Tips Index
Decorating with Wall Art
Published 12/3/2004
Decorating with wall art provides homeowners with an opportunity to inject their personality and taste into every room of the house. It has the power to establish a mood, pull a room together and create a unique style from contemporary to romantic.
The walls of your recently built home may be empty, but that will soon change. Here are some tips for making the most of your walls and your art.
Choose Your Style
Think about the feeling or mood you want to convey. Consider the colors and styles of the furniture and accessories you own and try to reinforce, contrast or complement those pieces with the art you chose. Study the space using your house blue prints. Is the space large and expansive with high ceilings or is it small and intimate? Is there a special design feature that should be set off with a well chosen piece?
Chose a theme for each room or mix and match the different styles to create a style that is all your own. It can be edgy, conservative, modern or abstract - whatever you prefer.
Shopping For Wall Art Room by Room
Decide on a style for each room or for your entire house based on your personality, your style and your personal preferences, not on the latest interior design trends, which pass quickly.
Consider what each room will be used for. Is it a formal dining room that calls for more serious art or a family room where fun is key? Clarify the purpose of the various rooms and then select color themes. Those color themes will help you decide on art, from a framed hockey poster in the kids’ room to a floral masterpiece in the living room.
Arranging and Hanging Art
Don’t underestimate the power of positioning when it comes to wall art. It is important to consider where you will place your art and how it will be arranged. Consider these tips:
- Avoid crowding artwork in hallways, lobbies and stairways. Place one piece of art on the wall and then take two small steps before placing the next piece. This method of display is used often in art galleries to showcase a selection of pieces.
- Place artwork about six to nine inches from the sofa at eye level.
- Arrange an even number of pictures together to provide a focal point. This type of grouping is suited to both large and small wall spaces.
- Place an odd number of pictures in a horizontal line to provide a sense of balance and space. This display technique works well in hallways and stairwells.
Wall art is an underestimated interior design element but one that anyone can learn and practice. Best of all, it is a forgiving type of design. Put art somewhere you don’t like and you simply move it.
