How to Mix Traditional Art With Modern Wall Decor
You’ve inherited a beautiful, landscape painting from your grandmother.
It’s got a rich, classical feel; ornate frame, romantic brushwork…the whole package. But your home? It’s clean-lined, minimalist, and modern.
The new painting, charming as it is, just…doesn’t fit in. And as much as you’d like to put it on display…it ends up sitting in storage.
What a nightmare.
Here’s the thing: traditional art and modern art can go very well together. In fact, they’re excellent companions when you know how to introduce them properly. The contrast between a classical elegance and contemporary simplicity can create a layered, collected-over-time aesthetic that some interior designers will spend years getting just right.
The art in your living room need not stick to a single rigid style. It should feel like you, and that it’s telling YOUR story. And all of us are complex with tastes that evolve over time.
Let’s dive in!
Why mixing traditional and modern art works
For a while, I thought everything in a room had to match.
Same era, same style…same vibe. Anything that didn’t fit into the style would be an eyesore.
But as I’ve got older (and moved through a few different spaces), I’ve realised it’s an easy route to a room that can feel pretty boring. Not to say it can’t be done. But a bit of variation can really bring a place to life by telling a story.
The inherited landscape tells the story about your family history. The modern canvas print you bought last year tells the story of who you are now. Together? They tell a story about you which goes much deeper than either item would do on its own.
Pro tip: At the end of the day, whether you go with one style or many, it’s about the appearance feeling curated and intentional. And as ever, I’m a stickler for your wall art telling a story about you!
The psychology of mixing art styles
Traditional art and modern decor speak different visual languages—and that’s exactly why they work together.
Traditional art (think classical portraits, romantic landscapes and still lifes with dramatic lighting) tends to be detailed, ornate and expressive. It draws you in with story and technique.
Modern wall decor, by contrast, is often about reduction. Clean lines, bold colours or no colours at all, and negative space that gives the eye room to breathe. It’s confident but simple.
Now—when you place them side by side? Something interesting happens. The traditional piece provides warm and richness that prevents modern minimalism from feeling cold. But the modern piece provides space which prevents traditional art from feeling cluttered or stuffy.
It’s a visual balance through opposition. And, when it’s done well, it can create a space that feels sophisticated without trying too hard.
5 principles for mixing traditional art with modern decor
Here’s where we get practical.
These aren’t rigid rules (we’ll break them later anyway), but they’re great starting points that will help you mix styles with confidence.
#1. Find the common thread
Even if you’re mixing styles, your wall art needs something that ties it together. This is a visual anchor; the thread that makes an eclectic collection feel curated and not random.
For example, the common thread might be:
- The colour palette. A traditional floral painting and a modern canvas print can share similar colour tones, even if they express said tones differently.
- Subject matter. It could all be portraiture. It could all be landscape pieces. Stories can be told across traditional oil paintings, modern photography and minimalist line drawings. This effect creates cohesion through a shared subject even if the styles are very different.
- Mood or emotion. I once saw a moody, atmospheric seascape next to a contemplative, modern photo of a city. It worked tremendously because the two pieces brought about similar feelings.
- Scale and proportion. Large pieces in both traditional and modern styles create a sense of drama and importance, making them great companions.
- Or, absolutely nothing at all. If all else fails? Go with totally different styles/shapes for absolutely everything. It creates an eclectic, yet still brilliantly curated effect.
My view is that colour is the easiest common thread to work with. When a traditional portrait and a modern geometric print share even 2-3 colours, they feel like they belong together.
#2. Balance formality with restraint
Traditional art often comes with a certain level of formality. Ornate frames, classical subjects and detailed technique all carry weight and sophistication.
And to balance that with modern pieces? Consider how much traditional art you do include, especially if the pieces you have are very striking.
Here’s what works:
- The anchor piece approach. Let one large traditional piece serve as a focal point, then surround it with several, smaller modern prints. The traditional piece provides gravitas, but the modern pieces keep it from getting too serious.
- Alternating rhythm. Try alternating between two styles for a visual rhythm that prevents your wall from feeling imbalanced.
