Living, Etc: Bedroom Wall Art

"Calm doesn't have to mean boring of course, rather just that it sets a tone for a space that's meant to be for sleep. Think about colors in artwork the same as you would calming paint colors for bedrooms, and look for pieces that have a stillness about them, over those that make you feel a sense of energy.  

In this bedroom design by Los Angeles and London-based design studio Stelly Selway, a contrasting duo of wall art adds a focal point to the room, but doesn't feel intrusive. 'The large scale art we commissioned for this primary bedroom by Carla Cascales was calming, serene and tonal, we wanted it to feel like the room was enveloped in warmth,' explains interior designer and cofounder Tanya Selway. 'Carla is an emerging painter from Barcelona and our clients were interested in investing in a piece that would become part of their collection.'

Getting scale right is one of the trickiest parts of choosing art for bedroom walls. In modern interior design, it's safe to say that bigger is usually seen as better when it comes to wall art, but there's a charming confidence in spaces where small pieces of art are used successfully. 

'Using smaller pieces on a large wall is interesting as it draws the viewer in, and is unexpected and delightful,' extols Tanya Selway, cofounder of Stelly Selway. 'In bedrooms we will add small artworks above the headboard in a linear line, or a lone piece above a console with some vertical accessories.' 

But what is the key to making small art feel appropriately sized for the space? 'Go for bright frames and bold subject colours in the small pieces of art,' Tanya suggests. 'Make them loud and significant and then ground the artwork with furniture – the line of a mantle or a chair underneath so it doesn't appear to be floating.'