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While it might be one thing to go out and purchase a work of art, it’s important to note that there’s much more to the entire process than meets the eye. Undeniably, when buying art for your home, you have to think about all the variables, and a big part of this is how a given piece and/or series will fit in your available space.
Just like any fine painter will attest, it’s all about composition. In order to frame your own personal masterpiece, here are some DIY for beginners or better said: 7 tips for displaying artwork in your home.
- Frame it
In any given household, one of the most common expressions of art and decorative sensibility is the humble photo frame. It can capture all those memories and snapshots in time that make up the minutiae of life. But, when it comes to hanging picture frames there are a couple of standard rules. Some top tips? Position frames at eye level and avoid hanging in direct sunlight or near sources of heat.
- Ready the tools
You also need to decide whether to use a picture wire or a hook or some other method to secure your frame. You will have to locate the wall stud and make sure you take the technical steps to hang your artwork in a secure and straight manner. But, before go ahead and nail it down, take the time to get a good handle on the overall picture.
- Start surveying
Take a moment to survey the interplay of your home environment and (like a painter taking in his or her subject into order to capture its essence) conceptualise how your artwork will fit this best. It’s widely acknowledged that hanging art in domestic spaces is more difficult than in a gallery. This is because it will largely depend on a host of variables, eg. the space the you have available, how the artwork will sit, how the display will align with all those elements in your home like furniture and fittings etc.
- Size it up
The sizing of artwork in your home will greatly influence the overall look of your display, particularly when it comes to how several pieces might come together. Keep in mind the dimensions of artwork. There are some common mistakes when it comes to sizing, like hanging a too-small piece of art in a space that clearly needs something something larger.
- Consider the bigger picture
Oversized art can make a real statement, but there are defined parameters to consider in pulling this off in your home. What’s one major tip? Keep the rest of the room minimal in order for the piece to hold its own (without being overshadowed by such things as colourful walls, cluttered furniture and competing visual elements).
- Space it out
Negative space is a major part of any element of design. When it comes to displaying art in your home you have to consider the space around the pieces – as much as the actual works themselves. As a general rule of thumb when stacking or including a cluster of works take into account their total height and the space you feel will look right between the frames, then center the whole picture. Always consider potential adjustments eg. for furniture, architectural factors etc.
- Make the connection
Displaying pieces in your home is very literally akin to putting an idea on canvas. Except here you canvas takes the form of your blank walls and other surfaces. You artworks work best when they make a connection with your living space. A great way to achieve this is via the technique of layering – the conscious effort of stacking design elements on top of one another in such a way that your entire aesthetic environment feels enriched, unique and interconnected.
The Piece De Resistance
A display of artwork in your home is much like a living organism in that it should showcase your tastes, your interests and all those things that make your life dynamic and complex, just like a painting or a sketch or any other creative manifestation. In life, they say it’s all how you frame it. In a classic case of art imitating life, the same holds true when it comes to decorating your home environment.
