How to display statement pieces and wall art in your home

Paint your room a stunning colour

Paint walls, trim and doors all one bright shade (we used turquoise) to make the space feel bigger. The colour now acts as a blank canvas for a family collection of plates mounted on the walls.



Get this look: Dining room paint, Hermes Blue, Para Paints. Dining chairs, West Elm. Flooring, area rug, both Carpet One. Lighting, Rejuvenation.



Before look: What's the first job when you inherit your family's cottage — and everything in it? Clear the clutter and keep the treasures! My team and I took this cottage from dark, drab and jammed with knick-knacks (see image below) to clutter-free and cheery. It's all in learning how to edit what you have and finding ways to display items. And a little paint went a long way to freshen up this cherished family home!

Leave some surfaces completely bare

Make a room feel restful and calm by designating windowsills, side tables and mantels tchotchke-free zones. Instead opt for large statement pieces like two-foot-square pillows, a rope-covered side table or a single vase filled with flowers.



Get this look: Wall paint, Evening in Paris, Para Paints. Light fixture, Rejuvenation. Hanover sofa, Sunpan Imports. Pillow fabric, Robert Allen Design. Blinds, Blinds To Go. Furniture painting, Toronto Paint Store.

Turn collections into wall art

Find a new way to showcase your finds by mounting them on the wall. You'll save money on art and add depth and charm to your decor if you hang prized objects like instruments or hats together. This designer trick also works for maps, black and white photos or line drawings.



Get this look: Side table paint, Singapore Coral, Para Paints. Fabrics, Robert Allen Design.

Switch up your display every season

Create small artful groupings with nostalgic accessories like a vintage milk bottle and mini broom. A few family photos add personality to an entry table. Keep the arrangement rotating so you have a chance to show off all your favourites.



Get this look: Byholma armchair, Ikea. Dresser refinishing, Benjamen Furniture Refinishing, 416-745-2559.

Get the look

Bold & Beautiful
Brighten up with pops of colour on the walls.

Paint, Passionfruit Flambé, Hermes Blue, both Para Paints.

Go organic
Add texture with this women table made of natural water-hyacinth fibre. It doubles as a stool!

Hyacinth Natural drum table, $339, Ethan Allen.

Green queen
Welcome an unexpected splash of colour.

Cobistyle green ceramic lamp, $230, Canfloyd.

Best basic
Square and simple lines make this sofa a classic.


Kivik sofa, $700, Ikea.

Table help
Punchy plates work equally well as wall art and on the dining room table.


Celeste dinnerware, $7-$14 each, Pier 1.

Perfect pattern
Chevrons add a modern contrast to a traditional look.

Lady Rosedale pillow, 18 x 18 in., $50, Candym.

Light bright
Add a touch of industrial styling.

Glass jar pendants, $99 each, West Elm.

Art project
Adorn your walls with pop-up artwork.

Wallflower wall decor, $25, Umbra.