If you want to add a little personality to your house, then you need to choose a suitable work of art. However, selecting the right one is no easy task, as you have a lot of options, and this is why this process will seem daunting. Knowing how to choose art is not something you are born with, but you can develop some knowledge with time, or you can choose some pieces on gut instinct. The art you will incorporate into your house is mostly for you, so you need to love it and feel happy when you see it.
Art will always be the best solution to add character and interest to a space. Luckily, now you can choose from a vast majority of options, including photographs, art prints or sculptures. However, your chosen art must also be suitable for your rooms and the existing home décor. So, to help you a little in this process, we have prepared some tips that will prove useful. Keep reading to find out more.
Consider The Already Existing Style Of The Room
If you don’t know how to start buying artwork, start by looking at the style and décor of the room and think about what mood you want to create. This will help you narrow down the list of the artworks you can opt for. For example, a drawing in soothing tones can bring a sense of calm to the bedroom, a dreamy landscape may be more suitable for a living room, where you receive guests, while a colorful piece could work well in a busy kitchen.
Additionally, if you have a traditional décor, it could be a good idea to choose botanical prints. Or, if you have a modern, eclectic style, you could select retro prints with symmetric geometry that will blend seamlessly. The good news is that you can find a great variety of art for sale, including sculptures, paintings, drawings, prints, and fine art photography, so you can pick something that suits your preferences.
Keep In Mind The Color Palette Of Your Rooms
A room’s color palette can also hint at what piece of art will be suitable. When choosing artwork, you can mirror the hues of the home décor and furniture so the space has a cohesive look and feel. Or, if you want to make a statement, you could choose something that contrasts with the room’s existing color palette. For example, if the room has blue as its primary color, you can opt for a painting in shades of orange or red if your space is green.
Be Aware Of The Size Of The Artwork
When choosing art, you also need to pay attention to its size and the areas occupied by windows, furniture, or other décor pieces. If you purchase a too-large piece for a small wall, the painting might seem overbearing. If you choose something too tiny, it might appear lost and unanchored.
If you have a plain wall without any furniture, then the artwork should take between 50% and 70% of the wall space. But if there is a piece of furniture, like a console table or a sofa, then the art piece should be between 60% and 75 % of the length of the furniture, rarely wider. For art above a bedhead, choose an art piece that is almost the same width. Other tips include positioning artwork at eye level and considering the shape of the wall. For instance, portrait-style pieces tend to be better for long, slender walls, while landscape formats are more suitable for wide walls.
Set A Budget
Artworks have varied prices, and you can choose between more costly pieces and more affordable options. It can be helpful to decide how much you want to spend before you start looking for artwork. If you have a large budget, you can search for art pieces in art galleries or buy directly from an artist you like.
Artists from all over the world offer their work in many forms, including prints, sculptures, drawings, and photographs, so you need to decide what you would like to buy and conduct a search for what you have chosen. Prints and posters are generally more affordable, but if you are considering them, you should look for a high edition number from well-known artists or affordable prints from emerging ones.
Make Your Art The Focal Point
Each room needs a focal point: a beautiful rug, a striking artwork, or a well-structured mirror, for example. If your room doesn’t have one yet, then selecting a unique artwork in vivid colors could be the answer to your prayers. On the other hand, if the space already has a focal point, you may want to choose less imposing artworks so as not to compete with the star of the show.
Your Instinct Is Your Best Friend
There are rules for when you buy an artwork, but at the end of the day, you should invest in something you adore and that speaks to you.
This way, you will cherish your artwork for years to come; it will remain a timeless staple. If you see a piece that amazes you, then that one is probably the one for you.
The Bottom Line
Buying the right artwork for your home is not as easy as it seems. But, with the right considerations, you can easily enhance the look of your house with a suitable piece.