Since man first figured out how to paint on cave walls, artwork has been a way of making a house feel like a home. The perfect painting can be the centerpiece of your décor. It can add intrigue, spark up conversations and make a statement.
There are so many ways to decorate your walls, and with online vendors offering every type of artwork imaginable, the options are limitless. That can actually make narrowing down the selection more difficult. Here are a few things to consider and tips that can help you find artwork that will fit your home and personal style.
Keep It to Scale
No matter what type of artwork or style you prefer it should fit the space. That means making sure it’s to scale so that the artwork doesn’t get lost and doesn’t overwhelm the room.
If you’re hanging artwork, a good rule of thumb is to mirror the wall. If the wall is tall and has a nice amount of vertical space, look for a rectangular piece that’s vertically oriented. If you have a sizable bare wall in a large room a custom decal could work nicely. Despite their large size, wall decals are affordable, can be cut to fit precisely and apply in minutes.
Consider Your Space
It really helps to know where you want to display art before you buy it. The space can inspire the art or restrict it. Some spaces are a blank canvas, ready for any type or size of artwork. Others lend themselves well for only a few specific pieces of art. A hallway is a good example of this. The long, narrow walkway is perfect for a series of paintings or photographs.
Consider Your Lighting
Lighting can dramatically change the look of art. Natural lighting could also degrade some types of artwork. Once you know where you want to display the artwork check out the lighting at different times during the day. Also try different lighting options you do have control over, like the overhead lights or standing lamps.
Another lighting consideration – using lights to illuminate the art. There’s no shortage of lighting options, but it all comes down to the artwork. Different types of material require different sources of lighting. Art curators know better than anyone that even the type of paint used can affect how the light is reflected and alters how the colors are perceived.
Consider Your Current Décor
There’s no getting around the décor and architecture of your home. Deviating too far from the style that’s already predominant can make the artwork look out of place. Try to find at least one common element such as color, era or subject matter to help the artwork look cohesive.
Create a Budget
Art can be bought on all budgets. It literally spans from $1 postcards to multi-million dollar paintings. Crunch the numbers to decide how much you can invest in artwork before you start looking. If you’re interested in possibly starting an art collection that will gain in value, look for original artwork or signed prints.
If your budget is tight consider visiting a few estate sales or going to student art shows. At either event, you can pick up original artwork for a steal.
Give the Display Some Thought
Sometimes the way artwork is displayed is just as interesting as the art itself. For instance, a case for collectibles can be a beautiful handcrafted piece of furniture that showcases the beauty of the collection while attracting its own attention. Account for the display in your budget as well since hooks and frames can add a fair amount to the overall cost.
Choose a Theme
An easy way to narrow the selection and focus your efforts is to choose a theme. This is a particularly useful tip for anyone who’s thinking about starting or building a collection. The theme can be based on the style, time period, medium, genre or artist.
Take Steps to Protect the Art Piece
After putting so much time and effort into finding the perfect piece of art the last thing you want is for it to get damaged. Take extra precaution to secure art when you’re hanging it on the wall or sitting it on a pedestal. In both these scenarios, the artwork can be knocked over if it’s bumped into. Another consideration is glare on the glass of protection encasements and displays. It can be worth it to pay a little extra for non-reflective museum quality glass.
Choose Something You Love
Art is subjective and means something different to everyone. No matter what, choose a piece of art you love. None of the tips above matter if you don’t love the artwork you end up with. Choose something you’ll enjoy looking at every day for years to come, and you’ll be happy with the selection.
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