Textile, metal, wood and painted wall art

Types of Wall Hanging: Textile, Metal, Wood and Painted Art

A wall hanging is any decorative object mounted on a wall. The main types are textile pieces (tapestries, macramé, woven and embroidered work), flat art (paintings, canvas prints, framed prints), three-dimensional pieces (metal, wood, wall sculpture) and functional pieces (shelves, mirrors, hooks). Each type differs in material, weight, texture and the way it is fastened. This guide lists each type, describes how it looks and where it suits, and gives hanging heights.

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TL;DR

  • Wall hangings fall into four groups: textile, flat art, three-dimensional pieces and functional pieces.
  • Textile pieces add texture. Flat art adds color and a focal point. Metal and wood pieces add depth and shadow.
  • Match the type to the room: large, full pieces for living rooms, lighter pieces for bedrooms, moisture-tolerant materials for kitchens and bathrooms.
  • A common gallery reference is 57 inches from the floor to the center of the piece.
  • Mixing a flat painting with a textile or sculptural piece gives a wall more variety than one type alone.

Table of Contents

The main types of wall hangings at a glance

The table below summarizes the groups used in this guide. Details follow in each section.

Type Typical materials Visual effect Common placement
Woven tapestry Wool, cotton, silk Soft, pictorial or patterned Living rooms, entries, bedrooms
Macramé Cotton cord, wool Textured, handmade, relaxed Bedrooms, living rooms
Embroidery, quilts, fiber art Thread, fabric Pattern, warmth Bedrooms, offices
Painting Canvas, paper, acrylic, oil Color, mood, focal point Any room
Canvas print or framed print Canvas, paper Reproduced image at a range of sizes Any room
Metal wall art Copper, brass, steel, iron Modern or industrial, reflective Living rooms, dining rooms, entries
Wooden wall art Carved wood, panels, woodblock prints Warm, earthy Living rooms, dining rooms
Paper art Cut paper, origami, collage Light, graphic Offices, bedrooms
Functional hangings Shelves, mirrors, hooks, planters Practical and decorative Entries, kitchens, offices

Textile wall hangings

Textile pieces are made from fiber and hang from a rod, a cleat or hooks. They are usually lighter than framed art, though large woven and quilted pieces can be heavy.

Woven tapestries

A true woven tapestry is hand-woven on a loom. According to the British Tapestry Group, the design is formed by weft threads packed tightly enough to cover the warp threads, and each color is worked only in its own section. Tapestries are usually made to hang on a wall.

The same source notes that fine woven tapestries take a long time to weave and have long been rare and expensive. For that reason the word “tapestry” is also used for other techniques that produce pictorial textiles resembling woven tapestry at a much lower cost. When you shop, this explains why two items called tapestries can differ widely in construction and in price.

Tapestries suit large, uninterrupted walls, such as above a sofa, in a hallway or at the end of a dining room. Wool and cotton give a matte, dense look. Silk gives a lighter sheen.

Macramé

Macramé is textile art made by knotting cord into patterns. Architectural Digest describes macramé wall hangings as typically made with natural materials such as cotton cord and merino wool, and notes that the knotting technique dates to the 13th century, with a peak in the 1960s and 1970s.

Hands knotting cotton cord into macramé

Macramé works well in bedrooms and living rooms with neutral palettes. It adds texture without adding color. It is less suited to kitchens and bathrooms unless the cord tolerates steam and splashes.

Woven hangings, embroidery, quilts and fiber art

These groups overlap with tapestry and macramé but use different methods:

  • Woven wall hangings combine yarn, fabric strips and rope on a simple frame or dowel.
  • Embroidery and hoop art are stitched designs on fabric, from small framed hoops to large panels.
  • Quilts and art quilts are patchwork pieces, traditional or contemporary, hung from a rod sleeve.
  • Fiber art covers sculptural and mixed-fiber work that does not fit the other categories.

Heavier textiles need a cleat or rod fastened into wall studs. Keep textiles away from stoves, showers, tubs and laundry sinks, where heat and moisture can damage fiber.

