Test it this way: if the living room feels safe, size up. These two Staffordshire spaniels add character without taking the room too seriously, and they reward a wall that's a touch bigger than you first picked.
Hang them up and the room gets a smile. The cream background keeps things calm, while the rust and warm brown pull the eye in close — the kind of detail people notice when they sit down with a cup of tea.
They work above a sideboard, a small sofa, an entry console, or at the top of the stairs. Eye-level is fine; a touch lower over furniture is better.
Pair with painted timber, linen, ticking stripes, stoneware and a faded rug. Anything with a bit of age sits beside them happily.
Don't drown them in glossy modern art. They like company that's quiet, a little nostalgic, and not trying too hard. Choose unframed or framed in real wood for a settled finish.