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Abstract wall art: how to choose it and make it work

Abstract art is the most popular kind of wall art for a reason: it doesn’t tell you what to see, it sets a mood. Colour, shape and texture do all the work, which makes it easy to live with and easy to match with any room. Here’s how to choose the right abstract print – and how to hang it so it looks like it was always meant to be there.

A woman hanging a lilac cut-out print next to a colourful abstract floral print, both in white frames, on a pale wall

A soft, pale abstract print in a thin oak frame on a beige wall above a white bouclé sofa

In short

500+abstract motifs to choose from
3things to choose by: colour, shape and texture
2prints from the same series are made to hang side by side
1colour repeated in the room makes the art look like it belongs

Why abstract works almost anywhere

A landscape needs a place to belong and a portrait needs a reason. An abstract print only needs a wall. Because it isn’t a picture of something, it adapts to the room around it – it can calm a busy living room or bring life to a white bedroom, and it works in Scandinavian, Japandi, vintage and modern homes alike. That freedom is also what makes it hard to choose, so start with colour.

Choose by colour first

Pick a colour family that is already in your room – in the sofa, the rug, the wood or the textiles – and look for abstracts in the same family. Repeated colour is what makes art look like it belongs. Four families that suit most homes:

Earth and sand

Warm browns, sand and deep red – calm, grounded and lovely with oak and linen.

Negative Space

Sand and Sky

Oxblood Plume

Soft pastels

Pale pink, peach and sky blue for a light, airy room that never feels cold.

Daybreak

Pink and Haze

Muse

Bold colour

Saturated cut-outs and joyful patterns that lift a neutral room in one go.

Groovy Flower

The Ten Largest, No.2, by Hilma af Klint

Fauvism Large Pattern

Black and white

Graphic, timeless and easy to mix with everything – the safest choice for a gallery wall.

Shape Black

Labyrinthe Blanc

Significance

Then by shape

Organic. Soft, rounded forms that feel calm and human – the easiest abstracts to live with.

Graphic. Lines, grids and clear edges for a crisp, architectural look.

Painterly. Brushstrokes and texture you want to see up close – they come alive in large sizes.

An abstract print with black organic shapes in an oak frame leaning against a wall behind a ceramic vase

A landscape abstract print of fine iridescent lines in a black frame above a dark round dining table

A large painterly abstract in warm brown tones in an oak frame above a blush velvet sofa with a black floor lamp

Pairs that are made for each other

Many of our abstracts come in series – two or more prints made to hang side by side. A pair from the same series is the easiest way to fill the wall above a sofa or a bed: the colours and shapes already talk to each other, and two 50x70 cover about two thirds of a 160 cm sofa.

Two abstract prints with curved shapes in burgundy, pink and sand in oak frames above a chrome armchair

Two abstract prints in soft green, rust and sand in oak frames above a small red dining table

Mix abstract with other motifs

Abstract prints are the glue of a gallery wall. Hang one next to a photograph, a line drawing or a classic painting and the wall feels collected rather than matched. Keep one or two colours running through all of them. More ideas in our gallery wall ideas.

A large abstract print with white paths, a black cut-out shape and a Paul Klee head in white frames above a black desk

Two abstract prints with soft arcs and sculpted forms in oak frames above a white lounge chair

Abstract in every room

Living room. Go big – one large print or a pair above the sofa. See our living room ideas.

Bedroom. Soft shapes and pale colours feel restful above the bed. See our bedroom ideas.

Hallway and kitchen. Bold colour and graphic shapes suit the rooms you pass through, where art is seen in seconds.

Home office. A calm abstract gives your eyes somewhere to rest between screens.

How do I choose abstract art for my home?

Start with colour: pick two or three colours that are already in the room and look for abstracts in the same family. Then choose the shape – organic, graphic or painterly – and a size that fits the wall.

What size should an abstract print be?

Abstracts scale well, so go bigger than you think. Above a sofa or bed, aim for about two thirds of its width: one 70x100, a pair of 50x70 or one 100x140.

Can I mix abstract art with other styles?

Yes. Abstracts work with photography, line art and classic paintings. Keep one or two colours running through the whole wall.

Should abstract prints be hung in pairs?

Prints from the same series are made to hang together, and a pair is an easy way to fill a wider wall. A single large print works just as well if you want one clear focal point.

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Abstract prints