The short answer: the best artwork for staging a home is neutral, calm and properly sized: warm neutral abstracts, soft landscapes and simple botanicals that help buyers picture their own life in the space. Put art on the four walls buyers notice most (above the sofa, above the bed, in the entryway and in the dining room), size it to the furniture, and keep one frame colour throughout the home.
Key Takeaways
- Neutral beats personal. Staging art should feel styled, not like someone else's home.
- Four walls matter most: above the sofa, above the primary bed, the entryway and the dining room.
- Size to the furniture: art should span about two-thirds of the piece below it.
- Stage for the listing photos too: matte canvas photographs without glare.
What Is the Best Art for Home Staging?
The best staging art appeals to the widest range of buyers. That means:
- Warm neutral abstracts in beige, brown, cream and soft black: the safest, most versatile choice for living rooms.
- Soft landscapes and nature scenes: calm and inviting, especially in bedrooms.
- Simple botanicals: fresh and light for kitchens, dining rooms and bathrooms.
- Black-and-white prints: crisp contrast that suits modern listings.
Browse home staging wall art.
Artwork for Staging a Home, Room by Room
Room |
What to hang |
Size guide |
|---|---|---|
Living room |
One large neutral abstract above the sofa |
30x40 or 36x48, or a pair of 24x36 |
Primary bedroom |
A soft landscape or a set of two above the bed |
30x40 landscape, or two 18x24 |
Dining room |
A pair or trio of botanicals or abstracts |
Two 24x36, or three 18x24 |
Entryway |
One welcoming piece above a console |
24x36 |
Bathroom |
One small botanical or line art print |
16x20 or 18x24 |
What Art to Avoid When Staging
- People and portraits: buyers should see themselves in the home, not someone else.
- Personal photos, religious or political imagery: anything that makes the home feel occupied.
- Loud, saturated colour: it distracts from the architecture and dates quickly.
- Art that's too small: a small print on a big wall makes a room feel empty in photos.
- Mixed frames: different frame colours in every room make the home feel pieced together.
How to Hang Art for Staging
- Size: about two-thirds of the furniture width below it.
- Height: bottom edge 6 to 10 inches above furniture, or centred at about 57 inches on an empty wall. See how high to hang wall art.
- Spacing: 2 to 3 inches between frames in a pair or set.
- Consistency: one frame colour through the whole home; natural wood and black suit most listings.
Staging for Listing Photos
Most buyers see a home online before they see it in person, so staging art has to photograph well:
- Canvas photographs without glare. Framed canvas and stretched canvas have a matte surface, so they don't reflect windows or camera flash. Framed fine art prints have a plexiglass cover, which can catch reflections on walls facing a window.
- Go a size up. Wide-angle listing photos make art look smaller than it does in person.
- Keep art centred on furniture, so each room reads as balanced in a straight-on shot.
Staging Art on a Budget
Prioritize the four high-impact walls instead of filling every room, keep one consistent style, and choose made-to-order prints to avoid gallery markups. Staging several properties? Ordering in volume is the most cost-effective route; see our bulk wall art options for stagers and realtors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What art should you avoid when staging a home?
When staging a home, avoid art that makes the space feel occupied or dated: portraits and people, personal photos, religious or political imagery, loud saturated colour, art that's too small for the wall, and mismatched frames from room to room.
Does wall art help sell a house?
Wall art can help sell a house by making rooms feel finished and inviting, both in person and in listing photos, which helps buyers picture themselves living there.
Where should you hang art when staging a home?
When staging a home, hang art on the walls buyers notice most: above the sofa, above the primary bed, in the entryway and in the dining room.
Is canvas or framed art better for listing photos?
Canvas is usually better for listing photos because stretched canvas and framed canvas have a matte surface that photographs without glare. Framed fine art prints have a plexiglass cover, which can catch reflections from windows or a camera flash on bright walls.
Your Home Staging Art Plan
- Pick one neutral style for the whole home.
- Choose one frame colour.
- Cover the four high-impact walls first: sofa, primary bed, entryway, dining room.
- Size each piece to about two-thirds of the furniture below it.
Next steps: shop home staging wall art, or see bulk options if you're staging multiple rooms or listings.
