When we think about displaying art at home, our minds often go straight to the obvious places — above the sofa, over the fireplace or perhaps behind the dining table.
But some of the most interesting places to hang art are the spaces we tend to overlook.
Original art has the ability to transform an ordinary corner of your home into something personal and memorable. And you don't necessarily need a huge empty wall to make an impact. Sometimes an unexpected painting in just the right place can completely change how a space feels.
Here are five places in your home you might not have thought to hang art.
1. The Hallway
Hallways are often treated simply as spaces we walk through, but they are actually a wonderful opportunity to introduce art into your home.
A painting at the end of a hallway can immediately draw the eye and create a focal point. Alternatively, a series of artworks along a longer hallway can turn an otherwise functional space into your own miniature gallery.
Your entrance hallway is particularly important. It is one of the first things guests see when they enter your home, so choosing a piece of art you love can immediately give your home personality.
2. The Kitchen
We spend so much time choosing kitchen cabinets, worktops, lighting and flooring that it's surprisingly easy to forget about art.
Yet kitchens can be wonderful places for paintings.
A piece of abstract art can introduce colour and character into a modern kitchen, particularly if the rest of the room is fairly neutral. Look for unused walls around a dining area, above a sideboard or on a wall away from cooking areas and excessive heat or moisture.
Art can help make a kitchen feel less like a purely functional space and much more like part of your home.
3. The Landing or Top of the Stairs
That empty wall you walk past every day could be the perfect place for a painting.
Landings and staircases naturally create interesting viewpoints. You might see a painting as you walk upstairs, catch a glimpse of it from another room or notice it from the hallway below.
A bold abstract painting in these spaces can create a wonderful moment of colour and interest.
And because you experience it from different angles and distances, you may find yourself noticing something different in the painting each time you pass it.
4. Your Home Office
If you're going to spend several hours sitting in a room, why not give yourself something beautiful to look at?
Artwork in a home office doesn't necessarily need to sit behind your desk for everyone else to see on video calls. Think about what you can see while you're working.
An expressive abstract painting can bring energy to a workspace, while a calmer piece may create a more peaceful environment.
Rather than choosing art simply because it matches your office furniture, choose something that makes you feel good when you look at it. After all, you're the person who will be spending the most time with it.
5. The Awkward Wall or Forgotten Corner
Almost every home has one.
A narrow wall beside a doorway. An empty corner. The small space between two windows. That wall you've never quite known what to do with.
These slightly awkward spaces can actually be some of the best places for original art.
You don't always need a large painting to make an impact. A smaller original artwork placed thoughtfully can turn an overlooked area into something that feels intentional.
Instead of asking, "What furniture can I put here?", try asking, "Could this be a place for art?"
Your Home Doesn't Have to Be a Gallery
There are no strict rules about where art should be displayed.
The most important thing is that you choose artwork you genuinely enjoy living with and place it somewhere you can appreciate it.
Original art doesn't have to perfectly match the cushions, curtains or colour of your walls. In fact, sometimes the painting that introduces something completely unexpected is the piece that brings the whole room to life.
So take another walk around your home and look at those walls you've stopped noticing.
You might discover the perfect place for your next painting.
Looking for an original painting for your home?
Explore my collection of original abstract paintings, or if you've fallen in love with a piece that has already sold, please get in touch to discuss a commission inspired by the colours, feeling or composition that caught your eye.