Let’s face it: bare walls can be a bit boring. Adding art brings life to your living room, but that doesn’t mean you have to hang the same old thing: paintings and photo galleries are classic, but they’re not the only way to spice up naked walls. From neon lights to living walls to suspended sculptures, we’ve rounded up some unexpected living room decor ideas for inspiration.

Open the Door
We use them every day for function, but doors can be decor, too. From beautiful vintage barn doors to carved wooden gates, antique doors can be repurposed and affixed to the wall as bold declarations of interior style.
Related: How Rainbow Doors Transformed This Toronto Artist’s Danforth Home

Green Means Go
We’re always fans of plants in the living room – they bring a natural element to the space, while also helping to purify the air – so why not transform your favourite greenery into art for the wall? Try adding plants on shelves or go big and get creative with a living wall.
Related: 21 Easy-to-Care-for Indoor Plants That Go Beyond Succulents

Light Bright
Once a staple of casinos and strip malls, the neon lights of now bring instant cool and an element of contemporary style to a living room.
Related: 11 Things Every Stylish Home Has (It’s Not What You Think!)

Clip Art
It’s all about presentation. Another way to play with wall art in your living room is to experiment with the way you display your pieces. Instead of standard frames, try using unexpected vessels like clipboards as creative alternatives.
Related: 15 Mid-Century Modern Living Room Designs You’ll Want to Copy

Put it in Pieces
As gorgeous as boldly printed wallpaper can be, it’s not always the solution for your living room. Instead of papering the whole wall, try adding brightness and personality to your space by framing a collection of vibrant patterns and prints.

A Clean Plate
If you love the look of a gallery wall, cook up a fresh take on that idea by creating a gallery of other unique objects – like a collection of colourful plates.
Related: Sarah Baeumler’s 7 Gallery Wall Tips That Will Make Yours Look Like You Hired a Pro

Blank Spaces
Can you get something from nothing? Yes, you can, if you’re looking for statement-making style. A single-hue painting gives your living room the best of both worlds, serving up clean, minimalist appeal and bold drama all at once.

Cinephile Chic
Does the word “poster” give you shuddering flashbacks to teenage bedrooms littered with crinkled magazine cutouts of pop stars? Fear not. For grown-up spaces, a tasteful, well-designed movie poster in a sleek frame can add an incredibly affordable touch of whimsy and personality.
Related: Homes From Classic TV Shows and Movies Get a Modern Facelift With 3D Technology

A Time for Reflection
From an ornate antique to a sleek, ultra-modern shape, a big framed mirror adds a reflective element to your living room, as well as a touch of practicality.
Related: Blink and You’ll Miss These Mirror-Clad Prefab Homes

A Little Dimension
Who says sculptures always need to stand on their own? Hanging a piece of sculptural art adds texture and sophisticated dimension to a room – while simultaneously making a conversation-starting statement.
Related: 13 Boho-Chic Living Room Decorating Ideas You’ll Want to Copy

All Signs Point to Stylish
If abstract sculpture isn’t your thing, consider hanging recognizable objects and antiques as beautiful wall accents.
Related: How Kijiji Finds and Unconventional Art Elevated a Toronto Rental to the Next Level

More Than a Hobby
If you want to show your personality in your living room, consider showcasing your passion. If you’re a winter-sport aficionado, try turning antique skis into wall art or if you love books, make pages into a spectacular sculpture.
Related: You’ll Want to Cozy up in These Celebrity Living Rooms

A Touch of Whimsy
Don’t be afraid of a little personality. Use shelving to display a collection or a curated mix of antique objects and funky accents for serious character that speaks to your unique space.

A Natural Finish
There’s almost nothing more eye-catching than a bold look that’s grounded in nature – like a statement wall adorned with rich wood paneling for natural contrast.
Related: A Designer Converts a Dated BC Home Into a Nature-Inspired Haven

Shelve It
Unique shapes, sizes and colours of shelving serve as wall art in themselves – while also doubling as the perfect place to display a curated collection of artistic objects.
Related: 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Decorating Your Living Room

New Materials
Art doesn’t have to be made of paper: try adding rich, boho-chic layers to your walls with woven tapestries, knit pieces and hanging fabric art.
Related: See What Happens When a Boho Chick Meets Property Brothers Chic

Use Your Words
The pen is mightier than the sword and – sometimes – text-based art can make a bigger impact than images. Experiment with framed quotes or words for living room wall art that truly (literally) makes a statement.

Don’t Take it Too Seriously
When it comes to living room wall art, try not to stress. Have fun with playful wall art pieces that reflect your personality – you can always switch things up.
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