How to Choose Wall Art Colours — Matching Art to Your Interior
Choosing Wall Art Colours That Work With Your Interior
Colour is the most powerful tool in any interior — and wall art is one of the most flexible ways to introduce it. Choosing wall art colours that work with your existing space isn't as complicated as it might seem. The key principles are simple: decide whether you want your art to match, complement, or contrast your walls; understand undertones; and respect the visual weight of colour in a space.
At Olive et Oriel, we've been helping Australians create cohesive, considered spaces with wall art since 2015. Our prints are available across every colour family — from bold jewel tones to soft neutrals — in every medium from art prints to canvas and framed art.
The Three Approaches to Wall Art Colour
There are three main approaches: matching (art contains the same colours as your walls), complementing (art uses colours adjacent on the colour wheel), and contrasting (art introduces a bold pop against a neutral background). The most widely applicable approach for most Australian homes is complementing — choosing art that shares undertones with your existing palette but introduces variety. For example, warm terracotta art against warm white walls, or soft sage green prints in a room with warm timber floors. Our matching art sets are already curated for tonal cohesion.
Understanding Undertones in Wall Art and Interiors
Undertones — the subtle warm, cool, or neutral bias in a colour — are the invisible force that makes a colour combination look either harmonious or jarring. A blue-grey wall will fight with a warm beige art print, but pair beautifully with a cool-toned landscape photograph. When choosing art prints, pay attention to whether dominant tones are warm (yellows, reds, oranges) or cool (blues, greens, purples).
Using Art to Introduce Colour to a Neutral Space
Neutral walls — white, grey, beige — are the most forgiving backdrop for wall art because they don't compete. Without art, neutral rooms can feel flat. The solution is to use art to do the colour work: a bold abstract in terracotta and rust, a botanical in deep green, or a coastal photograph in saturated aqua can transform a plain white room. Browse our extra large art for statement pieces that introduce colour at scale.
Every piece is produced at our two manufacturing facilities on of NSW — crafting Australian wall art since 2015. We deliver to over 40 countries worldwide, with custom sizing available on all prints. Over a decade of experience, every order ships within 24 hours with our satisfaction guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose wall art colours to match my walls?
Look at the undertones in your wall colour first — warm walls pair best with art that has warm undertones. Cool walls pair with art in cooler tones. Art doesn't need to match exactly — it needs to share the same temperature.
What colour wall art works in most rooms?
Neutral art — pieces dominated by white, black, grey, beige, and warm natural tones — works in virtually any room. Abstract art in warm neutrals or landscapes in muted natural tones are perennial bestsellers.
Can I use bold colour art in a neutral room?
Absolutely — a neutral room with a single bold colour statement in the art is a classic combination. The art becomes the focal point and prevents the room from feeling bland.
Should wall art match the sofa or the walls?
Neither needs to match exactly. The best approach is for the art to share undertones with both the walls and the furniture — creating cohesion without looking too coordinated.
How many colours should be in a wall art collection?
A cohesive art collection typically draws from three to four colours maximum. Too many different colour directions makes a gallery wall feel chaotic.
