Choosing the right artwork for your space

Art has the ability to pull a room together, but choosing the right piece can be intimidating. It is often considered as an afterthought, causing a missed opportunity for making it seamlessly mesh with the existing decor.

1. Make art your focal point
Let the color and texture of your artwork guide your color and decor choices for the rest of the room. Use it as a framework for planning your space if you are starting with a blank canvas (no pun intended!). If you are choosing the artwork as the last piece in the puzzle, find something that has similar or complementary colors to the palette you are working with. Aim to strike a balance between the color, tone and stylistic composition of the interior and your artwork. In essence, the art should look like it belongs in that environment.

Source

2. Bigger is always better
Artwork that is too small will make it appear dwarfed by its surroundings. If you are going to choose artwork that is out of proportion, make a statement by making it bigger. A great way to make your existing artwork appear more substantial is by reframing it with a larger mat or a thicker frame. If you are hanging art above furniture, it should be at least 3/4 the width of what it hangs above. If you can't find something large enough, consider doing two pieces side by side or on top of each other to fill in the space.

Source

3. Orientation
If your wall is tall and narrow, pick a piece of artwork that has that same orientation. If you have wide walls, a landscape orientation looks and feels more natural.

Source

4. Content and style
Choose artwork that harmonizes with that same design aesthetic as your interior. Abstract or conceptual pieces function well in modern environments. For a traditional interior, classic pieces and things like landscapes work well. You may also want to consider the style of frame with this tip in mind. Skew simpler with clean lines for a modern space and more ornate with a traditional.

Change & Co

5. If you can, invest in original art

Owning original artwork that speaks to your tastes and is unique to your home is a great way to elevate your space. If you want something original but don't want to have to spend a ton of money, start with a place like Etsy where individuals sell their own art without gallery representation. Saatchi Art is another great resource since you can sort by price and take advantage of their free art advisory program.

Ian Smith Design