Abstract & Textured Wall Art: How to Choose and Style It

Abstract & Textured Wall Art: How to Choose and Style It

By Louise, Founder of Rugicity

Abstract wall art and textured wall art are the quickest way I know to give a room a focal point. The right piece sets the colours for everything around it, and it can make a plain wall look finished. In this guide I’ll show you how to choose a piece, where to hang it, and how to match it to your rugs. Every piece I mention is in my Abstract & Textured Wall Art collection.

What is textured wall art?

Textured wall art has a surface you can see and feel, rather than a flat print. The layers and raised areas catch the light differently as the day moves on, so the piece looks slightly different in the morning and in the evening. That makes it a good choice for a wall that feels flat, or a room with lots of smooth surfaces.

How do I choose abstract wall art for my room?

Start with the colours already in the room, then choose one of three directions:

• Neutral and earthy: the safest choice for a calm room. Pieces like the Astratto Textured Wall Art in Neutral Tones and the Astratto Earthy Tones Textured Wall Art sit easily with beige, cream and brown furniture.
• Blue and gold: more of a statement. The Astratto Blue And Gold Wall Art and the Astratto Blue and Gold Foil Wall Art work well when you want one strong colour on the wall and everything else kept quiet.
• Black and white: crisp and graphic. The Astratto Black and White Abstract Hand Painted Wall Art suits a room with lots of warm wood or soft furnishings, because it gives the eye somewhere sharp to land.

If you can’t decide, pick the colour that appears least in your room and let the art introduce it.

Can my wall art match my rug?

Yes, and it’s one of my favourite ways to make a room look pulled together. You don’t need an exact match. Pick one or two colours from the rug and let the art repeat them.

Two examples from my own collections:

• The Safira Black Deco Print Wall Art shares its deco pattern with my Black Leather Rug, Deco Style and its matching pouffe, so you can coordinate the whole corner.
• The Astratto Retro Grace Stripes Wall Art is black and white, so it complements a black patchwork leather rug without trying to copy it.

If you’re still choosing the rug, my black leather rugs guide shows how I’d style one.

What is hair-on leather patchwork wall art?

Hair-on means the cow’s natural hair is left on during tanning, which gives the leather its soft, textured look. The Safira Botanical Hair on Leather Patchwork Wall Art is made this way. Because it’s a natural material, every piece has its own pattern and tone, so yours will be one of a kind. It’s a lovely partner for a leather rug or pouffe from my leather rugs collection.

How high should I hang my wall art?

Here is what I’d do in any room:

• Hang the centre of the piece at about eye level, roughly 145cm from the floor.
• Above a sofa or bed, leave a gap of about 15 to 25cm between the furniture and the bottom of the frame.
• Over furniture, choose art about two thirds the width of the piece below it, so the wall looks balanced.
• Check the size on the product page before you buy, and mark the space on the wall with masking tape first. It takes two minutes and shows you straight away whether it’s too small.

Should I choose one piece or a set of two?

A single large piece makes a strong focal point, so it suits a feature wall or a space above a sofa. A set of two suits a taller or narrower wall, or a spot where you want the eye to travel across. I have two sets: the Astratto Set of 2 Abstract Earthy Tones Canvas Wall Art and the Astratto Set of 2 Geometric Abstract Canvas Wall Art. Hang the pair close together, with a gap of a few centimetres, so they read as one design.

Where does wall art work best?

Wherever you already stop and look. My top three are:

• Living room: above the sofa, working with the colours in your living room rug.
• Bedroom: above the bed, where a calm neutral piece sets the mood. See my bedroom rugs for colours to match.
• Hallway: facing the front door, so it’s the first thing you see when you walk in.

FAQs

What is the difference between abstract and textured wall art?
Abstract art uses shapes, colour and brushwork instead of showing a recognisable scene. Textured art has a raised or layered surface. Many pieces are both.

What colour wall art goes with a neutral room?
Blue and gold or black and white give a neutral room a clear point of interest. Earthy tones keep it soft and calm.

Can I mix different pieces of wall art on one wall?
Yes. Keep one colour in common across the pieces so they look chosen together.

Is it better to buy wall art that matches my rug?
You don’t need an exact match. Repeating one or two colours from your rug is enough to tie the room together.

Can I ask you which piece suits my room?
Of course. That’s what I’m here for.

Need help choosing?

If you’re unsure which piece or which rug goes with it, ask Louise. There are no bots and no scripts, just me, and I’ll happily help you put the room together.

Louise x