How to transform your home with art

“It’s what speaks to you that counts”: Displaying paintings, prints, textiles, sculptures and more can help you create a fresh living space for the new year. Here’s how, according to experts:

January is a popular time to update our priorities, and perhaps our surroundings, creating a new vibe for the new year. A new work of art can not only transform your living space, but also stimulate future interests, intentions, and a desire for new goals. Even just rearranging existing paintings, prints, and photographs can revitalize your home and make it feel like a new start.

Imaginatively selected and displayed art can bring back cherished memories, evoke a sense of well-being, and change the entire atmosphere of a space. For example, abstract art evokes mood in a suggestive rather than literal way. Large paintings and prints with mostly loose expressionistic mark-making can give your home a romantic, free-spirited feel, while also giving it a harder graphic feel. The style gives the space a modern, urban feel.

Obtaining and displaying art is also not within the homeowner’s purview. In fact, this is a great way to give your rental home a more personal feel without having to redecorate. By doing so, you can further improve your photos. This flexibility is what makes art such a useful element in home decor. Artwork can be placed and rearranged to change the character of a room. “Works don’t have to stay in the same place forever,” says founder Catherine Kitto. Must be contemporaryis an online and physical art gallery and art consultancy that promotes emerging and established artists. “Re-exhibiting works every few years – similar in principle to re-exhibiting in large public galleries, but on a decidedly more modest scale.

However, this raises the practical but important question of how to repair walls dented by holes left after hanging. “Little nails are your best friend, and when you move, they’re easy to repair with splatter paste,” says founder Kathy Glaser. clever walla curated site for art buyers in the UK and US. “Lightweight works can be hung using thin nails and hooks from a basic picture hanging kit. Most standard picture hangers can hold up to 30 pounds. For a very casual atmosphere. It’s easier to lean the art on a shelf or on a book, mantel, or console.

Of course, when adding art to a home, it must coexist with the furniture and household items that have been accumulated over the years. But it doesn’t have to draw attention to existing elements or be visually buried among them. For example, it can be artfully displayed next to household items with similar qualities, such as reflecting the bold, colorful patterns of a rug or the sensual curves of ceramics. You can also display them alongside temporary photos, from postcards to family snapshots, to create a beautiful juxtaposition.

According to Sophie Goldhill, co-founder of Liddicoat & Goldhill and its interior design division, wall-mounted art can balance out the bulky, dramatic look of furniture that takes up permanent space, such as sofas. hector interior: “A striking painting can act as a visual focal point when paired with a sofa or table, offsetting the weight of larger pieces that would otherwise dominate the space,” she tells the BBC.

And introducing new artwork into a room can add more cohesiveness to a space, Goldhill added. “Art provides an opportunity to link different design elements, such as contrasting materials and colors, within a space so that they don’t feel disjointed. Carefully selected art pieces can reflect the tones of fabrics or wood or They can complement and tie the design of the room together. “

Choosing usable art makes purchasing and displaying art fun and accessible. Coaster and placemat set – created with images by a British photographer martin parr A great example is the one sold by art platform Plinth. The food-themed piece features close-up shots of cocktails filled with maraschino cherries, ice cream, and black tea in kitschy, traditional cups and saucers.

Food is also a major theme in the British artist’s work selina snow‘s fun creations depict mouth-watering dishes from around the world, from brightly colored sushi to humble full English breakfasts. Snow has built up an eclectic collection of artwork and personal memorabilia, including paintings and prints of his late father. peter snowThe artist and theater designer exhibits countless posters, textiles, objects, and artifacts acquired during her travels. These are displayed alongside her own work in her brightly painted home in the New Forest, Hampshire.

The buttercup-yellow fireplace in Snow’s living room influences the choice of objects on the mantel and the art on the wall above it. At either end of the mantelpiece stand a Balinese theatrical mask depicting a devil’s head and a bust of artist Colin Johnson, reminiscent of Marlene Dietrich, both of the same height. Above it hangs an abstract painting featuring a pattern of yellow spots that reflects the colors of the fireplace. “I like the way the bust and mask balance each other and compose the picture,” Snow told the BBC.

But Snow doesn’t think of object combinations as simply adjusting tones. “I don’t want each piece to blend together and lose its individuality, but in doing so I try to complement each other. I like to link colors, but obviously not There is a sculpture of a violinist standing on a sulfur yellow table and picking. Close up of the black pattern in the picture above.

She also combines pieces that share the same motif but are completely different. In her bedroom, Snow has a wooden headboard carved in the shape of a flower by her late husband, sculptor Richard Austin. On it is a picture of a flower.

Snow places postcard-sized reproductions of his paintings in inexpensive frames to enhance the work and make it stand out. However, for original pieces, we recommend investing in a professional framing service to preserve them.

Robert EkholmA similar point is made by the London-based artist, curator and art advisor who hosts art shows from his home. A UV protective window film should be applied over the glass in bright areas. ”

Ekholm also points out that while many people may think of monumental works in galleries when they think of sculpture, it has a place in the home as well. “Displaying a sculpture using only a table, pedestal, or floor space can be limiting,” he says. “At home, I like to arrange them at different heights and different sizes on affordable floating shelves to create interesting home displays.”

While Snow and Eckholm have art collections that have grown organically, helped by their long-standing connections to the art world, many have established collections from scratch. So what criteria should you apply when acquiring your first original artwork? Visit art exhibitions and auctions to find out what kind of art speaks to you ” advises Kitto. She points to London Art Fair (held later this month), Affordable Art Fair, British Art Fair, Art Trails and Open Studio events as good places to source art in the UK.

Kittoe also suggests using a “try before you buy” service. “Many galleries allow you to view the work in your own space before deciding to buy. This is useful because a home is very different from a well-lit gallery. The placement allows you to view the work at different times of the day. You can view them and try them out in different areas of your home. If you want to display multiple photos together, try arranging them next to each other on the floor before placing them in a fixed position on the wall.

Ultimately, choose what feels right for you. Kathy Glaser said: “Whether it’s travel posters, collages, or flea market finds, your collection should reflect what speaks to you. But if you don’t know where to start, consider choosing a theme. It can be helpful to stick to things, such as grouping them together. Choosing art like plants, portraits, or black and white photography can be scary, but it’s not about right or wrong. It’s about appealing to yourself.”