- Asymmetric balance. One very formal traditional piece on one side of your sofa, balanced by two or three minimal modern prints on the other side. They shouldn’t match directly, but they should feel balanced in visual weight.
#3. Use spacing and scale strategically
It’s easier to get right than you’d think.
If you’re mixing traditional and modern pieces in a gallery wall, give them equal priority for space. Don’t put all the traditional pieces in one place and all the modern ones in another unless you want to create two separate collections rather than one.
If you’re hanging individual statement pieces (rather than a gallery wall), scale is key. A tiny traditional portrait will look lost on a large wall flanked by oversized modern canvases. Similarly, a massive classical landscape will overwhelm small modern line drawings.
#4. Frame it right!
Here’s a secret: framing is one of the most powerful tools for mixing traditional and modern art successfully (even though it’s often overlooked).
Traditional art often comes in ornate, detailed frames. Modern art typically favours simple frames, or no frames at all (hello, gallery-wrapped canvas!). When you’re mixing both, consider how these styles interact.
Here are some options that work:
- Unified frame style. Reframe everything (or, most things) in the same simple, modern frame style. This creates a cohesion even when the artwork itself is very different. A traditional landscape in a slim black frame suddenly feels much more at home next to modern prints in similar frames.
- Strategic contrast. Keep the ornate frames on your traditional pieces but make sure they aren’t fighting for attention. If you have three traditional pieces with gilded frames, try balancing them with some unframed modern canvases.
- Matte and spacing. Use consistent matting across both traditional and modern pieces to create another visual connection. A traditional watercolour and a modern photograph both matted in white will suddenly feel like they belong together.
Common mistakes when mixing art styles (and how to avoid them)
By contrast…here are some things that don’t work.
Mistake #1: No common thread
Simply hanging up a random collection of art from different eras with nothing at all connecting them rarely works. Even if you’re going “eclectic”, it’s worth getting a feel for how the collection fits together.
The fix? Don’t hang anything up until you’ve decided what connects your pieces together (even if that’s absolutely nothing at all). If the look isn’t quite there, consider swapping some pieces out to create the connection you want.
Mistake #2: Ignoring your room’s existing style
Your space might be ultra-minimal with concrete floors and stark furniture. Going straight to having ornate, traditional paintings probably won’t work (though I have seen it attempted). Similarly, you could hang up a single neon-coloured modern print in a Victorian period property. It might just look like it wandered in from the wrong house.
The fix? Your room’s existing aesthetic is the starting point. Mix styles in a way that feels like a natural evolution rather than decorating it carte blanche.
Mistake #3: Forgetting about negative space
When mixing traditional and modern art, it’s tempting to fill every inch of wall space. After all, who wouldn’t be excited about showcasing everything?
But, both traditional and modern aesthetics enjoy some breathing room.
The fix? Leave some space around your pieces. Especially in the case of ornate traditional pieces, they need space to be appreciated!
Mistake #4: Being too timid
And here’s the opposite problem. Don’t be too worried about mixing styles “correctly”. Otherwise you might end up with a tiny traditional piece awkwardly placed half the room away from an equally tiny modern print.
If you’re going to mix styles, commit to it!
The fix? Be bold with your choices. One substantial traditional piece can anchor an entire wall of modern canvases. A collection of traditional portraits can be beautifully interrupted by a modern canvas. Trust your instinct.
Your walls, your rules
As ever, there’s no “right way” to mix different art styles. Interior decor magazines will show you one approach. Instagram influencers will show you another.
Your mother in law might even have an opinion.
But, at the end of the day, your walls are telling your story.
The principles we’ve covered here will help you mix styles with confidence. But they’re tools, not rigid rules. Use them when they’re helpful. Otherwise, ignore them.
Take your time. Experiment with arrangements before committing with hammer and nails. Prop pieces against the wall, step back and live with them for a few days. See how the morning light hits that traditional portrait next to your modern prints. How does it feel to you?
And remember, the prettiest rooms are the ones that DON’T follow trends perfectly. They’re the ones that feel lived in, collected, and personal.
A mix of traditional art and modern decor does exactly that.
