and so do you. Large wall art doesn’t need to follow rigid rules — it just needs to feel right to you.
A simple test is to step back and ask:
- Does this feel calm?
- Does the room feel balanced?
- Does the artwork pull me in instead of overwhelm me?
- Does the space feel more “me” with this piece here?
If the answer is yes to any of these, you’re on the right track.
Large Wall Art Should Feel Like an Invitation, Not a Statement
When styled thoughtfully, oversized landscape prints don’t dominate a room — they elevate it. They create a focal point that’s soothing, inspiring, and emotionally grounding. They bring more presence, more beauty, and more meaning into your space.
With gentle colour harmony, the right placement, and a bit of breathing room, large art becomes a natural part of your home — a piece that supports the atmosphere you love.