How to Choose Abstract Art for Your Home in 2026: A Nashville Painter’s Guide by Angela Simeone

How to Choose Abstract Art for Your Home in 2026: A Nashville Painter’s Guide by Angela Simeone

I’ve been making large abstract paintings in Nashville for over a decade, and the #1 thing I hear from new collectors is this:

“I love abstract art… but I’m terrified of choosing the wrong piece.”

You’re not alone. A painting is usually the most expensive thing you’ll hang on your wall that isn’t actually nailed to the structure. It’s also the thing that sets the emotional temperature of the entire room. Get it right and the space feels complete. Get it wrong and you’re stuck staring at an expensive mistake every single day.

This guide is the exact conversation I have with every private client and interior designer who walks into my studio. By the end you’ll know precisely how to choose abstract art that looks like it was born for your home — not just “placed” there.

The 4 Biggest Mistakes People Make (and how to fix them instantly)

1. Buying too small Rule of thumb I give every designer: your art should take up 2/3 to 4/5 of the width of the furniture it sits above. Example: 84–96″ sofa → you need a painting 56–80″ wide (or a diptych/triptych that adds up to that).
2. Matching instead of relating Stop trying to match the exact pillow color. Instead, pull a tone that appears 5–10 % of the time in the painting. That’s how the room feels intentional without looking forced.
3. Hanging it at gallery height In homes, the center of the painting should be 57–60″ from the floor. In my own house it’s 58″ on the dot.
4. Forgetting the feeling Ask yourself: Do I want this room to feel calm, energized, or sophisticated? The answer tells you whether you need moody layers or joyful gestures.

Room-by-Room 2026 Guide (shoppable right now)

Living Room Over the Sofa → Tan Grey Grape Stain Painting – $5,850 48″ × 60″ oil on canvas. Warm neutrals with the softest grape whisper — quiet-luxury perfection. (Link: https://angelasimeone.com/products/tan-grey-grape-stain-painting)

Dining Room Statement → Fly Away Marigold Painting – $4,250 36″ × 48″ (hangs vertical or horizontal). Marigold + cream layers that make every dinner feel like a celebration. (Link: https://angelasimeone.com/products/fly-away-marigold-painting)

Primary Bedroom Serenity → Navy Grey Yellow Glow Painting – $5,800 60″ × 48″. Subtle glowing ochre hidden inside cool navies — the painting my clients say helps them sleep better. (Link: https://angelasimeone.com/products/navy-grey-yellow-glow-painting)

Entryway Drama → Wintergreen White Rust Abstract Painting – $6,200 Forest greens melting into rust and winter white — turns any foyer into a gallery moment. (Link: https://angelasimeone.com/products/wintergreen-white-rust-abstract-painting)

Home Office Focus → Cobalt Rust Grey Green Painting – $7,100 48″ × 60″. Cool cobalt warming into earthy rust — designers tell me it makes Zoom days feel calmer. (Link: https://angelasimeone.com/products/cobalt-rust-grey-green-painting)

Free Gift: My 2026 Art Sizing Cheat Sheet Designers tape this inside their toolkits. Drop your email and I’ll send it instantly + first dibs on the January drop. → Download the cheat sheet here (Link: https://angelasimeone.com/pages/sizing-cheat-sheet)

If you’re still unsure, send me a photo of your wall (DM or email) — I’ll tell you within 24 hours which piece was made for that spot.

You don’t have to guess. You just have to choose the feeling you want to live inside.

Happy collecting, Angela Simeone Nashville, November 2025

→ Shop all available originals (Link: https://angelasimeone.com/collections/originals) →