When it comes to making home décor decisions, few elements are as fun and versatile as art. From choosing the perfect piece for above the sofa in your living room, to curating your dream gallery wall in your hallway, art really can tie a room together and help your unique personality to shine through.

Whether you own or rent, here’s how to style your home with art in a way that transforms your space with top tips from art collector and interior designer, Natasha Landers, along the way.

Think about the purpose of a room

There are three key considerations to note when it comes to styling art for the different rooms in your home: mood, function, and purpose. Asking yourself some questions might be a good place to start.

What do I want to feel when I’m in this room?

What are the first impressions I’d like guests to feel?

Does this artwork need to solve an interior gripe? For example, making a room feel bigger?

Naturally, each room in your home has a different feel, and your reason for spending time in each is usually very different. Living rooms are generally a place to relax, chat, and restore. Likewise, dining rooms are often used for entertaining, so there’ll inherently be a certain energy and liveliness. In these rooms, you should consider hanging your most vibrant, conversation-starting pieces. They’re perfect for showcasing art that sparks curiosity, tells a story, or shares a family memory.

“I have all sorts of different mediums in a room and that, for me, adds to the eclecticness of what my home is all about.”

– Natasha Landers

Contrastingly, interior design decisions for your bedroom might look quite different. This is a space that is best thought of as a calming retreat. Art styled in your bedroom will be the last thing you see, and what you wake up to. Neon colours and garish geometric patterns probably aren’t the go-to choice. Instead, consider choosing art that’s softer, more intimate, or soothing. Think pastel colour palettes and gentler imagery.

How to hang your art

Sometimes, you’ll come across an artwork you simply have to have, and will know instantly where it’s going to go on your walls. Other times, a piece might present a puzzling conundrum in terms of hanging. Where’s it going to go? Does it compliment the flow of a room? But really, there’s no set guide – and it’d be boring to get too prescriptive.

Some artworks instantly suit a standalone hang. These pieces might be larger in scale, more maximalist in style, or feel like they might dominate or overshadow smaller, more delicate pieces in your art collection. It’s probably best to give these some breathing room – perhaps even their own wall entirely. It’d be a shame for these impact, statement pieces of wall art to be lost or passed by in a small, narrow hallway.

We also love a salon-style gallery wall hang: a great option when your art collection begins to grow. What is a salon gallery hang? This just means a curated arrangement of multiple artworks, hung either uniformly, or more spontaneously to create an eclectic feel. This style of art styling suits smaller, textural pieces. They might incorporate different shapes, more uncommon materials (textiles, newspaper, recycled plastic), or unusual framing – a mix of wood effects, gilded frames, or floating frames, for example.

“Another thing to invest in is protective glass.”

– Natasha Landers

Always consider lighting. Some rooms will have amazing natural light, whilst others will have more artificial, or mood, lighting. If you opt to hang a piece of art opposite a window, or just anywhere it’s going to see a lot of sun, prioritising UV protective glass is important for the longevity of your art. It helps to prevent the vibrancy and general condition from fading over time. Or, you might just want to rotate and swap your art so than no one piece spends all its time in the sun.

Not everything has to go on a wall

The most common type of art you’ll find (particularly at an Affordable Art Fair) is original, contemporary wall art. Traditionally – and the clue is in the name ­– these pieces are best suited to your walls at home. But, there’s no hard and fast rule. Not everyone has the budget to frame every single piece they own, or maybe your piece simply suits an alternative style of hanging. You might want to lean your art against a wall or piece of furniture, or fit your art into the unique nooks and crannies of your home. You’re absolutely not confined to a wall hang. It’s your art. Place it where you want.

Things to consider if you’re renting

Buying and collecting art isn’t just for homeowners. Art can speak strongly to different periods in your life, and a collection can grow with each phase – no one should be limited by the fact that they don’t own their home. Styling a rented house, apartment, or flat with art can be made easy by using damage-free hanging tools such as Command Strips. These allow you to hang art on your walls without hooks, and without peeling paint.

Trust your instincts

Ultimately, your aesthetic instincts will always win. When it comes to styling art in your home, it’s best to avoid fleeting trends and, instead, focus on utilising art to showcase your personality and bring joy into your home – whatever that looks like.

For more advice, watch Natasha as she takes you on a tour of her beautifully colourful, artistic home. She shares her expert ideas for styling your living space with contemporary art.

Art has the power to do more than fill empty walls – it completely sets the tone of a home. Master the art collecting by visiting our Inspiration page, or curated playlist of helpful video advice over on our YouTube channel.