People can feel a bit intimidated when it comes to using art in their home decor. Gone are the days when you could hang a Van Gogh print in your student flat and congratulate yourself for being a truly cultured individual.
As you get older, your tastes change and you want to step away from cheap prints and start buying art with a little more consideration and style. You might enjoy the masters or pick up a piece of abstract wall art.
If you’re not sure where to start, look at this advice on choosing art for different rooms in your home.
Use art as a focal point
If you fall in love with a piece of art, you can style your room around it. A statement artwork can set the tone for the rest of your room, so choose colours, furnishings and textures to compliment it.
Use colour theory
Colours have been known to affect the mood of a room. When choosing art and room decoration, keep in mind how colours can change and affect your mood.
- Grey – calming and elegant
- Red – passionate, energetic
- Orange – excitement
- Green – restful and calming
- Yellow – welcoming and cheerful
- Blue – calming
Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in any home, yet we’re reluctant to put up any artwork. This is usually though fear that it will be damaged by heat or grease from cooking. However, the kitchen is a great place to put up art that makes you happy. Choose large pieces and hang or lean them at eye height. Your kitchen will become even more inviting for everyone who lives there.
Bedroom
Not many people will be seeing your bedroom, so you can afford to take a few more risks with your art. Landscapes or bold abstract prints work well in this room. Don’t be afraid of what people will think. Hang them at eye height to make the best of the space.
Lounge
The art that you display in your living room is the art that will come under the most scrutiny as people come to visit. Use pieces that provoke conversation and go bold with a large print or design yourself a gallery wall to incorporate even more pieces of art.
Discover local artists
There are artists across the country trying to get themselves well known. Rather than head for the big art websites, try looking on local sites and find out about local artists. It’s a great way to buy beautiful art for the left. If you do use their art, be sure to share it on social media to drive engagement and raise their profile.
Take advantage of art credit schemes
Not all of us have the budget to buy original art pieces from a gallery, however much we might want to. Many galleries are making it a lot more accessible. To do this, they have started offering interest-free payments on art in their shops. It’s a great way to begin your art collection without breaking the bank.
Increase your knowledge
A lot of people don’t know much about art. They might be able to name a few painters and some of the classics but for the most part, that’s where the knowledge end. Rather than just wandering into an art shop and pointing at something you like, why not take the opportunity to take a free online course or read a book on the appreciation of art.
Once you’ve chosen your artwork, make a point of getting to know the artist and learn about them in-depth. This is a great way to increase visual skills.
Be proud of your choices
There will always be someone who disagrees with you and doesn’t share your tastes, but that’s the case with everything these days. Once you’ve chosen your art, commit. Feel better about yourself and your choices. Be proud.
Attend gallery openings
Galleries spend a lot of time and money discovering and curating the best new talent. By attending their events, you can discover these artists too and maybe even buy direct from the gallery. Add yourself to the mailing list of a few local galleries and stay up to date.
Filling your home with art can be really intimidating. Many people find that they constantly second guess themselves and worry about what other people think. This leads to people buying art they think they should buy, rather than something that brings them joy. Rather than worrying about other people, take the time to do your research and choose art that truly makes you happy.
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