Decorating
Framed Posters – How to Style and Display Yours as Artwork
With eye-catching images and fabulous typography, new and vintage posters are a striking way to dress walls
Posters are packed with value as wall decoration. Choose them instead of a painting, print or photo, and you can showcase the work of the leading graphic designers of the last century or today. They’re mood enhancers, too, with the potential to evoke fond memories of a holiday, exhibition or concert. Bold colour is often key to the design, so they’re an easy way to introduce an accent shade to a scheme. They can be easy on the pocket as well, with a large-scale poster infinitely more affordable than many other types of artwork. Whether your taste is modern or vintage, be inspired by these poster-tastic ideas.
Inject colour…
Still on a film theme, this poster is a standout feature of a cool architectural interior in white and statement black. The way the curvaceous image and type contrast with the precise horizontal and vertical lines of the rest of the space works brilliantly.
Note how the white frame blurs the division between wall and poster, helping focus the onlooker on the poster’s content.
Check out more interior Crittall-style windows
Still on a film theme, this poster is a standout feature of a cool architectural interior in white and statement black. The way the curvaceous image and type contrast with the precise horizontal and vertical lines of the rest of the space works brilliantly.
Note how the white frame blurs the division between wall and poster, helping focus the onlooker on the poster’s content.
Check out more interior Crittall-style windows
…or theme by colour
Striking individually, these posters create even more of an impact hung in a group. They feature analogous colours from the decorator’s wheel (that’s shades that sit in adjacent sections), which has a harmonious effect. The images at either end feature the same complementary warm orange shade (from the opposite side of the wheel, and creating contrast), so the whole look is visually pleasing.
Keep the gap between images narrow to ensure that a group like this is read as a whole.
Striking individually, these posters create even more of an impact hung in a group. They feature analogous colours from the decorator’s wheel (that’s shades that sit in adjacent sections), which has a harmonious effect. The images at either end feature the same complementary warm orange shade (from the opposite side of the wheel, and creating contrast), so the whole look is visually pleasing.
Keep the gap between images narrow to ensure that a group like this is read as a whole.
Suggest style
In this living room, a fashion poster adds to the glamour of the space, complementing the luxurious textures of the upholstery and rug. The pair of table lamps on the sideboard frame the design and the colour of the shades echoes the poster’s background, while the symmetry is repeated by the side tables.
Associate a sideboard with art hung above it by keeping them close so the image doesn’t appear to float off.
In this living room, a fashion poster adds to the glamour of the space, complementing the luxurious textures of the upholstery and rug. The pair of table lamps on the sideboard frame the design and the colour of the shades echoes the poster’s background, while the symmetry is repeated by the side tables.
Associate a sideboard with art hung above it by keeping them close so the image doesn’t appear to float off.
It’s perfume rather than shoes that ups the luxe quotient in this bedroom. Here, the super-scaled poster is propped rather than hung, which makes the overall effect more relaxed. The blush pink bed linen tones beautifully, too.
Brighten a kitchen
A Picasso poster introduces colour to a white kitchen in this home. It looks just right because it’s sized to make an impact and it has the detail that the plain-fronted cabinetry doesn’t.
Adding a design like this is a way to bring both colour and pattern to walls in a pale kitchen without the long-term commitment of a tiled splashback.
A Picasso poster introduces colour to a white kitchen in this home. It looks just right because it’s sized to make an impact and it has the detail that the plain-fronted cabinetry doesn’t.
Adding a design like this is a way to bring both colour and pattern to walls in a pale kitchen without the long-term commitment of a tiled splashback.
Step back in time
Vintage posters dress the wall in this dining space beautifully. As well as matching frames and mounts, these make a set with a theme – here it’s travel.
To pull off the same look, group small images into sets so they have the impact of two large artworks.
11 vintage buys to add character
Vintage posters dress the wall in this dining space beautifully. As well as matching frames and mounts, these make a set with a theme – here it’s travel.
To pull off the same look, group small images into sets so they have the impact of two large artworks.
11 vintage buys to add character
Here’s another way to show off old-style holiday destination designs. Ranged along the sideboard, these are combined with landscape images for another take on a set that works happily together.
Go on tour
In this dining area, it’s a concert poster that takes pride of place. The size allows it to make a fantastic focal point, filling the wall from skirting board to ceiling. A single image works a treat in a room of these proportions, helping to keep it uncluttered but packed with personality.
Hanging a poster visitors might want to read? Make sure the type is at eye level.
In this dining area, it’s a concert poster that takes pride of place. The size allows it to make a fantastic focal point, filling the wall from skirting board to ceiling. A single image works a treat in a room of these proportions, helping to keep it uncluttered but packed with personality.
Hanging a poster visitors might want to read? Make sure the type is at eye level.
Look and learn
Posters are the perfect wall art for a child’s room, and these nature images make a pleasing symmetrical display either side of the shutters, mirroring the twin cots.
If you’re looking for foreign language posters, try eBay to track down a curiosity.
Posters are the perfect wall art for a child’s room, and these nature images make a pleasing symmetrical display either side of the shutters, mirroring the twin cots.
If you’re looking for foreign language posters, try eBay to track down a curiosity.
Fill a tall wall
The height of staircase walls can leave them looking sadly empty, so they’re the ideal place to hang a big poster. Placement is key, and here the design is in a viewer’s eye line from the landing. The clear balustrade ensures other views of the poster aren’t impeded, as well as leaving the stairwell light filled – perfect for displaying artwork.
Framed a favourite poster? Show us or tell us in the Comments section.
The height of staircase walls can leave them looking sadly empty, so they’re the ideal place to hang a big poster. Placement is key, and here the design is in a viewer’s eye line from the landing. The clear balustrade ensures other views of the poster aren’t impeded, as well as leaving the stairwell light filled – perfect for displaying artwork.
Framed a favourite poster? Show us or tell us in the Comments section.
What better art for a cinema room like this one than film posters? These versions break up the long wall. Hung in matching frames with white mounts, a collection becomes a set that works together however diverse the films and designs.