If you’re looking to up your bedroom wall decor game, bedroom wall art ideas are a fabulous place to start.
Experimenting with different forms of wall art is half the fun – there are so many ways to incorporate art into your bedroom ideas, whether that’s through traditional canvas paintings, photo prints, or tapestries and tufted wall hangings.
‘More than ever, shoppers are purchasing items that bring them joy and reflect their individuality, and many are turning to handmade wall art to add one-of-a-kind touches to their bedroom walls’, says Etsy (opens in new tab) Trend Expert Dayna Isom Johnson.
‘Art can really transform a room. From adding colour, texture and design, it’s an easy way to decorate and personalise a space’, agrees Harriet Pringle, Founder of second-hand homeware app Narchie (opens in new tab).
Bedroom wall art ideas to upgrade your space
The process of bringing wall art into the bedroom should be driven by the pieces you’re personally drawn to, and what you can visualise having a home for in your room. Whether you’re looking for bedroom accent wall ideas or simply to add a couple of understated pieces here and there, our bedroom wall art ideas will help you make a drastic impact with minimal fuss.
1. Create a feature wall
(Image credit: Future PLC)
A feature wall is a great way to experiment with different types of wall art, without changing the whole dynamic of the room. ‘Art is a very individual choice, but sometimes it pays to move outside your comfort zone, and feature walls give people the opportunity to do this. After all, you’re only experimenting on one wall! ’ says Sam Baldry, Head of Design at Swoon (opens in new tab).
A feature wall can have a dramatic and stylish effect in a bedroom, especially if it combines art and accessories in various colours. Play around with some bedroom picture wall ideas and select couple of different prints, photos and other pieces that matches your chosen colour scheme.
2. Create a flexible display with shelves
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Bedroom shelves are a create way to style wall art without the commitment to a nail and picture hook. They will look stylish when layered up with different art pieces, their is also the added benefit that they can easily be updated as your tastes change.
‘To create the ultimate shelf wall design, I’d opt for open backed shelving or individual shelves that allow the colour of the wall to be exposed, without it dominating the room,’ Swoon’s Sam Baldry advises. ‘This way interest can easily be added to the bold expanse of wall, without detracting from its colour or design.’
IKEA sells a range of picture ledges from £5 (opens in new tab)in a range of finishes. For a discreet shelving look, try the IKEA hack of painting the ledge the same colour as your wall to allow the wall art to stand out.
3. Choose calming watercolours for a relaxing effect
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Given’s the bedroom role as a sanctuary to wind down, including wall art with a relaxing effect when decorating above a bed can help invoke a calm atmosphere in the room.
‘A bedroom should feel like your own personal sanctuary, so I recommend opting for calming watercolours, soft abstracts, or blue tones that add a touch of serenity, while also adding visual interest to your space,’ says Etsy Trend Expert Dayna Isom Johnson.
Opt for a beautiful canvas painting above the bed, or stack two watercolour images above each other above a bedside table.
4. Combine art and accessories
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Combining wall art with other furnishings and accessories can really complement your chosen pieces. ‘Mix art prints, photographs, hanging plants and mirrors that all share common colours or metals for a varied display – the key is to aim for coherent and interesting, not messy!’ says interior designer Sam Baldry.
There are no rules with this one, so play around with different combinations to see what looks good in your bedroom. Your art and other decor should work together to naturally draw the eye without being overbearingly loud.
5. Hang tapestries for texture
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Tapestries, quilts and even rugs are a different way to incorporate wall art into the bedroom, and will add texture to the space to make it feel more homely.
Hang these on walls that are bare, or incorporate them into feature walls to complement framed art and prints. You can use them to bring accent colours into the room, and they’ll complement other soft decor like blankets and cushions piled on a mattress perfectly.
6. Incorporate a sophisticated print gallery
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Select a few photo prints that complement each other’s style, tone and subjects. Place them in matching frames and for a sophisticated photo gallery wall.
‘Whilst the framed art is still on the floor, take a few minutes to experiment with the placing’, advises Annica Wallin, Executive Creative Director at Desenio (opens in new tab). ‘Start with a large art print as the focal point and add the smaller prints around to create a structured gallery wall.’
7. Hanging plates are for bedrooms too
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Though we typically tend to keep our plates in the kitchen, hanging them on a bedroom wall is a fun way to mix up the decor and incorporate a different type of wall art into the space.
‘I’m a huge fan of hanging plates’, says homeware expert Harriet Pringle. ‘It’s a lovely way to show off beautiful china that may otherwise be hidden in a cupboard.’ One large plate could act as a standalone centerpiece, or you could place a few smaller plates with matching designs next to each other.
8. Try the tufted wall art trend
(Image credit: GroovyLittleMama)
Tufted wall art was revealed by Etsy to be one of the big home decor trends of the year, and with the variety of designs to choose from, it’s not hard to see why.
Tufted art combines felt and other fabrics to create wall hangings that are soft, textured and comforting. They add visual interest to a room and are sure to make the bedroom feel cosier, which we love. Mirrors and photo frames with a tufted felt finish are also a great way to try out the trend.
9. Match art with patterned wallpaper
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Placing art on top of patterned bedroom wallpaper ideas doesn’t have to be a no-go, and in fact can be a really stylish way to make a statement wall in the bedroom.
‘Art prints combined with patterned walls can be a match made in heaven if the order and structure connect with each other’, says Annica Wallin from Desenio. ‘The best way to create a pleasing aesthetic is using on-trend colours that harmonise with each other.’ If your wallpaper is dominated with grey tones for instance, look for art pieces that carry elements of this.
10. Use an easel to hold a statement art piece
(Image credit: Desenio)
Easels have seen a popular resurgence in recent years, as a quirky way to add a hint of traditionalism to a room. And, they look great holding a statement piece of artwork.
‘Displaying on-trend artwork on an easel is an alternative way to create a statement focal point in the bedroom’, says Desenio’s Annica Wallin. Place this in a part of the room where you have a little more floor space, perhaps in a corner, and away from other artwork so your chosen piece can really stand out.
What kind of art looks good in the bedroom?
‘Your bedroom is a place of rest and relaxation, and your artwork should represent that’, says Narchie’s Harriet Pringle. ‘Landscapes, seascapes and soft abstracts work well, as they feature curves and soft lines so they’re soothing on the eye, creating a feeling of relaxation.’
As well as pieces that invoke a sense of calm, pictures that reflects your own personal tastes are perfect because they’ll help create a feeling of being in your own little sanctuary. Our ideas really only serve as guidelines, and bedroom wall art ultimately comes down to individual preference.
How can I decorate my bedroom walls?
You can decorate your bedroom walls in a variety of ways. Aside from traditional artwork and canvases, you can hang tapestries and quilts, or china plates to mix up your wall decor.
Consider having a statement mirror in the bedroom too, for decorative as well as functional purposes. According to Harriet, ‘mirrors are a great wall accessory if you want to make a small space feel bigger. You can find amazing sculptural and unique mirrors on marketplace apps such as Narchie, which also double up as incredible art features.’
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Should I hang pictures above my bed?
There’s no harm in hanging pictures above a bed if they are securely attached, and in fact artwork can complement the bed perfectly to create a focal point in the room.
‘Just make sure that there’s enough space from the headboard to art, as well as from art to ceiling’, says Harriet. ‘You don’t want the piece to appear cramped or as if it’s in the wrong place.’ Larger art pieces may be more suited to other parts of the room, but the wall behind the bed looks great with two or three matching pieces sitting next to each other.
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