Selecting the Right Size Artwork for Your Home

Art expresses personal style and creates an inviting home. To help you find the artwork that best expresses your sense of style, interior designers recommend the following tips.

• Visible Walls – Instead of hanging something on every wall, select the most visible wall in your home. The mantle is an ideal place to display a beautiful piece of art because it draws attention to the eye and is one of the first areas people notice when entering the living room.
• Mirroring Size – Mirror the size of the wall. For long horizontal walls, place collections of pieces vertically to break up the wall. For narrow, horizontal areas, space artwork in narrow vertical areas that fill up the space. By accentuating the length or height of the wall, you will make the room feel more spacious.
• Filling the Wall – If the space above a fireplace is oversize, do not be afraid to fill the entire space.
• Color – Adding color to a room is important. Before selecting random colors, carefully choose a palette that specifically works for a room. For example, bedrooms benefit from relaxing colors, such as blues and greens. Warmer tones look sensational in entries, as they are welcoming.
• Repeating Color – Consider repeating inviting color tones in entertaining areas of the home, such as the living room, dining room and kitchen. Deep bold colors draw visitors into your home. Lavender and green are complimentary color tones and invite conversation and lively entertainment.
• Architecture Style – Never let architectural style dictate the style of artwork you select for your home. In fact, contemporary art can look beautiful in a traditional setting and visa versa. Mixing styles has never been more popular.
• Textures – You may consider varying the textures within a room. For rooms that feature a glass round photo frame, add a canvas to offset the texture.
• Bridging Artwork – The right round wood frames can serve to offset artwork and the rest of a room. When selecting the right picture frame, make sure it compliments both the furniture and the architectural features of your home. Whether it is choosing round wooden frames to match wood floors or a gold oval frame to match a gold light, frames can tie decor elements together.
• Lighting – After hanging artwork, select lighting that illuminates pieces, which helps draw visitors’ attention. Track lighting looks especially good in long hallways.
• Glare – When hanging glass frames, avoid walls that are directly across from windows. The natural sunlight will cause an unsightly glare and the true beauty of the painting will be lost. Opt for non-reflective museum glass.

These small attentions to details can help turn your house into the retreat you have always wanted.

References:

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/5680910/thumbs/choosing-art-for-your-home