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Art speaks an unnamed language and maybe that’s the reason why it is so difficult to decipher it. Maybe that’s why it means different things to different people, and invites multiple interpretations. This could also be the reason why a lot of people don’t understand paintings. Or maybe they’re just not willing to listen. Either way, not being able to relate to good art could imply that you’re missing out on something special.
One of the hallmarks of a truly great painting is that it evokes emotions and responses in people, rather than become just another fixed object. This is probably why displaying the right art work in your home can enliven your space like nothing else can. The imagery, the hues, the lines, the sketch work, and other such components can add life and color to your space.
Did you know you can use art to highlight the best features of your home, or to project yourself through it? This should, however, be done with great care, and with an intent to strike the right balance between the elements of your home as well as those of the painting.
Here’s how to make art work for your abode.
1. Play with Lines and Effects
Looking at art opens up avenues for experimenting with designs, color combinations, patterns, lines, shapes, and effects. Whether it is a contrasting color scheme, or a monochrome effect, the details are important to completely comprehend what you’re considering. Every aspect influences the tone of the painting.
You may, therefore, want to think about depicting a relationship between the furnishings and the painting, which may be perceived as art stepping out of the frame into your home and vice versa.
The same theory can be applied to lines and shapes as well. Let your furniture and/or home accessories pick up from where the painting left off. This will increase their visual appeal.
Consider repeating lines and colors. And don’t stop just there. Repeat the designs, the shapes, the curves, the motifs, and the imagery multiple times to create drama.
- Use Harmonizing Colors
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Keeping the balance intact is very important when using art in your home. Your home needs to be a place that makes you comfortable as opposed to getting you worked up. There has to be consistency, or at least one element that is consistent throughout.
Consider the colors used in your home and pick a painting that would blend well with them. Creating a balance of color(s) through the elements in your home helps spread the influence of the art work.
3. You Don’t Need to Stick to One Form of Art
Whoever said that hanging paintings is the only way to incorporate art? It usually doesn’t work that way in homes. Using multiple works of art, which are stylistically similar, can create a great impact.
Art should be combined so that it draws your eyes to all the pieces and makes them want to go back to the first one again. The combination should support each other and make it look stronger together than it would have look individually.
4. Rearrange and Redecorate
Placing your art correctly is half the battle won. But then again, doing so is also extremely difficult. Paintings are highly attention-seeking. Because they are going to be a huge part of your home, you need to get them the attention they deserve.
When it comes to placing your furniture around the art, make sure it complements it. Place pieces of furniture that will underline and emphasize the painting.
Taking a cue from the very first tip, using mirrors in your décor is a great way of emphasizing as well as creating repetition with paintings. Place them on the walls or the ceiling and you get reflections of the same painting through various angles. Now that’s real drama!
5. Minimalism Can Work
As I’ve already mentioned before, art enjoys being the cynosure of all eyes, so you will do well in allowing it to be the hero in the room. How do you do this? By placing furniture that is subtle, subdued and minimalistic around it. Not only will it let the painting grab all the eyeballs, it will also give your eye ample opportunities to rest.
6. Exploit the Color Palette
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Many home owners tend to pick a single color and do their house up in that tone. It’s time to beat this practice. Transcend the visual boundaries by using all the colors in the art work from the room’s entire color palette, or the other way round. The idea is to have an explosion of colors, and yet maintain a balance so that the effect is pleasing to the eye.
7. Use Matching Styles
This one’s simple and probably common sense, but I’ll still spell it out. Think about the style that your home has been done up in. If it is more modern/contemporary, with bright colors, you will do well in choosing similar art work to supplement the elements.
But, if your walls or furniture are classic and serene, you would be better off hanging paintings from a soft and muted color palette.
The idea is to match the style of the home and the decor to the art work and make it look even more stunning.
Conclusion
While you can ask your interior decorator to pick out stunning works of art for your home, doing so would defeat the purpose of making your home reek of you. The idea is find the pieces that work for you and make them work your home too. As long as there is harmony between the several elements involved, your space should look like it truly does belong to you.
