There’s nothing
better than finding the perfect piece of furniture for your home. It’s comfortable,
it fits the dimensions of your space, and best of all, it fits your
personality. But sometimes it can be a struggle to find artwork to match your
furniture.
The solution? Don’t
worry about matching! Here’s a little design secret: There are no rules that
say that your art has to perfectly coordinate with your interiors in color,
size, or aesthetic. In fact, when your artwork has an oddity to its size, or is
displayed in a nontraditional way, or even if the subject is unexpected, that’s
what makes your home a real home!
Your artwork should
reflect you, your personality, your family, and your lifestyle in a way that
creates a treasured home environment. Here are a few ways to bring the
unexpected into your home art gallery.
Break away from the traditional. Remember when artwork would always be hung
according to rigid standards? You may have chosen a patterned sofa or set of
chairs and tried to find art in the same color palette. However, there are plenty
of ways to style a look without being overly matchy-matchy. Imagine a black-and-white
striped chair with a bright red and orange abstract print above, for example.
Colors can be complementary, or you could have just one color in common to tie
it all together.
Stay under budget. Just because you sprang for an investment
rug doesn’t mean you have to buy an original painting to match. No matter how
nice your furniture is, you can find inexpensive artwork to match. Instead of choosing
a pricey painting, why not display your favorite prints? Calendars are a great
source for multiple prints that can be arranged together using uniform frames.
It’s really all about expressing your unique style so that when you look at it
all together, you can’t help but smile.
Choose your locations wisely. It’s a good idea to consider the function
of each room before deciding which art will live in it. Start out by grouping
your artwork together and determining which rooms you want to display which
pieces. If you’re worried that small children or rowdy guests will disturb your
artwork, consider pieces that are not breakable for common areas. A few long
hanging wires spray-painted with plastic coating or a grouping of long picture
shelves could hold your children’s favorite books or Lego creations. Or if the
kids are older, you can pair artwork from your latest travels with cherished
photos of your kids to give your room a new focal point.
Add an air of eclecticism with a gallery
wall. The great thing
about gallery walls is that they fit in with just about any décor. If you have
boxes of treasures hidden away, look through them and pick out meaningful
pieces to display, from your kids’ artwork to favorite family photos and
beloved prints. Think outside-the-box by mixing colors and patterns. Robert’s
own bright and multicolored furniture designs work so well with a mix of old
and new accessories, and a gallery wall is the perfect way to accomplish that
look.
Make your kids the star of the show. Family photos look great anywhere when done
with style. Skip the photo studio and have a few of your favorite snapshots
printed as over sized black-and-white photos… perhaps one of each family member
sticking out their tongue out or blowing out their cheeks? This look is so much
more personal than posed studio shots and will remind you of special times
together.
So, if you think
your artwork has to match your furniture perfectly, then consider these ideas
to give your interiors a fresh look. You will never look at artwork the same!
Laurie
Laizure is the CEO of Customized Walls
and founder of the largest online community for design pros. Laurie’s work has
been featured on various cable networks as well as top publications in the
interior design world such as New England Home and Country Living magazines.
She also writes on her own blog, William Sonoma Designer Marketplace and for Shutterfly.com. Connect with her here: Google+
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Mix It Up: Your Artwork Doesn’t Have to Match the Sofa
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