Selecting art for your house can be a labor of love. Whether it’s an original painting or drawing, a mass-produced print or a wonderful photograph, your art helps to tell a story and define your own style. I think art makes the best impression when it is surrounded by color.
You may be tempted to leave your walls white so they don’t remove from your masterpiece, but consider this: color brings out color, and in the case of black and white art, color brings out detail. If you have put careful thought into choosing and organizing your bits, then it simply makes sense to place the same amount of consideration into picking a brilliant background hue.
More color guides
Twenty7 layout
You can never go wrong if you hang on your art on a wall painted with a neutral hue. To make a stunning space, pick a darker shade, such as dim bluish gray.
Paint Pick: Stonecutter 2135-20 by Benjamin Moore
Peg Berens Interior Design LLC
A lilac stripe highlights the art display in this space. This shade not just joins in with the room’s decor, but in addition, it helps to create a focal point by placing the accent on the art. This is an excellent choice to painting an entire wall.
Paint Pick: Obil Lilac 6556 by Sherwin Williams
Marie Burgos Design
A sky blue wall makes a nice contrast against this mostly-white art bit. Both the art and wall color have an ethereal appearance, which provides this bedroom a calm and stylish feel.
Paint Pick: Candid Blue 6953 by Sherwin Williams
VisuaLingual
Within this retro-inspired space, avocado green walls are the ideal complement to the artwork and accessories. The color is a nod to ’70s and the’60s.
Paint Pick: Sassy Green 6416 by Sherwin Williams
KannCept Design, Inc..
For a seamless look, pick a wall color that will camouflage your frames. The light periwinkle hue in this eating area allows the silver frames to mix right in, leaving the accent on every block of color.
Paint Pick: Mild Blue 6533 by Sherwin Williams
Integrated
If your art has vivid hues, do not think your wall color has to be equally vibrant. Softer, muted paint colours will permit your bit to shine, while playing down the rest of the room.
Paint Pick: Honeywheat 179 by Benjamin Moore
Peg Berens Interior Design LLC
Here, a vibrant shade of coral is your backdrop for art that features subdued colours. Colour tones bring interest and balance .
Paint Pick: Italiano Rose 2087-30 by Benjamin Moore
Michelle Hinckley
A display of photos ties in with the white accents in this room. With so much white, a striking yellow wall shade allows the art and furnishings to pop without overpowering the space.
Paint Pick: Quilt Gold 6696 by Sherwin Williams
Shoshana Gosselin
Black-and-white photos stand out against a profound wall shade. This focal wall reinforces the room’s entire color scheme of black, white, gray and terra cotta.
Paint Pick: Sedona Clay 2174-30 by Benjamin Moore
Next: More color guides
How to Obtain the Ideal Gray
A Gallery Wall for Every Character