Leave the chalky off-white wall blank if you like cautious rooms. This one is loud in the best way: a painted peacock in blue and teal standing on a dark green and off-white check. Hang it and the room stops feeling half-finished the check gives the wall pattern, the bird gives it a focal point. It works above a sideboard, in a hallway where you pass it daily, or on a narrow bit of wall between doors. Pair it with velvet, cane, warm brown wood and glazed ceramics in green or soft pink. Don’t crowd it with other patterned art; one strong piece plus plain walls is the whole trick. As a canvas the painted surface reads softly, with no glazing to reflect the room.