When it comes to interior design, most people are thinking about the colors they want to use, the layout of their rooms, the furniture, rugs, and curtains. Including artwork in your home design is typically something that only appears as an afterthought for most people, if at all, which is a shame because adding art can change the atmosphere of your rooms and help you see your home in a completely new light. Even if you’re a fan of very minimal interiors, your home can and will still benefit from the addition of paintings or limited-edition art prints. However, getting art into your household is not as simple as it may seem at first glance. In fact, you’ll have to do quite a bit of research before settling on something.
But if you’re committed to integrating art into your home, here are some of the basics.
Buying art
Simply looking at paintings can leave you feeling quite confused about what to get. You might feel like the art you want is too expensive or that it wouldn’t work well with your home. This is why buying artwork is a long-term process that will require no small amount of effort and attention. You can find a lot of original paintings for sale online, but you need to make sure that the galleries you purchase from are trustworthy. You don’t want to end up buying overpriced forgeries and fake paintings. A reputable platform will provide you with a wide range of paintings, prints, drawings, and sculptures in many different styles. You will be able to access customer reviews and get a comprehensive picture of the company’s history and development, and you will see that they work with artists, and their platform is also used to submit and curate artwork.
You can most likely find plenty of local art as well. When you buy from painters who live in your city or country, you support your local community and create a better environment for cultural development in your area. Local art fairs, art walks, and art shows are all great ways to find beautiful pieces, and you may even be surprised by the variety. Most artists, local or otherwise, have social media pages where they advertise their art, so you can browse their entire catalogue. You can get in touch with them either via these pages or through their personal websites and purchase art directly from the artist.
Antique and thrift stores are some of the greatest places to find many hidden gems, but it takes time and patience to find the things that are perfect for you. Many museums also have thousands of digital versions of their art collection pieces readily available under the public domain that you can print and display in your home. Festivals, art school sales, coffee shops, and even garage sales can also provide plenty of reasonably priced items. Keep in mind that finding the best pieces for your home is a long-term process that shouldn’t be rushed. Give yourself time to look through all the options available before settling on something, especially if you want to purchase something particularly expensive.
The palette
One of the best ways to ensure that the art you choose for your home doesn’t clash with the rest of the ensemble is to have a look at the color palette in the room you plan to display it. For instance, vibrant paintings featuring bright colors will work perfectly as accent pieces that genuinely draw attention to that specific corner of your room. If you want to go for something even bolder, you can work with contrasting hues. That means if you have an accent wall painted in cobalt blue, you can enhance it with a painting that has bright, flaming reds as its primary focus.
Sometimes, you can even figure out how to decorate a room based on the art you choose. The shades used in a painting can act as a starting point that helps you pick your furnishings, carpets, and other interior design elements you may have been uncertain of.
Murals
Installing a mural can seem quite intimidating if you’re not used to having art in your home. Such a large piece can seem overly dramatic when you first think about it, but the secret is to strike a balance and integrate a wall mural that will make your home feel more welcoming while also acting like a unique design choice at the same time. This type of artwork works best in the living room, where it can act as a stunning backdrop and become the perfect conversation starter anytime you have guests over. You can buy high-quality printed wallpaper to achieve this look, as there are many that are based on original artworks, or commission a hand-painted one.
Soft, calming hues are the best option when it comes to murals, and scenes depicting natural landscapes are the safest choice. Delicate trees, winding rivers, rolling clouds, and flying birds will transport you to a peaceful world anytime, make your home feel like a safe haven, and put your mind at ease right away.
Diversity
Decorating with art doesn’t have to be limited to just one medium. While the beauty paintings, drawings, and prints can bring to your home is invaluable, working with other mediums can enhance your interior even more, providing you with an exceptional ensemble that is perfectly customized to your tastes and rooms that have depth and personality. Applied arts have been used for design and decoration for a very long time, and blending them with the fine arts creates something that feels genuinely special.
Ceramics, glass, metalwork, and textiles can all be integrated into your home design. Antique furniture works perfectly as well, as those pieces tend to be far more ornate and elaborate than their modern counterparts. Tapestries are quirkier and a little more difficult to find, and the very old ones may need to be reconditioned to repair damage caused by moths, moisture, light, pollutants, and changes in temperature.
The art world is incredibly varied and contains many different designs you can choose from. But if you truly want to enhance your home design with artwork, you need to remember that you shouldn’t make impulsive decisions and take your time before you purchase anything.