We’ll answer the question right away for you — yes, you can! In fact, having wallpaper at home is one great way to increase the impact of art. They’re a match made in heaven and can create even more beautiful designs when coordinated together.

However, the biggest challenge is knowing how to combine them so they don’t clash with each other and fight for attention. In this article, we’ll talk exactly about that. So, sit back, relax, and learn how to hang art on your wallpaper.

Always Consider Scale

Having a bold background increases the competition between your artwork and your wallpaper. One way to overcome this is to choose oversized art. A large piece of art will guarantee attention. Of course, make sure that you coordinate your wallpaper and artwork properly, their colors and motifs should be able to match and complement each other.

Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment With Your Frame

I know that most of us probably like to play it safe when choosing frames for paintings. However, this shouldn’t always be the case. Use a slightly understated wallpaper and hang a strong, impactful, framed artwork with it. A decorative frame can add character to a striking piece and look very good. You can search for the type of frame you prefer and match it with your wallpaper. You’ll be surprised how many options there are!

Sometimes More is More

A wallpaper background doesn't always scream 'ideal location' for a bustling collection of artworks. However, it can help you achieve dramatic effect as long as you keep up with consistency in scale, framing and color palette.

Don’t be afraid to set up a gallery wall on your colored and patterned wallpapers. Try to hang monochrome pictures and paintings to complement the wallpaper’s color and design, without making them clash with each other.

Don’t Hang Your Art Too High

Research how high you should hang your art. This is especially important if your wallpaper has vertical patterns. Those kinds of patterns tend to draw more attention to the height of your space, which is why it’s an important factor to consider when hanging your artwork. Always consider the dimensions of your artwork before drilling holes or hammering nails that might damage your wallpaper.

Make Use of Negative Space

When you hang your art pieces with lots of negative space or create it through the use of a wide matte or a large frame, you help set the artwork apart from the wallpaper behind it. This is most applicable if you have a very busy and colorful wallpaper backdrop that could easily steal attention. As much as possible, avoid abstract works when working with busy wallpapers, as they could be very challenging to pair.

Matte Your Art Pieces

Matting your artwork will prevent your two main elements from clashing. When you frame your artwork with a spacious white matte, it helps create a “boundary” that separates it from the wallpaper behind. This technique would be especially useful if your artwork’s style has a tendency to compete with your wallpaper.

Use Wallpaper to Create a Feature Wall

You can also make use of the feature wall style in your room. This is mostly used in bedrooms. Most of the time, wallpaper is used to create focus on a feature wall, rather than having it blanket the entire room.

Since it almost acts as art itself, you should consider where to place your art in a room with a feature wall. You can hang artworks on an adjacent wall to prevent attention clash, and help draw attention past the feature wall. Smaller pieces tend to be great additions in this case.

Prop Your Artworks Instead of Nailing Them

Hanging artworks is typically the most common way we display pieces. However, it isn’t the only way. If you are renting your home or you simply don’t want to create a hole in your wall, propping up your artworks can be a great idea. Not only does it create a cool and casual look, but also allows you to refresh the place by giving you the ability to change your displayed art piece easily, whenever you want.

Bonus Tips on Hanging Art on Wallpaper

There aren't that many options when it comes to hanging art on your wallpaper without damaging the surface. But there are ways to help make it less noticeable. Here are some that we have listed for you:

• Avoid using tapes and other kinds of adhesive for heavy pieces as they can tear the wallpaper.
• Use a nail to hang your artwork (a little hole will likely be less noticeable compared to a huge tear) and make sure you are in the right spot before hammering the wall.
• You can use a thin knife to cut an upside down v in your wallpaper. Pull it down and you can directly put the screws in your wall. This way, if you change your mind or want to rearrange in the future, you can simply stick the wallpaper back in its original place.
• If you happen to have a frame that's hung with wire, wrap it with cloth or felt before hanging the piece. This will prevent the wire from rubbing against the wallpaper and possibly leaving scratch marks.

Final Words

We hope this article has answered your questions and provided you with some helpful decorating tips. Remember that having a wallpaper shouldn't restrict you from hanging art pieces and decor. As long as you're careful and consider the tips we've discussed, it will surely look unique and artful!