Artful expressions

Art is often thought of as part of the finishing touches of your decor, a last-minute addition to the space. But is this really the case? When art is well curated it can transform and elevate any room, while also adding to the overall aesthetics of the space.

Understanding the role art plays in your space is important, as your selection of artwork can either make or break your room. Art is often used to add colour and life to a room, create a focal point, add texture and dimension or to highlight personality and style within a space. It can be the starting point when designing or it could be that extra layer needed to create a well-curated room.

Dimension and richness

Many would feel that great artwork should stand alone and really have nothing to do with the finished decor of your space. However, when working with clients, I often find that art always will have a greater impact and look better within the space when the decor supports the pieces in questions.

Whether you are working with original art, prints you fell in love with, photography from your travels or some great vintage pieces you found while thrifting, you need to decide the role these pieces will have within your space. Is art to be used as the inspiration for your designs, a focal point within the space or simply be a piece that accompanies and completes the overall space? However you decide to incorporate these pieces, know that they will certainly add dimension and richness to your space.

So, the question remains: How do you design a space to highlight your art? One of the more classic and easiest ways to coordinate your art selections within your living spaces is drawing on colour. This is not about having your art “match” everything in the space, but rather developing a palette of colour and texture throughout that will help enhance the pieces. This could be a simple repetition of some of the colours found within the piece through paint, fabric and accessories which will help to strengthen the visual impact of the art. A coordination and balance of colour, pattern and texture within your decor will draw you into the room and visually highlight the art.

More modern approach

For a more modern approach, the design of a room can be a bit more restrained, both in colour and composition, allowing the art to become more impactful. With the use of strategically placed directional lighting, you can add another element to highlighting your art and truly create a focal point within your space. When working with impactful or large scaled pieces of art, put some thought in to how you’d like to display these pieces and make the design or decor of your space complement them instead of just making the art exist. If you are selecting fresh pieces of art for your room, select wisely, both in size and composition. While art is subjective and personal, it does need to vibe with the space it will be in to truly shine.

Your art should make you happy while complementing and unifying the space. Make a bold statement with your art selections or create a calm and relaxing environment. Be creative with your selections, and don’t be afraid to play with scale as well. A large piece on a smaller wall can really make an impact in a space, and the same goes for the reverse. Your selection of art is a reflection of your personality, have fun with it and don’t be shy to show your true self.