Art is definitely among the best luxuries to invest in, especially if you’re in the process of creating an ambiance or a particular look for your house. A room can be so much livelier and more comfortable with the right pieces or art placed in the right locations. Art doesn’t have to serve a purpose, but that doesn’t mean you can’t introduce a sense of practicality when choosing your pieces.
SIZE MATTERS
Even the most beautiful art pieces can still make a room look cluttered. On the other hand, the right pieces can also make a room appear bigger than it really is. The key here is choosing the right size depending on the look you want to achieve. When choosing a painting for your wall, for example, there are a few things to consider. Are there other items around where the painting will be hung? Is the wall light-colored or does it have a darker shade? What about the lighting?
By taking these factors into considerations, you will be able to choose the right art for the room. When buying a contemporary painting, bigger is better. The minimalistic design and gorgeous color combination commonly found in modern pieces work really well with most rooms. For classic paintings, on the other hand, you need to choose the right size and combine it with a suitably sized frame to get that ‘just right’ look. This is especially true when you have the wall covered in wallpaper.
BUY WHAT YOU LOVE
One of the most common mistakes many homeowners still make when buying art is going for the pieces that are expensive. Yes, luxury is a good thing; that said, you don’t need to focus on value all the time. In fact, buying art is one of those instances when you simply need to go with your gut feeling and the things you truly love. If you don’t like modern pieces, there is no need to buy one at all. There are various contemporary styles to choose from. You can even find classic pieces from sources such as Weston Table and combine them with the beautifully modern pieces you have without a problem. You can mix colors and styles as you please.
There is one big advantage of going with the pieces of art that ‘speak to you’: you’ll love them. You will be the one spending a lot of time looking at the art you have around the house. Why go for something you don’t like when you can have art you love keeping you entertained and happy?
LIGHT IT UP
Last, but certainly not least, always consider the way your art will be lit before deciding what to buy. Paintings are the easiest to work with. Their relatively two dimensional nature means you can rely on natural light entering the room and your paintings will still look beautiful.
Sculptures and other art work can be a bit trickier to handle. When placed under a very harsh light, a sculpture will produce shadows that are unflattering and can be damaging to a room’s ambiance or feel. Fortunately, you also have the option to alter the way the art pieces are lit.
Through the wonders of LED lights and concealed designs, it is easy to introduce additional light sources specifically for the art pieces you want to have in the room. You can go with spot lighting or add fill-in lights from different angles to achieve a totally different look. You can even copy the original lighting the art piece was displayed under when you first fell in love with it.
SHOPPING FOR ART
These are the best tips to keep in mind when shopping for art:
- Buy Art that You Love. Whether or not it has the potential to rise in value, it should be something you will enjoy having in your home every day. Remember, the art is for you.
- Be Open to Different Mediums. Why always pick a painting? Find the type of art that will work best for your space. Paintings will add a broader swathe of color. Sculptures will add depth to the room, and mixed media pieces add texture or a mixture of visual elements. Which medium will have the greatest impact on enhancing your room’s decor?
- See What’s Out There. Get out and see the art being exhibited in your area. Great local and original art is displayed everywhere from coffee shops and colleges to galleries and restaurants. If you can’t find a piece thats the right size or with matching colors from a local source, a quick search online should direct you to affordable art that matches what you need.
- Pick the Right Size. Measure your wall’s dimensions and bring pictures of the room with you. That way, when you are out looking at art, you will have a better idea of what space you have to work with and can imagine how the art will look in your home.\
- What’s the Focal Point? A room can have more than one area that draws your attention. Are you looking for a single point that will define the room, or some decor pieces to complement your overall color scheme? Make sure all the room’s design elements have some breathing space to avoid a cluttered look.
- Color is key. Pick artwork that contains some of your room design’s more attention grabbing colors. A piece with similar or complementary colors can work great as well. Take into account your wall color, furnishings, pillows, throws and curtains to create a palette of colors to look for in your artwork.
- Content Matters. What does the artwork depict? Do the waving lines in the painting mirror your curved coffee table? Does the tropical pattern of your upholstery reflect the theme of the painting? Depending on the mood and shapes in the work, select imagery that will harmonize best with the room’s contents.
- Or Does It? A traditional interior does not always require traditional artwork. A showstopping contemporary piece can make an impressive statement above a mantle in a traditionally styled living room. Sometimes a contradiction is exciting and new. Think outside of the box.
- Hang it right. Make sure the artwork is hung at the correct height. It should be approximately eye level. Try following the art gallery standard, which means the center of the painting should be about 60 inches from the floor.
- Light it Up. The importance of lighting your artwork can not be overemphasized. Dimly lit artwork will lose impact and look dull and muted. Great lighting will make your artwork pop and contribute to the mood of the room.
Luxury Activist | January 2017
Westchester Magazine | January 2017
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