Take a look around your home. If you’re like most of us, you’ve spent a lot more time than usual inside those walls over the past couple of years. What once felt soothingly neutral after a chaotic day at the office might feel bland and empty now.
It’s time to shake up your space. What better way than to add some art to those walls? You don’t need to be an art expert to decorate your home. With a few tips, you’ll be on your way to sprucing up your walls with pieces you love.
There are no rules to choosing art for our home. You should buy things that you like, without worrying about what’s in fashion or proper. You can achieve a lot of things with the art on your walls. The most important is turning your house into a home.
To get the most from your art, there are a few guidelines to help you get started.
Size Matters
In the case of art, size means scale. You don’t want to hang a giant painting over a dainty vintage chair or a tiny print over an oversized sectional. In general, try to size your art to the furnishings it accompanies.
That does not mean you need to buy a print or painting the size of your couch. You can, of course, but finding the perfect piece can feel daunting. It’s a good way to end up with a wall that stays empty.
Instead, use several smaller pieces to fill the space. Three pieces of similar size give a large space a clean feel without being overwhelmingly big individually.
Find a single, smaller piece for that spot over the vintage chair.
Use the same guidance for sculptures or other art pieces. Maintain scale with the other furnishings nearby.
Eye Level Art
When you place art in your home, remember that it’s there for you to enjoy. That means wall art should hang at a height that makes it accessible.
When you’re hanging a single print or painting, try to make the center of the piece at about eye level. Usually, recommendations are eye level for an average height person. But remember this is your home.
If you are very tall or very petite, adjust the placement a little bit. Your art is not only for guests, it’s for you and your family.
Have Some Fun
One of the most important parts of bringing joy into your home with art is to remember that art can be fun. It can be silly, playful, or introduce a big splash of color into your neutral space.
Decorating with art does not mean a house filled with somber oil paintings if that isn’t your style. Just be careful not to be so whimsical that you overwhelm the rest of your décor.
If it feels hard to be fun, but not too fun, think of how you want your space to make you feel. You may choose an upbeat, quirky vibe for your home office, but a more serene, relaxing tone for your bedroom.
Art can change the energy of a room. Choose pieces that speak to both your personality and your intention for a space.
Give Your Art Some Breathing Room
Just as size is important, so is spacing. If you hang prints or paintings too close together they look squished and lose their individual appeal.
If you’re hanging related prints, like a set of three over the couch, they can be closer together. But still, leave a couple of inches (or more) of space in between. Make sure those spaces are all the same size.
If you’re hanging individual pieces in discrete areas, this won’t be much of an issue. It becomes very important when you’re making a gallery wall.
What is a Gallery Wall?
You may have heard the term gallery wall before. Frankly, it sounds a little intimidating. But gallery walls are a versatile, personal way to display your meaningful art.
All you need to make a gallery wall are several pieces of art that you like. If you’re unsure how to choose, try pieces containing similar colors for a cohesive feel.
A popular way to make a gallery wall is with black and white photographs. This is an easy way to begin your gallery wall adventures. You can make a very sleek, modern gallery wall by choosing identical frames or you can mix it up a little for a more casual feel.
Choosing to keep the space between pieces identical on your gallery gives it a tighter, more formal feel. Opening up the spacing a little feels more casual. You can mix and match shapes, having some round or oval pieces mixed in with your squares and rectangles.
The real key to creating a gallery wall is to lay it out beforehand. Trace around your frames on paper and lay everything out on the floor. Once you’ve got a good idea of what you like, tape the papers to your wall and get everything spaced before ever putting a nail in your drywall.
A gallery wall may be the most fun, customizable way to display the art you love. There are very few rules. These walls run the gamut from identical, equally spaced empty frames to tightly packed, color-filled riotous walls of joyful abandon.
The best thing about them is that they allow you to express yourself at every step.
Enjoy Your Art
Once you’ve taken the plunge into adding some art to your space, take the time to enjoy it. Tell friends about the pieces you’ve chosen as you’re serving drinks. Turn off the TV at the end of the day and admire your prints or paintings.
When you feel the urge, change it up and hang something new. Once you get used to having art on your walls you’ll find yourself looking for new pieces to add to your collection.
Art doesn’t have to be stuffy, formal, or expensive. Whimsical prints, thrift store treasures, and sentimental family photos can all find a place within your décor.