Lilac Wall Art: Soft Purple Floral & Spring Decor

So I’ve been completely obsessed with lilac wall art lately and honestly it started because a client wanted to redo her bedroom in spring colors but didn’t want the usual pink everything situation. Lilac is weirdly perfect for this – it’s soft, it’s calming, but it doesn’t feel like you’re sleeping in a bottle of Pepto Bismol.

Finding the Right Shade of Lilac

Okay so here’s what nobody tells you about lilac art – there’s like seventeen different shades and they all photograph completely differently online. I learned this the hard way when I ordered three prints from Etsy and they ranged from basically gray-purple to full-on lavender fields screaming at you. The lighting in your room is gonna change everything too.

What actually works: hold paint swatches next to your phone screen when you’re shopping online. I use Benjamin Moore’s Misty Lilac and Purple Cream as references because they’re true soft purples without going too blue or too pink. If the art looks good next to those, you’re probably safe.

Testing Against Your Walls

Your wall color matters SO much. I’ve got this whole thing now where I take a photo of my client’s wall, pull it up on my laptop, and hold printed samples next to the screen. Not scientific but it works better than just guessing. Lilac looks completely different against white vs cream vs gray walls and you gotta account for that before spending money.

Types of Lilac Art That Actually Work

I’ve tested a bunch of different styles over the past few months and here’s what I’ve figured out:

• Botanical prints of actual lilac flowers – these are gorgeous but can read really traditional if you’re not careful
• Abstract purple washes – modern, safe, maybe a little boring depending on the room
• Floral photography – hit or miss, the bad ones look like screensavers from 2003
• Watercolor florals – my current favorite because they have movement and feel spring-y without being too literal

The watercolor ones from Minted have been my go-to lately. They’ve got this artist, I think her name is Julia Contacessi or something like that, who does these loose purple florals that work in basically any room. I bought the large framed one for my own hallway and my dog knocked it off the wall during the first week which actually proved the frame quality is solid because nothing broke.

Size and Placement Things I Learned

This is gonna sound obvious but I keep seeing people make this mistake – lilac is a soft color so tiny prints just disappear on the wall. You need decent size to make an impact. I’m talking at least 16×20 for a single piece, or if you’re doing a gallery wall, make sure your lilac pieces are among the larger ones.

Wait I forgot to mention – the whole “hang art at eye level” rule? Doesn’t really apply the same way with soft purple florals. They actually look better positioned slightly higher because the soft colors draw your eye up naturally. I hang mine with the center about 60-62 inches from the floor instead of the standard 57-58.

Mixing Lilac with Other Colors

Okay so funny story, I was staging a living room last month and mixed lilac botanical prints with sage green abstract pieces and it looked AMAZING. Like way better than I expected. The combo feels really fresh and spring-like without going full Easter basket.

Other combos that work:

• Lilac + white + soft gray – classic, safe, works everywhere
• Lilac + blush pink + cream – romantic but not too sweet if you balance it right
• Lilac + navy blue – surprisingly sophisticated, especially in bedrooms
• Lilac + gold accents – this elevates it from spring casual to actually elegant

What doesn’t work: lilac with bright orange or red. Just trust me on this one. I tried it thinking it would be bold and artistic and it just looked like a mistake.

Where to Actually Buy This Stuff

I’ve ordered from basically everywhere at this point and here’s my real assessment:

Etsy – Best for unique watercolor florals and botanical illustrations. Quality is all over the place though so read reviews obsessively. I spent like an hour comparing shops last Tuesday when I should’ve been doing invoices but whatever. The shop “TheWhiteLime” has these minimal lilac branch prints that are chef’s kiss.

Minted – Consistent quality, good framing options, but pricey. Their spring floral collection usually drops in January and that’s when I stock up. The paper quality is legitimately good – I spilled coffee near one (not on it, thank god) and was inspecting it super close and you can tell it’s proper art paper.

Society6 – Hit or miss on color accuracy. I’ve ordered the same print twice and gotten slightly different purple tones. But their sales are good and if you’re doing a kids’ room or rental property where you’re not precious about it, totally fine.

Artfully Walls – Expensive but their lilac photography prints are really beautiful. Like actual art you’d see in a gallery. I use these for high-end clients who have the budget.

The DIY Option

Oh and another thing – if you’re crafty at all, watercolor lilac florals are surprisingly doable as DIY projects. I’m not particularly artistic but I made three abstract purple wash pieces for my guest room using watercolor paper from Blick and some Daniel Smith paints in various purple shades. Took maybe 2 hours total while watching The Bear (which is SO good btw, completely distracted me and one painting has this weird drip because of it).

You just wet the paper, drop in purple paint in different concentrations, let it blend naturally, maybe add some green for stems if you’re feeling ambitious. Frame it in a simple white or natural wood frame and honestly people can’t tell it’s DIY.

