Yes. The right artwork can change how buyers perceive a property by giving rooms a focal point, improving the sense of scale and adding personality. Presentation shapes how buyers respond: in a United States survey, 83% of buyers' agents said staging made it easier for a buyer to picture a property as their future home [1]. Art is one part of that. The aim is not to fill every wall. It is to help buyers feel something about the home.
- More than tidy: presenting a home for sale is about more than making it look clean and neat
- Scale is everything: artwork at the wrong scale can undermine a room, however good the piece [2]
- A natural focal point: wall art draws the eye and sets the mood of a room [3]
- Personality, not personalisation: sellers do not have to strip a house bare [4]
- Restraint matters: during a campaign, the art should support the property and not compete with it
You are not simply presenting rooms. You are presenting a lifestyle.
Art and the open home at a glance
| Decision | What the experts say | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Scale | Interior stylist Julia Green says scale is everything. Small frames on a large wall lack visual impact [2] [3]. | Choose one piece at the right scale over several undersized ones. |
| Placement | Wall art acts as an automatic focal point and sets the atmosphere of a room [3]. | Position key pieces above a fireplace, console or sofa. |
| Colour | Pick up colour cues from the artwork and echo the tones already in the room [2] [3]. | Use art to bring controlled colour into a neutral interior. |
| Personal items | Sellers do not have to strip a house bare, but should simplify excessive displays [4]. | Edit the family photographs and keep the art that adds character. |
| Objects | Three dimensional pieces add texture and depth [3]. | Place a sculptural piece on a console or at the end of a hallway. |
| Buyer response | 83% of buyers' agents in a US survey said staging helped buyers picture a property as their future home [1]. | Present the home so buyers can imagine living in it. |
When preparing a property for sale, most owners understand the fundamentals: declutter, clean, improve the lighting and put away unnecessary personal possessions.
But there is another element that can change the experience of walking through a home. Art.
A carefully selected artwork can alter the character of a room almost instantly. During an open home, where buyers form opinions within moments, those perceptions matter.
Can art change the way buyers perceive a property?
Yes. Art influences how buyers read the scale, quality, personality and lifestyle of a home. It is one of the tools that turns a tidy house into a considered one.
The wider evidence on presentation points the same way. In the 2025 Profile of Home Staging from the National Association of Realtors in the United States, 83% of buyers' agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to envision the property as their future home [1]. That survey covers staging as a whole and not art alone, and it is American, but the principle travels: buyers respond to how a home is presented.
Can art make a property feel more expensive?
Potentially, yes, but not because the artwork itself needs to be expensive. What matters is perception.
A well proportioned piece above a fireplace, console or sofa can make an interior feel considered and complete. It can draw attention towards architectural features and create a sense that the home has been thoughtfully designed, not simply furnished. Wall art works as an automatic focal point and sets the atmosphere of a room [3].
The buyer is not necessarily thinking “That is an expensive painting.” They are more likely thinking “This room feels beautiful.” That distinction is important.
Can art make a room appear larger?
Art can influence how we perceive proportion and scale, which changes how large a room feels. Interior stylist Julia Green told Home Beautiful that scale is everything: even a great artwork can look terrible at the wrong size [2].
One common mistake when preparing a property for sale is using artwork that is too small for the wall. Small frames on a large expanse of wall lack visual impact [3]. In our experience, a collection of undersized pieces can make a wall feel fragmented and make the furniture around it look disproportionately large.
One appropriately scaled artwork can have greater impact. Vertical pieces can emphasise ceiling height, while larger horizontal works can reinforce the width of a living or dining space. The artwork effectively helps frame the architecture.
Should you remove personal artwork before an open home?
Not necessarily. There is a difference between personality and personalisation.
Family photographs, children's school pictures and highly personal memorabilia can make it harder for buyers to imagine the property as their own. Real estate agents make a similar point: sellers do not have to strip a house bare, but should simplify excessive displays so the focus is on the home [4].
Art, however, can give a home personality without making it feel like somebody else's home. The objective should not be to remove every trace of character and turn the property into an anonymous display suite. A memorable home often needs some personality. For more on balancing personality with what is on trend, see our guide on interior design trends or personality.
What type of art works best when selling?
There is no universal answer, because the artwork should complement the architecture, the interior palette and the likely buyer. A contemporary Eastern Suburbs apartment might benefit from a bold contemporary piece, while a period home may call for something completely different.
Colour also matters. Artwork can introduce controlled colour into an otherwise neutral interior and connect different elements within a room, such as cushions, furniture, stone, timber or decorative objects. Designers recommend picking up colour cues from the artwork and echoing tones already present in the room [2] [3].
But restraint is important. During a sales campaign, the artwork should generally support the property and not compete with it.
What about sculptures and objects?
