15 Creative Solutions for Decorating the Wall Above the Sofa in the Living Room

General rules for wall decor

Consider the principle of proportionality: large-scale objects are suitable for spacious rooms where there is enough space to view them from afar. In small living rooms, it is better to create a composition of many small objects.

One tiny object will get lost on the wall and will look ridiculous, and a piece of art wider than a sofa will make the furniture invisible. In addition to the decorative function, decorations change the geometry of the space. Create a vertical composition to increase the height of the ceilings and balance out ceilings that are too high. Elongated horizontal canvases and poster panels visually expand the space.

Oversized painting

One large painting is the easiest way to decorate the wall above the sofa in the living room. Choose an image that suits the style of the room: abstraction or bright pop art for Art Nouveau, landscape for Provence, classical painting for a neoclassical or classical interior.

The photo shows a large painting in the abstract style

The minimum width is half the size of the sofa, otherwise it will simply get lost against the background of the furniture.

2 equivalent paintings

Arrange two vertical canvases next to each other to visually stretch the room. If you hang posters on top of each other, the ceiling will also seem higher, but this method is only suitable for narrow walls or placement in niches.

You can calculate the ideal location of each part using the formula: subtract the width of both paintings from the width of the sofa, and divide the remainder by 3. Add half the width of the frame to the resulting value. Step back from the edge of the sofa the final number – this is where the hook should be.

Triptych or 3 separate photos

Triptych is an image divided into 3 parts. For a modular picture above a corner sofa to look harmonious, its width should be ⅔ of the back. Start hanging the triptych from the central sector, placing it exactly in the middle of the sofa. Then step back the same distance to the left and right and mark the points for the remaining images.

Not only modules are suitable for a triple composition. Frame 3 canvases that match each other in style and you’re done!

The photo shows a triptych of posters on the wall in the living room

A composition of many paintings

The size of the composition should not exceed ⅔ the width of the sofa, so that it does not seem too small.

You can collect an even number of photographs or posters of the same size and arrange them symmetrically (2-3 rows of 3 pieces, for example) or use different shapes and sizes. The group should be correctly combined in style, color scheme or theme. Examples of groups: oil paintings, black and white photos, or seascapes.

Many different images can be decorated in two ways:

1. Choose a large central element and randomly arrange smaller ones around it.
2. Create a large geometric figure from many parts, aligning them.

The photo shows an option for decorating the wall above the sofa with various frames

Shelf for photographs or paintings

Do not make unnecessary holes in the wall: hang one shelf on which you can put one or two items, or an entire composition. In addition, the shelf can be additionally decorated with memorable souvenirs, figurines, interesting vases and other elements.

The photo shows picture shelves above a corner sofa

Another plus of the shelf is that the items can be swapped, added and removed without harming the renovation. Such mobility will be useful for those who create a themed design for holidays or seasons.

If the width of the sofa allows, there can be several shelves. But keep their filling in a single style so that the wall does not look chaotic.

Mirrors

Reflective surfaces visually expand the room, which means that mirrors are a great way to expand the space.

Laconic options in classic frames will suit apartments, saturated with decorative elements. Mirrors of unusual types and shapes will become an accent and highlight the wall in a calm interior.

The photo shows a mirror in a large frame above the sofa

Geographical maps

There are many options for implementing this idea: one large canvas on a stretcher or without, a modular one of 3-4 sections, in the form of continents.

The panel can be made of vinyl, cork panel, plexiglass with backlighting. You can also simply draw a map on the wall or stick photo wallpaper with its image.

Every style has its own world map. Antique for classic and country, cork for Scandi, modern with backlight for Art Nouveau.

Carpet or tapestry

A carpet on the wall will not look like a relic of the past if you approach its choice thoughtfully. For the design of the wall in the living room behind the sofa, take a closer look at thin tapestries, carpet-pictures, models with unusual pile or ethnic patterns.

The width of such a cozy decoration should be slightly less than the sofa. If the pattern allows you to turn the carpet over, designers recommend hanging it vertically. This technique looks fresh and visually raises the ceilings.

The photo shows a tapestry with an ethnic pattern

Lamps

Most often, sconces are combined with other wall decorations, but this is not necessary on an accent wall. If the sconces themselves look like a piece of art, they can also act as independent decor.

It is not necessary to hang only 2 lamps, let there be 3 or more – the main thing is to decorate the wall harmoniously.

Clock

Integrate the clock into the composition with family photos or lamps or place them separately. In the second case, their size should correspond to ½ the width of the sofa.

For a loft-style living room, take a stylish metal clock, for a classic one – a model with a discreet European design made of wood, for modernism – contrasting mirrored ones, for minimalism – white ones.

The photo shows a large clock between the windows

Houseplants

Living decorations will refresh the room and become the highlight of the decor. Hang macrame flowerpots in the country-style living room. Or place a modern wall stand if you like the Scandinavian style.

The photo shows a climbing houseplant on a shelf

You can also decorate the wall in the living room above the sofa with hanging pots, planters on shelves, or create a phytowall. The last option looks like the flowers are growing right out of the wall.

Shelves or cabinets

This option is for small interiors, where it is important to functionally use all available space. However, even furniture can decorate a room.

Place open wide shelves above the sofa, decorate them with books, vases, boxes with necessary things and indoor plants.

To avoid regular cleaning of the shelves, replace them with closed modules. You can give them a decorative look by using colored, textured or glass facades.

The photo shows bookshelves built around a sofa

Interior stickers

Stickers are affordable, come in every taste and color and do an excellent job of decorating the wall above the sofa.

Black stickers are universal and suit almost any setting. Mirrored ones make the room look bigger, but will only look harmonious in modern, minimalist and other modern styles. Choose a colored sticker not only by style, but also by shade: it should become part of the space, and not look like a color spot.

Textured wall

You can decorate the wall above the sofa not only after the renovation, but also during it. Decorate an accent wall from the start and you won’t have to spend money on accessories.

In addition to standard finishing materials such as brickwork, stone, decorative plaster or concrete, you can use wooden or soft panels.

You can decorate a classic hall with molding frames. They divide the space into zones and look original. Wallpaper is glued into such frames, pictures are placed there or they are left free.

The photo shows an example of decorating molding frames with wallpaper

Photo wallpaper

With this method, you will achieve the desired result and will not spend a lot of money. Landscapes, panoramas, and abstractions look great above the sofa in the living room. If you don’t want to spend a lot of effort on a textured wall (brick, concrete), choose photo wallpaper that imitates it.

For a small room, avoid close-up or 3D images, as well as dark shades. A natural landscape on a 1:1 scale that doesn’t visually stand out against the background of other walls will be just right.