Framing Considerations

Frame color matters more with soft purple art than with other colors I’ve worked with. Here’s what I’ve figured out:

White frames – Clean, modern, makes the lilac pop. My default choice probably 60% of the time. Works especially well with abstract pieces or minimal botanicals.

Natural wood – Adds warmth and keeps it from feeling too girly or too clinical. I use light oak frames for lilac florals in living rooms and dining areas. The wood tones down the purple just enough.

Black frames – Only works if your lilac art has good contrast or darker elements. Otherwise it can make soft purple look washed out. I learned this with a really pale watercolor piece that just died in a black frame.

Gold or brass frames – Fancy, expensive-looking, perfect for bedrooms or dressing areas. Makes lilac art feel more intentional and designed rather than just “I like purple flowers.”

Seasonal Rotation Strategy

This is gonna sound extra but I actually swap out art seasonally for some clients and lilac pieces are my spring rotation staples. I store them in those big portfolio cases from Jerry’s Artarama during fall and winter, then swap them in around March.

If you’re gonna do this, invest in proper storage. I ruined a really nice lilac print last year because I just leaned it against a wall in my storage unit and something fell on it. The portfolio cases are like $30 and worth it.

Styling Around Lilac Art

The art is only part of it – you gotta style around it or it’ll just float there looking random. What I typically do:

• Add fresh or dried flowers that pull the purple tones – real lilacs obviously, but also purple tulips, lavender stems, or even purple alliums
• Throw pillows with purple accents but not matchy-matchy purple, like cream pillows with purple embroidery
• Purple spine books on nearby shelves (I have a whole collection I use for staging)
• Amethyst or purple agate decor pieces – sounds cheesy but a small geode on a coffee table actually ties things together

What you don’t need: purple walls. Please don’t do purple walls with purple art unless you’re going for a very specific maximalist vibe. Soft neutral walls let the art do its thing.

Lighting Makes or Breaks It

Okay so this is super important and I didn’t realize it until I installed lilac art in a north-facing room and it looked completely gray and sad. Lilac needs decent natural light OR warm artificial light to read as actually purple.

If you’ve got a darker room, either go with deeper purple art that has more saturation, or add picture lights. Those little battery-operated LED picture lights from IKEA are like $15 and they make soft purple art actually visible in dim spaces.

I also learned that cool-toned LED bulbs make lilac look weirdly gray-blue. Switch to warm white bulbs (2700-3000K) in rooms where you’re hanging lilac art. Makes everything look better honestly.

The Budget Breakdown

Since you’re probably wondering about actual costs, here’s what I typically spend:

Budget option: $25-50 for an Etsy digital download that you print at Staples or FedEx Office, plus $20-40 for a basic frame from Target or IKEA. Totally doable under $75 for a decent-sized piece.

Mid-range: $80-150 for a ready-to-hang print from Minted or similar, already framed. This is my sweet spot for most projects.

Splurge: $200-500 for original watercolors or high-end photography prints with custom framing. Worth it for primary spaces like over the bed or a focal wall in the living room.

I’ve done all three tiers and honestly? The budget options can look just as good if you’re careful about print quality and framing. Don’t let anyone shame you for the Etsy + Target frame combo because I’ve used it in $2 million homes and nobody knew the difference.

Print Quality Reality Check

If you’re doing digital downloads, print quality actually matters. I’ve printed the same file at different places and:

Staples – decent for smaller prints under 16×20, colors can be slightly off
FedEx Office – better color accuracy, worth the extra $10-15
Local print shops – best quality but most expensive, only worth it for large statement pieces

Always ask for matte photo paper or enhanced matte presentation paper, not glossy. Glossy looks cheap with floral art and you get glare issues.

Common Mistakes I See People Make

Okay gonna rapid-fire these because I’m seeing the same errors over and over:

• Hanging lilac art in rooms with pink undertones – creates this Barbie dreamhouse situation that’s overwhelming
• Choosing super detailed botanical illustrations when their room style is modern minimalist – the styles clash
• Going too small with the art because they’re nervous about commitment – just makes the wall look empty
• Buying prints without checking the artist’s other work first – you want consistency if you’re getting multiple pieces
• Forgetting about mat borders – a white mat around lilac art adds so much polish for like $15 extra

That last one especially. I automatically add mats to any lilac art under 24×36. It creates breathing room and makes even cheap prints look more expensive.

Wait I should mention – if you’re renting and can’t put holes in walls, those Command picture hanging strips actually work fine for lighter frames. I’ve tested them up to about 5 pounds and they hold. Just follow the directions exactly and let them set for the full hour before hanging.

My cat has tested their strength multiple times by climbing the curtains next to them and so far so good, so that’s like a real-world stress test right there.