Oil Painting Ideas to Decorate Your Living Room

Decorating your living room with beautiful oil paintings can immediately uplift the ambiance and give it a touch of class. With the right selection and placement of oil paintings, you can transform the look and feel of your living room. Read on for some key tips and ideas when using oil paintings to decorate your living room.

Oil paintings have been treasured for centuries for their richness, depth of color, and attention to detail. Unlike mass-produced art, each oil painting is unique and handcrafted using time-honored techniques. When you choose an oil painting for your living room, you bring a piece of this artistic heritage into your home.

Determine the Purpose of the Oil Painting

Before purchasing an oil painting, think about whether you want it purely as a decorative accent or as a focal point that anchors the room. As a focal point, the painting will be the star that you design the rest of the room around. For a decorative accent, the painting will complement your existing furnishings and decor.

Take some time to consider your interior design style. Does it lean towards traditional, modern, minimalist, eclectic? Match the painting's style to your overall decor. For example, a classic landscape or still life may suit a traditional living room, while an abstract painting brings a contemporary flair.

Decoration vs Focal Point

If using the oil painting as part of your decorative scheme, choose complementary colors that align with your color palette. Muted tones tend to work well as they don't overwhelm. Place the painting on a wall that is not the main focal point of the room.

For a focal point painting that anchors the room, opt for a bolder, dynamic piece full of rich colors. This type of painting will likely be larger in size. Place it on the living room's main wall so it naturally draws the eye.

Match Painting Style to Living Room Decor

Make sure your selected painting fits in with your existing furniture and decor choices. An impressionist landscape would seem out of place above a sleek, modern sofa. But place it over a mahogany sideboard and leather armchair, and it brings the whole traditional look together.

Likewise, an abstract painting full of spirited colors and shapes will energize a living room with clean, contemporary lines. The eclectic look of a Picasso reproduction could work in either space, providing flexibility.

Consider the Size of the Oil Painting

Oil paintings come in a wide range of sizes, from petite 9" x 12" pieces to large 60" x 40" works of art. Deciding on scale and proportion is key to selecting the right oil painting for your living room.

Large vs Small Oil Paintings

For a living room with high ceilings, a spacious floor plan, and ample wall space, a large statement piece makes sense. The expansive canvas will feel proportional to the room and become a dramatic focal point.

Smaller living rooms call for smaller sized paintings. An intimate 16" x 20" landscape or still life adds a delicate decorative touch without overwhelming the space. Group several small paintings together for a collage effect.

Scale of Painting Relative to Living Room Size

A good rule of thumb is to select a painting size where the width is at least two-thirds to three-quarters the length of your sofa. Large pieces should not exceed the length of the sofa. This pleasing proportional relationship will make the painting seem tailor-made for your living room.

For example, if your sofa is 8 feet long, choose a painting around 5 to 6 feet wide. The oil painting will feel nicely scaled and balanced within the room.

Choose a Suitable Wall for the Oil Painting

Determining the right wall for displaying your oil painting will create a natural focal point. Be sure to select a wall with adequate space to prevent the painting from feeling crowded. Avoid hanging it too high or low on the wall.

Accent Wall vs Main Living Room Wall

Accent walls spotlight a specific decorative element like an oil painting. Often accent walls use a contrasting color or texture to add visual interest. Place your oil painting on an accent wall painted a deeper hue to make it pop.

For open concept living rooms, the main living room wall tends to be the largest and most visible. This wall can handle a big, bold statement piece. Flank it with your sofa, side chairs, and console table to create an artful seating area.

Where the Painting Will Be Visible

Consider the primary places people will view the oil painting from. Make sure to hang it where it can be seen and enjoyed from the kitchen table, sofa, living chairs or other key spots.

Don't hide it away in an isolated corner or high on a side wall. Place the painting where it will draw interest and become a talking point in your living room.

Select a Fitting Oil Painting Style

With so many artistic styles to choose from, deciding on a genre of oil painting can be challenging. Narrow your selection by thinking about the mood you want to create in your living room.

Landscapes, Still Life, Abstract, Portraits

A classic landscape scene brings a soothing natural element indoors. Still life paintings add elegant ambiance with arrangements of flowers, fruit, shells, vases and other objets. For contemporary flair, bold abstract paintings provide captivating colors and shapes.

Portraits allow you to highlight cherished family members or inspirational figures. Just be sure the image size and style complements your decor.

Match Painting Genre to Living Room Style

For a formal, elegant living room, a traditional still life scene or a regal portrait may suit best. In an urban loft with modern furniture, display dynamic abstract paintings and geometric mixed media works.

A beach house calls for nautical oil paintings of seascapes, lighthouses and sailboats. Your options for artfully decorating with oil paintings are truly limitless.

Complement Existing Furniture and Decor

If your living room contains ornate antique furnishings, choose an oil painting with a carved, gilded frame for visual continuity. For mid-century modern decor, select a sleek abstract piece in a simple slender frame.

A vibrant impressionist painting adds cheer alongside worn leather couches and reclaimed wood tables. Allow your existing palette to guide you toward an oil painting genre that enhances the overall feel.

Determine an Oil Painting Color Scheme

Color makes a powerful impact and sets the mood of a room. Carefully consider the color palette of your oil painting and how it will coordinate with the rest of your living room.

Coordinate with Living Room Color Palette

Look at the dominant wall color, furnishings, rugs, and other accents to see what colors are already present. Choose an oil painting featuring analogous hues in similar tonal ranges. This creates a cohesive flow.

You can also opt for complementary colors that contrast yet balance each other. Just be sure the painting's colors remain in alignment with your room's overall aesthetic.

Create a Cohesive Look

An impressionist painting punctuated with bold crimsons and sapphires would clash amongst neutrals and earth tones. But placed in a living room with pops of cranberry and navy, it brings everything together stylishly.

Keep colors cohesive so that your oil painting feels purposefully designed for the space rather than randomly placed. The goal is for all elements to work in harmony.

Consider Light and Mood of the Room

Lighter, airier spaces can handle brighter, more vivid colors while darker enclosed rooms need deeper, more muted hues. Make sure the oil painting's color scheme makes sense with the room's natural light source.

Paintings meant to conjure energy and excitement feature strong, saturated colors. For a calm tranquil vibe, stick to softer muted tones of blues, greens, and grays.