Flat wall art: paintings, canvas prints and framed prints

Flat art is the largest group and the one most buyers mean by “wall hangings” in a living space. It is two-dimensional, so it presents one image from the front.

Original paintings

An original painting is a single, one-of-a-kind work, usually on stretched canvas, in acrylic or oil. Styles include abstract, geometric, floral, landscape, seascape and still life. Abstract and geometric work suits modern interiors. Landscapes and seascapes suit rooms where a calm focal point is wanted. Florals and still life suit dining rooms, entries and bedrooms.

Original paintings can be made at a chosen scale. Commissioned work lets the buyer set size, palette and mood to fit a specific wall. For heavy or large canvases, see our guides on how to hang a heavy painting safely and how to hang a large painting.

Original paintings

Canvas prints

A canvas print reproduces an image on canvas, usually stretched over a frame. Prints on canvas come in many sizes and cost less than originals. A museum-quality canvas print is a practical choice for rooms that need a large piece, such as a stairwell or a long wall.

Framed paper prints

Framed paper prints sit behind a mat or glazing. They suit gallery walls, hallways and smaller wall sections. Their frame color and profile affect the final look as much as the image.

Photographs and posters

Framed photographs and posters belong to the same group. They are the lowest-cost option and are easy to change, which suits rented homes and children’s rooms.

Three-dimensional wall pieces

Three-dimensional pieces project from the wall. They include metal wall art, carved wood, wall sculpture and layered panels.

  • Metal wall art is made of copper, brass, steel or iron. Finishes such as brushed nickel, rusted iron or polished brass change the tone from industrial to refined.
  • Wooden wall art includes carved reliefs, panels, woodblock prints and painted details. Wood adds warmth and a natural grain.
  • Wall sculpture is made of metal, wood, resin or mixed materials and mounted on brackets or hooks. According to WiseGeek, a wall sculpture differs from flat artwork because it has both positive and negative space, which produces light and shadow combinations that only a three-dimensional object can create.

These pieces catch light, so their appearance changes through the day. Place them where light falls across the wall, such as beside a window.

Functional wall hangings

Some wall hangings also do a job:

  • Floating shelves and ledges for books and small objects
  • Mirrors, which add light and the impression of depth
  • Hooks and pegboards for hats, bags and coats
  • Hanging planters for plants
  • Sconces for light

In entries and offices, functional pieces fill the wall and stay useful. In bedrooms and living rooms they usually share the wall with art.

How material changes the look

Material determines texture, weight and tone more than subject does.

Material Look and feel Practical note
Cotton and wool Soft, matte, warm Avoid moisture and direct heat
Silk Light sheen, formal Keep out of strong sun
Canvas and acrylic paint Color-rich, flat surface Suits most rooms; keep dry
Wood Warm, earthy Consider weight and wall fixings
Metal Modern, industrial, reflective Heavy; use fixings rated for the weight
Glass and crystal Luminous, elegant Fragile; hang at a secure height

A wall with only soft materials can feel flat. A wall with only hard materials can feel cold. Pairing one of each is a common way to balance a room.

Choosing a type by room

Living room. The living room can take the largest and fullest pieces. A large painting, a wide tapestry or a metal piece works as the focal point. For the wall above a sofa, see above couch wall decor.

Bedroom. Bedrooms suit lighter pieces and softer tones. Anything above a bed must be secure and light enough to be safe. Textile hangings and canvas pieces are common choices. Our guides cover wall hangings for the bedroom, above-bed wall decor and large bedroom wall decor.

Dining room. A dining room wall works as a conversation piece. Florals, still life, abstract paintings and metal or wood pieces all fit.

Home office. Offices suit art that supports focus: geometric or abstract work, framed paper prints, or a functional piece such as a mirror or shelf.

Entry. Entries suit pieces that also work, such as a mirror, hooks or a narrow shelf, combined with one piece of art.

Kitchen and bathroom. Use materials that tolerate steam and splashes, such as framed and glazed prints, metal or sealed wood. Keep textiles away from splash zones.

