Wall art trends – interior designers on the new ideas to watch for in 2023 and beyond

WHAT ARE THE LATEST WALL ART TRENDS?

As interiors continues to embrace color, with a move from beiges and greys to jewel-tones and warm, monochromatic schemes, so to will artwork, finds designer, Natalia Miyar. ‘Although a neutral wall is wonderful for art, the juxtaposition of a bold artwork against a wall is incredibly effective,’ she says. In terms of specific colors, Natalia is drawn to pink. ‘It’s always been one of my preferred colors to use, I use pink as a neutral, it’s so much more interesting than beige or taupe. 

Natalia also finds architectural and abstract styles of art a big part of her recent designs. ‘I love the architectural style of Cuban artist Gustavo Acosta, whose artwork I have hanging above my sofa. I also discovered a Los Angeles-based artist called Hiejin Yoo a couple of years ago, whose work I absolutely love and we actually ended up using one of her pieces in an apartment I designed in Battersea Power Station. Her work is defined by abstracted pops of color and bold layered marks.’ 

ESTABLISHING YOUR OWN COLLECTION

More and more, wall art trends are all about establishing your own art collection, and not conforming to big name pieces that you might have seen in galleries. Instead, think about what speaks to you, don’t shy away from picking more affordable art from charity shops and trinket or antique stores – if it’s something you like, don’t worry that it won’t match your interiors and display it confidently. It’s about telling your story, where you’ve been, why you own a specific piece, and confidently telling the world that this is your style. 

‘I don’t necessarily have the budget our clients do for collecting art, so all these pieces are ones I’ve collected over the years, and that have meaning to me,’ she explains. 

‘Some are from artists whose studios I’ve visited, and others are pieces I’ve picked up through art dealer friends and antique stores. I chose my own art for diversity and what speaks to me aesthetically, not necessarily what’s going to match my décor, as that changes over time, and I tend to move art around from room to room.’

GO FOR CERAMIC WALL ART

Tastefully hanging ceramics, plates and bowls is precarious business but is a popular look, bringing a touch of a rustic farmhouse aesthetic without going too twee, and giving texture, seen in the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow’s Montecito home, where blue and white ceramic plates lined the walls in perfect unison. It’s an achievable look in your home too. You may already have a few plates with pretty designs that are wasted on shelves, unseen and forgotten about, so give them a new lease of life on the walls. 

‘They transmit a feeling of casualness, of relaxation and of local crafts. The look is relaxed, light and effortless -which is what we like to see now in our homes.’

‘We picked those plates because they are local (Mediterranean) and colorful. We love handmade ceramics.’

TONGUE IN CHEEK WALL ART

Ultimately, wall art trends are currently all about pieces that are a bit tongue-in-cheek and playful, playing to the wider trend for kitsch, 60s/70s-style furniture, and ultimately providing people with pieces that are humorous and uplifting.

‘Art has always been a passion,’ explains Tom Cox of HÁM interiors. ‘I started out buying wooden signs and vintage fishing trophies which has evolved into sourcing art with my sister Kate for our shop. We source works by collectible artists to mix with antique finds like duck decoys and old shop signs. 

‘We like how this mix of different styles and mediums along with shelves displaying intriguing decorative pieces gives a look that is elegant and eclectic.’

HOW TO FRAME YOUR WALL ART IN A MODERN WAY

The trend for mismatched framing of your favorite art pieces is showing no signs of slowing down. Bringing character, and allowing each of your pieces to truly stand out, frames in all shapes, sizes and colors add real interest. It also demonstrates a true understanding of your art – and you can have fun picking out pops of color that you might want to highlight with the frame. ‘The frame is almost an extension to the art itself,’ says Kit Kemp.

‘Be adventurous with your choice of frames,’ encourages Natascha Dartnall, founder and creative director of ND Studios. ‘Mixing different frames it will give each piece its own identity. 

Also think about the white space between the frame and the image. Sometimes, the white of the mount can take away from the painting. Sometimes, it may require a lot of white spacing to draw more attention to the subject matter – or simply to fit the frame you have to hand. ‘By framing a piece of art with a mount, you will have enough white space to allow the pieces to breathe and avoid an overly cluttered display.’