Let’s face it: the art world is an intimidating place. It is one of the things that makes us confused and overwhelmed at the same time. This is especially true when we want to decorate our homes with artwork and paintings. You might think about how to mix colors, lines, and abstract pieces without looking too flashy.
Decorating with art can be a little challenging, especially if you don’t consider yourself art savvy. It is easy to get scared off before you even begin. So before you start buying art, you may want to learn some interior design ideas to get you on track.
Displaying artwork is an ideal way to add color and life to your home. Whether you are an art collector or an artist yourself, you may find this article helpful as we offer simple guidelines on how to arrange artwork and hang paintings around the house.
Scale
A key element when decorating a room with a painting or artwork is to scale the object according to the room. It doesn’t matter where you want to put it, as long as it fits into the relative scale of the entire area to avoid getting hidden by other decorations or attracting too much attention.
For example, if you want to hang a painting over the furniture or couch, a great tip is to look for a piece of artwork or painting that has at least the same size as the nearby piece where you will place it. This way, you establish a sense of harmony and balance.
But if you are hanging a large painting, you can incorporate smaller objects to scale. Follow the “rule of three” if you plan to use hanging art or three-dimensional pieces to fill gaps on the wall and create a sense of scale.
For example, for gaps over a piece of furniture or couch, fill them in with three art pieces of roughly the same size, such as hanging sculptures, paintings, or portraits. Make sure that they complement together by arranging them to fill the space.
Focal point
One of the significant concerns when designing a room is consistency. When designing a room, you need to work on a single piece of artwork and start from it. You can start by finding your focal point. Walk around the room and find which part your eyes will land first. Whatever location you choose will be the place where you will position your statement artwork. From there, you will base the rest of the artwork and decors you will incorporate in the room.
Picking the right artwork that will complement the focal point should be easy. It is like picking out a secondary shade for the center artwork and distributing it around the room, such as lampshades or accent pillows. If you have a preferred theme, there is no need to let it take over the design, but you can use it to connect every piece in the room and establish a consistent statement.
A creative way to establish a theme is through texture. There are no rules involved when using texture, as you can choose any patterns or colors you like. But if you really want to unify the artwork together in a subtle yet attractive way, look for accent pieces of the same texture and fabric.
Keep in mind that you can use art to give life to a room. For example, if you have a painting with images of fruits, you can hang it in the dining room or kitchen. If you have a family photo, hang it in the receiving room or living room.
For the bathroom, treat it as an art gallery by hanging all your quirkiest art pieces. Get a little creative and unleash your unique personality. Oftentimes, the best artwork gives a strange feeling at first glance but gets more interesting as you stare at them longer.
Color
Pick colors depending on the mood you want to achieve in every room. When decorating the bedroom, look for artwork with a mix of calming colors, such as different gray gradients. Yellow gives off a cheerful mood, so a yellow piece of art will make a perfect décor for the living room. Meanwhile, artwork with orange or red shades looks great in the dining room to encourage a lively discussion among the guests.
For houses with clear, white walls, make sure to incorporate art pieces with abundant colors and patterns. They are also a great place to hang statement artwork, as white walls encourage the viewer to focus on the artwork.
Hanging painting and incorporating artwork at home should not be intimidating. Displaying artwork is a creative way to give life to those boring walls, establish flow in the room, and spark conversation pieces. No matter the taste you have, your artwork will always add flair and character to any space.