Nursery. Keep every piece out of a child’s reach and fasten it securely.

For more bedroom ideas, see unique wall decor for the bedroom.

Size and height

The size of the piece matters as much as the type. A small piece on a large wall looks lost. A piece that is too large crowds a small wall.

Architectural Digest gives 57 inches from the floor to the center of the frame as the standard reference. It is the average eye level and the height at which galleries and museums typically hang work. The same article quotes designer Tyson Ness, who advises leaving about 6 to 8 inches between a sideboard or console and the bottom of the frame, and slightly more above a sofa.

He also suggests using the wall’s shape as a guide: tall, narrow walls suit vertical pieces or groupings, and wide walls suit horizontal layouts. He notes that most clients hang pieces too high, and that lowering them a few inches makes the arrangement look more considered.

A working method:

  1. Measure the wall and the furniture below it.
  2. Choose a piece that fills roughly the width of the furniture or a portion of it.
  3. Mark the center point at 57 inches from the floor.
  4. Adjust downward when the piece hangs above furniture, keeping the gap from the furniture in view.
  5. Check the fixing against the weight of the piece, and fasten into studs for heavy items.

For tall ceilings or large canvases, our guide to hanging at 57 to 60 inches gives more detail.

Combining different types

A wall can hold more than one type. A painting beside a textile hanging, or a flat canvas above a wooden shelf, adds variety. WiseGeek notes that three-dimensional wall pieces are often combined with paintings and photographs because sculptural work adds texture and can be seen from many angles in a room.

For a gallery wall:

  • Choose one dominant piece and build around it.
  • Keep spacing consistent. Our picture wall guide recommends centering the arrangement at 57 inches with 2 to 6 inches between pieces.
  • Repeat one color or material across the group.
  • Lay the arrangement on the floor before making any holes.

Our perspective

Wall hangings are often chosen by category first and by wall second. We suggest reversing that order. Start with the wall: its size, its light, the furniture below it and the mood the room needs.

An original painting is the most direct way to set that mood. It can be made at the scale the wall requires, in a palette that matches the room. This is why we offer bespoke commissions: the buyer specifies size, palette and mood, and the artist consults during the process.

Canvas prints and framed paper prints extend the same work to more walls and more budgets. Merchandise such as throw pillows and tote bags carries the same imagery into the rest of the home.

In our experience, a painting works best as the anchor of a wall, with textile or wooden pieces added around it.

Eman

Eman’s Gallery offers original handmade paintings by Eman Khalifa in abstract, geometric, floral, landscape, seascape and still-life styles. We also offer canvas prints, framed paper prints and bespoke commissions, with shipping worldwide. Browse the original paintings collection or the canvas and framed prints.

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For smaller walls, the original mini paintings are an option. Our returns and refunds policy is published on the site. An art gift card is available for gift buyers.

FAQ

What are the most common types of wall hangings?

The most common types are tapestries, macramé, woven and embroidered textiles, quilts, paintings, canvas and framed prints, metal and wood wall art, and functional pieces such as mirrors and shelves. Most guides group them as textile, flat art, three-dimensional and functional pieces.

What is the difference between a tapestry and a wall hanging?

“Wall hanging” is the broad term for any decorative piece hung on a wall. A tapestry is one type. A true tapestry is hand-woven on a loom with weft threads covering the warp, according to the British Tapestry Group. Other textiles are also sold as tapestries.

How high should a wall hanging be placed?

A common reference is 57 inches from the floor to the center of the piece, as described by Architectural Digest. Above a sofa or console, leave a gap of several inches between the furniture and the bottom of the piece.

Which wall hangings suit a bedroom?

Lighter pieces suit bedrooms: canvas paintings, framed prints, macramé and woven textiles. Anything above a bed must be fastened securely. See our guide to over-the-bed wall decor for sizes and heights.

Can different types of wall hangings be combined?

Yes. Pairing a flat painting with a textile or sculptural piece adds texture and variety. Keep one color or material consistent across the group so the wall reads as one arrangement.

Sources

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