We know you’re busy. Choosing the right painting from hundreds of masterpieces can be confusing, overwhelming, and frankly, too time consuming to bother with. But with this simple guide, we can help you whittle down your options to the best possible choice.

The first thing you will need to do is define your space. If you’re thinking of putting a painting in your bedroom, you probably want a relaxing print, maybe a nice landscape with soothing colors. If the wall that needs decorating is a dining room or living room area, a busy, vibrant scene, with people and activities, is the best option.

You also need to consider color. A green wall doesn’t call for a painting with shades of green- this will result in a staggering effect that will eclipse all details. A better idea is to choose a painting with a dominant color that works well with your wall. You may want to try holding up different color swatches against the wall to see what works best.

The third factor that should influence your decision making process is size. Don’t be fooled into thinking that a blank wall should be completely filled up with your new painting. A proper amount of empty space should be left on each side. For example, a standard 24-inch by 36-inch painting should have at least 24 inches of wall space surrounding it.

If you’re thinking of doing a set, try to come up with a theme. Don’t forget the colors should complement each other as well. A nice idea is to have a set of three paintings, each depicting a different aspect of home life, or perhaps a different street scene. Don’t overdo it or put more than four paintings, or once again, the effect will be ruined and disagreeable to the eye.

With these simple guidelines, you should be able to choose the right painting fairly quickly. The most important thing of all, though, is to love the painting you choose. And try to have fun in the process!