ART – for art’s sake

When it comes to decorating and dressing your walls, you have an opportunity to make a dramatic statement using art.

 

A few important decorating tips to keep in mind when using framed photos, prints, canvases and box art, are outlined below. These tips will enhance your home decor, as well as add a high level of professional sophistication to any room.

• Choose art which has meaning to you


• Keep art at eye level


• Create a grouping


• Accent it

Choose art which has meaning to you. When choosing decorative wall art is it important to choose pieces that have a special meaning to you. Choose your wall décor after you have decided on a colour scheme throughout your home. On the other hand, if you haven’t established your colour palate, you could use your favourite wall art as the inspiration, and design the room around it.

 

 

Regardless of which end of the design spectrum you find yourself on, it’s important to enjoy the objects with which you surround yourself with, and above all, avoid choosing decorative wall art based solely on faddish trends. They date quickly and often do not compliment homes architecture or your home deco.

Keep It at Eye Level. When it comes to art placement on the wall, generally you mount it at eye level. One of the biggest mistakes people make in regards to wall décor is, mounting it too high and or too low. Neither you nor your guests will be able to truly enjoy the beauty of the art piece as it soars high above them. More than just looking silly, unusually high or low wall décor can throw off the balance of your room as well as cause constant jading in the neck.

Design an artwork grouping. If you have a collection of related wall décor items, the best way to show it off is to design a grouping. Instead of spreading them in various locations throughout the room, it will have more of an impact as a focal point if you keep it grouped together.

There are different ways to group decorative wall art items of a related nature, such as horizontally, vertically, quadrant and asymmetrically.

 

 

A horizontal grouping (art work placed side by side) works well on walls that you want to create the illusion be being longer. The linear effect will enhance the horizontal planes of the room and move the eye along the length of the wall.

A vertical arrangement (art work mounted one above the other) works well in a room with a lower than usual ceiling. This draws the eye upward and subtly making the space feel taller.

Arranging your related wall art in a quadrant configuration looks great and can also serve as a focal point. Whether it is located on an open wall space in the living room, over a side table in the dining room, or above the headboard of a bed, a quadrant arrangement adds a beautiful level of sophistication any room.

If you want to break up the symmetry as  in the previous three grouping options, an asymmetrical arrangement is an option for you. While the items would still be grouped together, the effect wouldn’t be exactly square or rectangle. The collection could be staggered in step-like fashion on the wall.

Accent It. Once you have established your choice of decorative wall art, consider whether you want it to be a piece that includes accent lighting. There are various options available to illuminate art work. Accent lighting can make wall décor stand out while also providing another level of lighting recommended for an all around sophisticated, lighting scheme. Check out my interior design lighting page for more on the general subject of interior illumination.

Above all resist the urge to cover every inch of the wall and make sure your eye also has a place to rest as it scans the walls. Too much wall décor can be visually overwhelming. It’s important that a room has a rhythm of visual interest and rest. Retain an appropriate level of clear space to strike a balance with your decorative wall art.

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love the effect asymmetrical artwork grouping creates, share with us your favourite technique ...

 

 

 AGATHA O house of design – interior decoration & design is an award winning interior design Company in Adelaide, South Australia writing about lifestyle and WHAT’S HOT in the world of interior design, architecture, art and travel.