How to Select the Perfect Art for Your Home

Selecting the perfect art for your home can be both exciting and challenging. Art has the unique ability to transform a space, adding personality, color, and emotion. Here are some tips to help you choose the right pieces for your home.

1. Identify Your Style

Before you begin your search, take some time to identify your personal style. Do you gravitate towards modern, abstract pieces, or do you prefer classic, traditional art? Your home’s current decor can offer valuable hints. If your furniture and accessories are sleek and contemporary, modern art might be a great match. On the other hand, if your home has a vintage or rustic vibe, traditional or folk art could be the perfect complement.

2. Assess the Space

The size and layout of your space are key considerations. Large, bold pieces can make a statement in spacious rooms, while smaller, detailed works might be better suited for cozy, intimate areas. Pay attention to the available wall space and ensure the art you choose is proportionate. For example, a large canvas can anchor a living room, while a series of smaller pieces might work well in a hallway or above a sofa.

3. Coordinate Colors

Art can either blend with your existing color scheme or provide a striking contrast. If you want your art to harmonize with your decor, choose pieces that feature colors already present in your room. Alternatively, if you’re looking to make a bold statement, select art with contrasting colors to create visual interest. The right art can tie a room together and enhance its overall aesthetic.

4. Connect Emotionally

Art is deeply personal, and the pieces you choose should resonate with you on an emotional level. Whether it’s a painting that reminds you of a favorite place, a photograph that evokes a cherished memory, or an abstract piece that simply makes you feel good, the art in your home should reflect your personality and experiences.

5. Mix Different Styles

Don’t be afraid to mix different styles and mediums. Combining paintings, photographs, sculptures, and prints can create a dynamic and interesting visual display. The key is to find a common thread, such as a color palette or theme, to ensure cohesion. This approach can add depth and texture to your decor.

6. Focus on Placement and Lighting

Once you’ve chosen your art, think about placement and lighting. Proper lighting can enhance the beauty of your art, so consider using spotlights or picture lights to highlight your favorite pieces. Additionally, the height at which you hang your art matters. A good rule of thumb is to hang art at eye level, but feel free to adjust based on the specific context of your space.

Choosing the right art for your home is a journey of self-expression and creativity. If you keep in mind these point, you can curate a collection that not only beautifies your home but also tells your unique story. Enjoy the process!

When Remodeling a Home...

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

Waiting until AFTER you remodel the space to consider artwork may be a really bad idea!

I paint and I sell my paintings. That’s my job. One of the biggest parts of this process is working with clients who have just remodeled, or are considering remodeling their home. A comment I often hear from people who are knee deep in remodeling is, “We just realized we have all these walls we need artwork for!”

Yep. That’s often part of the remodeling process. When you build more walls, you create…uh…empty wall space. I love that because it keeps me employed but oftentimes, artwork is the very last thing to be considered when working on a remodel. This is sad because by then, the budget is gone and unfortunately, artwork is not free.

The placement of artwork is really important though, and it should be considered early on in the process. I’m not saying you need to have all the artwork pre-selected before starting remodeling. That isn’t wise. What I’m saying is that you should plan on walls where you want to install key pieces of artwork. Pre-plan those areas because it’s easy at that point to install the correct lighting above the where the artwork will go. It’s so much more difficult to retrofit a space after the fact. And why pay thousands of dollars for a statement piece of art and not have it lit correctly? That just doesn’t make sense.

For a really helpful list of things to consider when remodeling a home, check out this link to a Redfin blog post I was asked to be a part of: Redfin’s Living Rome Remodel Tips. Artwork isn’t the only thing to consider, but it’s usually the last thing people consider and at that point, people are kicking themselves because artwork can theme a room, elicit emotions, pull together colors, and basically put a huge exclamation point on a great design.

Artwork is really important. Buy it on a whim. Yes please. But when you’re remodeling, PLAN AHEAD for it. And feel free to talk to me. Give me a sense of your taste, color samples, emotions you want people to feel when entering the space. All that helps. The right artist will collaborate WITH you and create something that is perfect not just for your space, but for your individual personality. That’s the amazing power of art.