Art does not have to hang on a wall. Sculptural pieces can add depth and guide buyers through a home. Three dimensional pieces such as wall sculptures and carvings bring added texture and depth [3].
A sculptural piece on a console, pedestal or sideboard can introduce sophistication. A striking object at the end of a hallway can even encourage movement through the property by creating a visual destination. This is where interior styling becomes less about decoration and more about directing the eye.
What should sellers do before the open home?
These six steps bring art into a sale presentation without overdoing it.
- 1. Start with the fundamentals. Declutter, clean and improve the lighting first. Art cannot rescue a room that is not ready.
- 2. Measure the wall before choosing the piece. Mark out the dimensions on the wall and photograph it, as artist Lara Scolari suggests, so the size is right before anything is hung [2].
- 3. Choose one piece at the right scale. A large wall calls for a large work or a deliberate grouping, not a few small frames [3].
- 4. Give the main rooms a focal point. Buyers' agents in the US survey ranked the living room and the main bedroom as the most important rooms to stage [1].
- 5. Edit the personal and keep the personality. Simplify family photographs and memorabilia, and keep the pieces that give the home character [4].
- 6. Let the art support the property. Echo the colours already in the room and avoid anything that competes with the architecture or the view [2] [3].
Why this matters beyond the artwork
Buyers assess bedrooms, bathrooms, floor plans and price. But buying property is rarely entirely rational. People also respond emotionally to light, proportion, texture, colour and atmosphere.
The best open home presentation allows prospective buyers to imagine not simply owning the property, but living beautifully within it. Art is one of the smallest decisions in a sale campaign, and it can be one of the most memorable.
Frequently asked questions
Can artwork help sell a house?
Artwork can help by improving how buyers perceive a home. The right piece gives a room a focal point, improves its sense of scale and adds personality. No single element sells a property, but presentation matters: 83% of buyers' agents in a United States survey said staging made it easier for buyers to picture a property as their future home [1].
What size art should I use when styling a home for sale?
Choose art that suits the scale of the wall. Interior stylist Julia Green says scale is everything [2], and small frames on a large wall lack visual impact [3]. One appropriately sized piece usually works better than several undersized ones.
Should I take down family photos before an open home?
Reduce them, but you do not need to remove every personal touch. Agents advise that sellers do not have to strip a house bare and should simplify excessive displays so buyers focus on the home [4]. Artwork with character can stay.
What kind of art is best for an open home?
The best art complements the architecture, the interior palette and the likely buyer, so there is no single answer. A contemporary apartment may suit a bold contemporary piece, while a period home may call for something different. The art should support the property and not compete with it.
Does the art need to be expensive to make an impact?
No. What matters is perception, not price. A well proportioned, well positioned piece can make a room feel considered and complete regardless of what it cost.
The Bettini & Co view
At Bettini & Co, we believe successful property presentation is not about filling a home with fashionable objects. It is about understanding space, proportion, personality and perception.
The right artwork can make a wall feel larger, give a room a focal point, introduce character and help create an emotional connection between a buyer and a property. When preparing a home for sale, sometimes the smallest design decisions have the biggest impact on how the property is remembered.
You are not simply presenting rooms. You are presenting a lifestyle.
Talk to Bettini & Co about presenting your home for sale.
About Bettini & Co
Bettini & Co is a Sydney studio founded by Taylah Bettini, working across the Eastern Suburbs and Lower North Shore. The studio prepares homes for sale from end to end, including renovations, project management and property styling, and offers interior design led by Bella.
Sources
[1] National Association of Realtors (6 May 2025). "NAR Report Reveals Home Staging Boosts Sale Prices and Reduces Time on Market." NAR Newsroom (United States). https://www.nar.realtor/newsroom/nar-report-reveals-home-staging-boosts-sale-prices-and-reduces-time-on-market
[2] Moore, D. (30 April 2026). "Gallery wall or solo hang? Designers reveal their best tips for styling art at home." Home Beautiful. https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-ideas/how-to-decorate-with-art/
[3] Guy, Y. (6 March 2022, edited 19 November 2024). "9 tips to help you Choose Wall Art for Your Home in 2025." ArchiPro Australia. https://archipro.com.au/article/how-to-choose-wall-art-that-works-in-your-home
[4] Hayes, M. (24 October 2021). "It's nothing personal: styling your home for sale." South Western Times. https://www.swtimes.com.au/lifestyle/real-estate/its-nothing-personal-styling-your-home-for-sale-c-4306733.amp
All sources accessed 5 October 2026. The staging statistics are from a February 2025 survey of real estate agents in the United States by the National Association of Realtors and relate to home staging generally, not artwork specifically. Designer and agent views are paraphrased from the published articles cited. This article is general information only and is not a guarantee of any sale outcome.
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