Which painting should I choose for a modern living room?

Do you want to add a touch of modern art to your living room, but you don't know which paintings to choose? Perhaps you're unsure which art style to adopt so that your paintings harmonize with the room's decor?

In this article, you will find the best wall decoration ideas to perfect your modern living room.

For a truly successful modern living room wall decoration, you can hang minimalist paintings, vintage-style paintings, baroque canvas prints, or abstract art wall art. Ideally, place your painting above your sofa.

In this article, we will see:

• What painting styles are best suited to a modern style?
• How to arrange your painting in your living room
• Criteria for choosing the perfect painting for your modern living room.

Once you have finished reading this article, you will be able to choose the perfect piece of art for your living room.

I) Contemporary art paintings for a modern living room

Far beyond simply being decorative pieces for your home, artworks in general serve a purpose of communication. This is particularly true of contemporary art, which is also the most frequently used to convey messages.

Therefore, paintings serve to convey emotions, sensations, and feelings through painted images. They can awaken curiosity and imagination, produce a shock, and many other sensations.

These paintings in your modern interior will not only be a source of inspiration for you, but will also add aesthetic appeal to your living rooms.

1) Which contemporary art painting should I choose?

Artists use various techniques to create decorative masterpieces. The creation of contemporary decorative paintings highlights several of these techniques.

Paintings can therefore be made using water-based paint , oil paint, ink paint, and also acrylic paint.

When we talk about contemporary painting, we immediately think of the idea of ​​freedom since each artist uses their imagination to give birth to the fruit of their imagination on different media.

You can choose between two types of contemporary art to decorate your living room.

A) Abstract art

Contemporary paintings described as abstract are works that lack clear identities. In such paintings, the artist paints with emotion, aiming to evoke wonder, even awe, in the viewer. This, in turn, creates moments of contemplation.

When you choose this type of contemporary painting for your living room, it adds a touch of color to the decor. This is because abstract art relies heavily on the mixing of colors.

B) Figurative art

Unlike abstract art, figurative art, as its name suggests, paints a tangible reality. This can be an object, a human figure , a fruit, a flower, and so on. Most of these are eye-catching images that also convey messages, this time easily decipherable.

Contemporary art paintings can have a variety of effects in your living room. While a particular shape might resonate with one person, a color, a shade, or a still or dynamic image could have a significant impact on another. Given all these possibilities, which style of contemporary painting would best suit your modern living room?

2) Style of the painting and its layout

Over the years, artists have spared no effort in showcasing their creativity. Each painting therefore has its own guiding principle. It may thus emphasize a particular form, color, drawing technique, and other elements.

First of all, contemporary art paintings are all multicolored, which fits perfectly with modern decor. Although modern decor tends to be understated, it also embraces a mix of colors. That being said, regardless of the colors chosen for the painting, you can use it in a modern decor.

In terms of drawing techniques, there are several. You have a wide range of choices, including mosaics , graffiti, stencils, spray paint, and even stickers. Here too, there are no limits to your choices.

Contemporary art paintings come in many forms. The most dominant, however, are the square or the rectangle. It is therefore preferable to choose these shapes to avoid turning your modern decor into a mess.

To display your modern art in your living room, you have two options. You can either hang it directly above your sofa so that anyone entering your living room will immediately notice it, or you can decorate the wall directly opposite your sofa with a piece of art, allowing you to admire it every time you sit down.

You also have the option of mixing and matching paintings, meaning choosing both abstract and figurative artworks to decorate your walls. When your walls are painted bright white, prioritize paintings with dominant, muted colors.

If, on the other hand, your walls are painted in dark colors , adorn them with paintings in brighter colors. This will create more contrast in the decor.

II) Baroque art painting for a modern living room

Baroque paintings are renowned for evoking emotion and passion. They reject rationality and calm. These paintings often depict dramatic situations.

Baroque paintings harmonize perfectly with the modernist aesthetic, as they combine both warm and dark colors. Thanks to the interplay of light and shadow , Baroque paintings are ideal for adding a touch of contrast to your décor.

1) Which Baroque art painting should you choose for your living room?

Baroque art painting provides a series of paintings that emphasize the gestures of figures and drapery. The lines of force in these types of paintings are not only vertical or horizontal. They are also oblique and curved, creating a sense of movement.

These are very expressive figures, communicating through their eyes. These figures are dressed in costumes that reference antiquity .

You will also see in this type of painting fabrics arranged like curtains, such as those used on theater stages. Everything is done primarily with acrylic paint, and sometimes with watercolors.

Most Baroque paintings deal with artistic themes, biblical or mythological tales, legends, and other subjects. They take the form of historical works , religious paintings, portraits, landscapes, genre scenes, and more.

From a purely visual perspective, you might think that Baroque paintings are old-fashioned and therefore incompatible with modern decor, but this isn't the case. All types of Baroque paintings fit perfectly with a modernist aesthetic and can be used to adorn your walls. For rental properties, this type of painting is ideal as it adds a touch of luxury to the room.

2) How to display a baroque painting in your living room?

Baroque art paintings emphasize vibrant colors, which is perfect for adding a touch of brilliance to your modern living room. The most dominant hues are red ochre, brown, and a blend of yellow ochre and white. These colors integrate easily into modern decor.

All Baroque artworks are painted on various materials, mostly in square or rectangular shapes. You can choose one of these two shapes or combine both.

Baroque paintings are becoming increasingly rare, but you can still find them in galleries. When it comes to Baroque art, large-scale pieces are perfect for adorning your walls.

