Living room wall decor ideas work best when the walls show something only your home has: your own photos. Below are 7 simple ways to turn holiday snaps and family photos into living room wall art, from one big canvas to a shelf you can restyle in a minute.
Shop living room wall art
Jump to: 7 ideas · Right size and height · FAQs
7 living room wall decor ideas
1. One big canvas above the sofa
The simplest idea is often the best, like the one at the top of this page. One large photo, like a favourite holiday view, fills the wall above the sofa without any planning. Aim for about two thirds of the sofa's width.
Turn your favourite photo into a canvas print, in Classic or the 4.5 mm thin Canvas Air.
2. A neat grid of square photos
Same size, same gaps, rows and columns. A grid looks tidy even when the photos are very different, so it's a great home for a year of travel or family photos.
Photo tiles stick to the wall without nails, so you can line up the grid and move tiles until it's straight.
3. Prints leaning on a shelf
No measuring and no holes. Lean one or two framed prints on a shelf or sideboard, add a plant or a few books, and swap the photos whenever you like.
Our framed prints come in black, brown or white and can hang or stand.
4. A gallery wall of mixed frames
Lots of photos in different sizes, built around one bigger frame. It takes a little planning, but it's the most personal wall in the house.
See our gallery wall ideas for layouts, sizes and how to hang one.
5. One photo across three canvases
Got a wide photo you love, like a city skyline or a beach? Split it across three panels for a bold, calm wall above a long sofa.
Try a split canvas in 3 or 4 panels.
6. A family collage on one canvas
Several family photos, one piece. A collage canvas tells a bigger story than a single photo, and it's easier to hang than a full gallery wall.
Design a collage canvas print with your favourite family photos.
7. A metal print for a modern look
Metal prints have a high-gloss finish that makes colours look bright, which suits a modern living room. One square print above a console table is enough.
Choose a metal print in square or rectangle sizes.
How to choose the right size and height
- Width: make your wall art about two thirds as wide as the sofa or sideboard below it.
- Height above a sofa: leave 20 to 25 cm between the sofa back and the bottom of the art.
- On an open wall: hang the centre of the art 145 to 152 cm from the floor.
- Gaps: keep 5 to 8 cm between frames in a grid or gallery wall.
Not sure how big to go? Cut paper to the size and tape it to the wall for a day before you order.
Frequently asked questions
How can I make my living room walls look nice?
Pick one focal wall, usually above the sofa, and give it one big piece or a planned group of photos. Keep frame colours the same and leave the other walls calmer.
What is the 3-5-7 rule for decorating?
It's a simple guideline: group things in odd numbers, like 3, 5 or 7. Odd groups tend to look more natural than even ones, so try 3 frames on a shelf or 5 in a small gallery wall.
What is the best wall decor for a living room?
Something personal and the right size. A large canvas of a favourite photo, or a grid of family photos, makes the room feel like yours in a way shop-bought art can't.
How high should pictures hang above a sofa?
Leave about 20 to 25 cm between the top of the sofa and the bottom of the frame. Any higher and the art looks disconnected from the furniture.
Start with your favourite photo
Every living room wall starts with one photo you love. Pick your favourite and browse our wall art to find the right size and finish.
More ideas for your home: bedroom wall decor ideas and 10 wall decor ideas using your own photos.
