Decorating a room with a mix of art styles can create a unique and lively atmosphere. Combining different types of art allows your personal tastes to shine through and makes your space truly one-of-a-kind. Whether you love vintage prints, modern abstracts, or surreal art pieces, blending these styles can result in a dynamic and engaging room.
However, mixing and matching art styles requires a thoughtful approach to ensure everything looks cohesive. Without careful planning, different art pieces might clash and create visual chaos. The key is to find common elements that tie everything together, making the room look balanced and harmonious. By understanding the basics of different art styles and applying strategic techniques, you can create a stunning gallery-like space in your home.
In this article, we will explore various tips to mix and match art styles effectively. You’ll learn how to choose a common theme or color scheme, balance different art pieces, and discover creative ways to display your mixed art collection. With these insights, you can transform any room into a visually captivating and stylish haven.
Understanding Different Art Styles
Before you start mixing and matching art, it’s important to understand the different styles you’ll be working with. Each style has distinct characteristics that can influence the vibe of your room. For example, vintage art often features nostalgic and classic elements. These pieces might have muted colors and intricate details, evoking a sense of history and elegance.
Abstract art, on the other hand, focuses on shapes, colors, and forms that don’t represent the real world directly. Abstract pieces can be vibrant and bold or subtle and serene. They add a modern and dynamic feel to your space, drawing attention through their unique compositions.
Surreal art combines realistic elements with fantasy. These artworks might include dreamlike landscapes or strange, imaginative scenes. Surreal pieces bring a sense of wonder and intrigue to your room, sparking curiosity and conversation. By understanding these styles, you can better appreciate their differences and find ways to harmonize them in your decor.
Choosing a Common Theme or Color Scheme
To make different art styles work together, start by choosing a common theme or color scheme. This will create a sense of unity in your room, making diverse pieces look like they belong together. A common theme could be something broad, like nature, which might include landscapes, botanical prints, and wildlife images from different art styles.
Alternatively, you could focus on a specific color palette that runs through all your pieces. For example, if you select shades of blue and green, you can mix vintage seaside photos, abstract blue paintings, and surreal artworks with green elements. The consistent colors will tie everything together, even if the styles differ.
In the example below we have created a gallery wall with grey tones to create a sophisticated and versatile look. You can incorporate black and white toned vintage art for a timeless feel, abstract pieces that use various shades of grey to add depth and texture, and prints with inspirational quotes or words in grey tones for a personal touch. Adding metallic accents like silver or ornaments with metallic elements can enhance the visual interest. Textiles such as fabric art or upholstery in grey tones can introduce different textures, while small decorative mirrors with grey or silver frames can reflect light and make the space feel larger. Themed collections, such as nature-inspired images or architectural images in grey tones, can create a calming and cohesive theme. Using frames in various shades of grey and different styles, along with grey mats, can tie the pieces together. Personal touches like black and white family photos or travel memories in grey tones can make your gallery wall unique and meaningful. By focusing on grey tones, you can achieve a cohesive and elegant gallery wall that feels both modern and timeless.
Another approach is to choose artwork that shares similar moods or tones. Bright, upbeat pieces will complement each other, while darker, more subdued works can create a cohesive, moody atmosphere. By selecting a unifying theme or color scheme, you ensure that your mixed art collection feels intentional and well-coordinated. This foundation will help your room exude harmony and visual interest.
Balancing Different Art Pieces
Balancing different art pieces is essential to create a harmonious look in your room. Start by arranging larger pieces first. These will serve as the main focus and set the stage for the rest of your art. Place them in prominent spots where they can shine. Once the larger pieces are in place, add medium and smaller artworks around them. This staggered approach helps to create visual interest without overwhelming the space. In the gallery wall below the large blue and orange abstract by Duncan Young has been used as a large anchor piece in the middle of the gallery. This makes it much easier to create a cohesive display to either side.
Consider the weight and color of each piece when balancing your art. Heavier, darker pieces should be spread out to avoid making one side of the room feel too heavy. Lighter, more colorful pieces can be used to brighten and lift certain areas. This balance of light and dark, heavy and light, will make your art display feel cohesive and well-thought-out.
Another tip is to mix up the types of frames and materials. Combining different frames and materials like wood, metal, and canvas can add texture and depth to your display. Just be sure to keep some elements, such as frame color or matting, consistent to maintain a sense of unity. By paying attention to these details, you can beautifully balance your mixed art collection.
Creative Display Ideas for Mixed Art Styles
Once you’ve balanced your art pieces, think creatively about how to display them. Gallery walls are a popular choice for mixed art styles. Arrange artworks in a grid or an organic, free-form pattern. A gallery wall can feature various sizes and types of art, creating a dynamic and engaging focal point.
Shelves are another excellent way to display mixed art styles. You can lean framed pieces against the wall and layer them with objects like plants, books, and sculptures. This creates a casual yet stylish look. Shelves allow you to easily change and rearrange your art, keeping your decor fresh and flexible. This is a great choice when using cost effective and sustainable printable artwork as you can change your gallery throughout the year without breaking the bank and be kinder to the planet at the same time.
In our shelf gallery wall below we have created a blue toned gallery which can be used throughout the year but replaced it with a surreal autumn toned gallery wall for October.
For a more structured display, consider using a picture rail. Picture rails offer an elegant way to hang different art styles at varied heights. This method is especially useful if you like to change your art frequently, as you can move pieces without damaging the walls. No matter which display method you choose, the key is to experiment and find what looks best in your space.
Conclusion
Mixing and matching art styles in one room can transform your space into a vibrant and personalized environment. By understanding different art styles, choosing a common theme or color scheme, balancing your art pieces, and displaying them creatively, you can create a harmonious and visually appealing room. This approach to decorating allows you to showcase diverse tastes and interests, making your home feel uniquely yours.
Printable art from Download Artwork provides a perfect solution for experimenting with different styles without a big investment. You can explore our wide range of quality printable art, including vintage, abstract, and surreal pieces, to find what speaks to you. By downloading and printing our artwork, you have the freedom to refresh your decor as often as you like.
Ready to revamp your home with beautiful, versatile art? Visit Download Artwork today and discover the endless possibilities of printable artworks and photography. Unleash your creativity and make every room truly special.