Similar to a modern baroque living room , you can place your painting either on the wall, above the sideboard , the sofa, or a column. You can also install it in one of the four corners of the living room or place it on a table so that it rests against the wall.

III) Printed canvas for a modern living room

Canvas prints, as their name suggests, are pictures whose designs are not painted, but printed using a printer. They are trendy and very well suited to modern living rooms. In fact, they are the most popular and widely used type of artwork in this style of decor.

It's more economical than any painting-based artwork and offers good quality. Since they're customizable, you can choose the designs, colors, and shapes that best suit your taste.

1) The themes of the painting to choose

Printed canvases are flexible and lightweight, primarily made of cotton. After printing, they are stretched and stapled onto a pine frame. In your modern living room, they create a luxurious atmosphere, transforming your interior into a veritable art gallery . These decorative pieces are available in a variety of themes that combine several colors, with black and white being the most prevalent.

You have a wide range of choices when it comes to themes. These can include characters, landscapes, classic patterns, and more. Your printed canvas can also be customized to your liking. For example, you can have a cherished item printed on it, such as your pet, a family photo , or a picture of a loved one.

In addition to customizing the images, you can also choose the colors you prefer. That said, the canvas print themes you choose for your living room depend entirely on your personal taste.

2) Where should I place a canvas print in my living room?

For a printed canvas, don't hesitate to choose a large piece. It will make a statement on a wall, especially when it's empty. In addition, printed canvases add a touch of elegance to your interior decor.

The harmonious placement of your printed canvas in a modern living room depends on its size. If you have printed a large canvas, you can place it on the wall opposite the sofa, or on the wall where the sofa is located.

If you opt for small printed canvases , don't hesitate to play with grouping them. For example, you can combine canvases printed with family photos and canvases with classic themes.

IV) Renaissance paintings for a modern living room

Renaissance paintings are the antithesis of Baroque art. They are works of art created using natural pigments made by the artists themselves. They combined plant, mineral, and animal matter to obtain a paste-like substance which they used as a medium. These paintings are decorative objects that are well-suited to modern interiors, thanks to the muted colors that are most commonly used.

1) The themes of the painting to choose

Renaissance paintings showcase a wide range of themes. For this style of painting, art was no longer limited to religious subjects. Secular art also appeared in all its forms. Nudes were painted, portraits proliferated, and mythological images celebrating beauty were also depicted. Landscapes and Catholic themes also emerged in Renaissance paintings.

No matter what themes appear in Renaissance paintings, you can use them all to decorate your modern living room.

2) Arrangement of a Renaissance painting

The Renaissance is often associated with the search for light. This is why almost all Renaissance paintings depict either daylight or nightlight. This style of painting places more emphasis on figures than on colors. As a result, the most important figure in a Renaissance painting is often larger than the others.

Mixtures of plants and minerals were used to make the paints. Over time, they added oil to this mixture to obtain a brighter finish and more transparent layers.

Some Renaissance paintings offer greater luminosity than others. You should take this into account when decorating your living room.

If your wall is painted a bright white, opt for darker paintings , and vice versa. This will allow you to create a mix of colors for a more visually pleasing effect. Arranging your Renaissance paintings in your living room will be similar to arranging Baroque art.

V) Some tips for making the right choice

Modern style doesn't incorporate all materials. It focuses more on luxurious and glossy materials. Here, you'll have to bend the rules a little by incorporating some materials that aren't typically associated with this style of decoration. Besides the materials used, other criteria also come into play when choosing your artwork.

1) Which material should be prioritized?

Decorative prints come in a variety of materials. Some are durable, while others are not. Therefore, you should prioritize durable materials. These include sturdy paper , canvas, plexiglass, and cut paper. Also, make sure the materials are not washable.

2) Other criteria

When choosing your artwork, you should also consider:

The size of your living room : the size of the painting you choose will vary depending on the size of your living room. The rule is to play with proportions. For example, if you have a large living room, opt for a small painting. If, on the other hand, the living room is small, a large painting will be ideal. This will give more depth to your interior.

The number of decorative objects : although modern decor doesn't limit the number of decorative objects like the minimalist style, you shouldn't overdo it. If there are already enough decorative objects in the living room, limit the number of paintings to two or three at most;

Dominant colors : For your decorative painting to stand out, it should create a contrast within the decor. Therefore, the painting you choose should incorporate colors that are opposite to those that are dominant in your living room.

The hanging method : you can choose pictures that can be pinned, stapled, glued, or hung. You just need to make sure that the hanging method allows your picture to be securely attached to the wall. This criterion will also affect the base material used to make your picture, as some materials are designed for specific hanging methods.

You also need to find the right location for your painting. While the wall is the ideal place for a piece of art, it can also be displayed on a table or elsewhere.

Several types of paintings can be used in the decoration of your modern living room.

You can choose between Renaissance paintings, printed canvases, contemporary art paintings and Renaissance paintings.

As you will have understood, it is possible to opt for paintings of different styles to maintain a certain consistency between your interior decoration and the canvas prints.

Now that you know the best types of paintings for your modern living room, head over to our website dedicated to canvas prints! You'll find many paintings there, with completely different inspirations and styles.

To thank you for making it this far, enjoy a 15% discount on your order today with the promo code: BLOG15 .

It's also important to make your choice based on your own tastes. So don't limit yourself to just the main rules of modern decorating.

Choose your painting now, for a modern and stylish living room decoration that reflects your personality!

See you soon.

The Lofty Trend Team.