12 Ways to Decorate with Unconventional Art

Looking for a statement piece? Go for an intricate wooden wall hanging. Oakland artist Aleksandra Zee pulls inspiration for her large and small scale pieces from the desert. Hang her woodwork over the sofa or use it as a truly unique headboard.

Have a favorite rug but nowhere on the floor to put it? Consider hanging it up rather than laying it down. That was a recent “try something unexpected” solution from Cary Fortin and Kyle Quilici of San Francisco design firm New Minimalism. “We used it in a master bedroom. It anchored the wall and elevated the rug to a piece of art,” Fortin says. “Then we used simple, clean white sheets and a clean white bedspread to add warmth to the space.”

At first, we thought these frames displayed real flowers and foliage. They don’t. Keep preserved botanicals as art without the fear of discoloration. Blogger and artist Mary Jo Hoffman (stillblog.net) creatively arranges and photographs fresh cuts. West Elm took her photos and printed them on clear acrylic panels to create a faux pressed flower effect.

Off-white walls can absorb a lot of art without looking chaotic. Case in point: a rotating gallery of pencil drawings, prints, and objects—all devoid of color. The blank canvas even allowed for a favorite collection on top of the antique French work bench.

Meet this Finnish decor trend. Himmeli consists of metal tubing strung together in a geometric shape. Leave this copper wreath empty or tuck in fresh flowers and sprigs of foliage. While himmeli may be a fun DIY, we’ll leave this sculptural wall hanging to the expertise of Morrison Makers. (If you want to use tillandsia in this wreath, go for another metal. Copper’s toxic to them.)

Bring a touch more green indoors with these sweet, simple hanging “trapezes” for Tillandsia. They’re easy to make with a square-cut dowel and suede cord. Use the cord to hang the trapezes on a wall that receives bright, indirect light. Nestle a Tillandsia or two in the corners of the hanger, near the cord. The plants’ curly tendrils will hold them in place. Once a week, remove each Tillandsia and soak in water overnight.

Designer Erin Hiemstra gave this room architectural interest by creating a wall of staggered cube cutouts to hold books and plants. Instead of hanging up flat art, wall cutouts act as frames to three dimensional scenes. We love how she combined metallics with mattes and greenery.

Large-scale landscape photographs look like another window. We divided this blown-up photo by Sunset staff photographer Thomas J. Story into fifteen 81/2- by 11-inch pieces, framed each one, and hung them all in a close grid to mimic looking through windowpanes. A mirror on the opposite wall doubles the effect.

Create a garden on a bare wall with a felt planting pocket. Here, a Wally One from Woolly Pocket explodes with houseplant foliage, including a striped bromeliad, dark green ‘Xanadu’ philodendron, and trailing heartleaf philodendron. The pocket, designed by Daniel Nolan of Flora Grubb, is made from 100% recycled plastic water bottles and is breathable for plant roots.

Empty stairwells make an ideal spot for hanging a unique work of art. Choose a wall hanging with texture such as this ceramic sculpture. Such a massive canvas calls for a large piece. The sculptural fringe works well in the minimalist space.

Have you collected an army of random doodads? Pair them in threes with varying heights for creative balance. Make sure they have a similar color scheme. Voila, a mini art display. We love Susan Stella’s niche with a rustic color palette.

Take a nature-inspired wood carving such as this cactus family for a shot of kitsch. Pair this piece or something like it from Decor Asylum with a woven hanging or place it on a gallery wall. The pastel plants will add a lighthearted element to your collection.