Art is usually the last thing that you add to a room, but it can easily have the largest effect. On top of that, quality pieces of art can be a bit pricey so you want to make sure what you choose does not end up an eyesore. When matching art with your interior scheme, three elements you should pay attention to our mood, colour, & size.
Take your time deciding on a piece, but do not be afraid to jump on something that makes your heart skip a beat. Use what already exists in the room to determine what piece to choose & do not be afraid to work with contrasting elements. Read on to learn why it is important to consider these three elements to seamlessly match art with your interior scheme.
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Establish a Mood.
The first thing you need to establish in any scheme is the mood you are trying to convey in the space. Do you want your living room to be comfy or crisp? Is this space where you will be active, or are you going to sit down & read the day away?
- Determining the intended mood will help ensure that every other choice aligns with that specific scheme, & it varies depending on your personal taste.
- There are, however, some general guidelines that can help you in your endeavour.
The living room is more inclined to livelier pieces. Anything vibrant or even a bit risky can be a great conversation piece, but it can also improve your mood & become a pillar of the room’s scheme.
Bedrooms are especially suited to abstract art. They are a great place to put something that might be a bit more personal to you or anything that would throw off the cohesiveness of another room. Even if it is just something like fanart, adding something you love to your bedroom can make you feel even more comfortable in your place of rest.
Simple designs like landscapes or geometric features work better in bathrooms. You should seek out something peaceful & neutral.
If you want all the attention to be on the piece of art, go for something that you can leave unframed. Instead of using a frame to help it blend into the room, allowing the art to stretch out in all its glory will draw eyes & minds to it.
Choose Your Colours.
When you are matching anything to anything you should consider colour. Some colours work well together. Some colours clash like cats & dogs.
Look at the palette that already exists in your room & try to build off that. This does not mean that you should buy a green painting to match your green couch. Instead, work with different shades & complementary colours to use the art to paint an even bigger picture in the room.
If finding the perfect shade for your room is daunting, you can err on the side of caution & choose something neutral. Black & white artwork compliments nearly any space, & limiting yourself to those colours helps narrow down your search.
However, if you are looking at monochromatic art, make sure you pay attention to the values it represents.
Determine Your Sizing.
If you like the mathematical aspect of design more than aesthetics, this section is for you.
- The general rule is that ⅔ to ¾ of your wall space should be covered in art
- You should also use the ⅔ rule when hanging artwork over furniture like sofas or beds, picking a piece that is roughly ⅔ the width of the furniture
When selecting art you already know that a bigger piece will attract more attention without adding much clutter. If you have a moderate space on your wall, you should choose one or two larger pieces to garner attention.
However, it is more effective to fill a larger space with a gallery wall, tying all the pieces together by keeping a uniform distance between the frames. This works well in areas like hallways or entries.
If you need help visualizing how the size of art will look in a room, there are a few things you can do.
First, you can tape the size & shape of the art on the wall where you would hang it. This should give you a better idea of how its size impacts the feel of the room. You can also mock up a general layout for a gallery wall & then fill in the individual areas as you see fit.
If you would like to consider other features like colour & subject, then you should use a wall art visualizer app like WallApp. Depending on the software you choose you should be able to see the art you choose on the wall you choose, checking to see how the unique elements coexist with your interior scheme.
Consider the Style of Your Interior Scheme.
While the idea of colour & colour theory has already been discussed, there are other aspects of your existing style that should be considered when finding art to match your room, & there are different ways to go about them.
First, you can choose art that is cohesive to the idea you have already constructed in your room. If the existing theme is classical then framing your art in ornate, gilded frames will lace it together with what already exists. This can even help translate a more modern piece of art to better fit the scheme.
You should also consider the architecture of the home. A mid-century farmhouse will not accommodate modern art as easily as a suburban loft. While you could certainly try, jamming in artwork that actively works against the bones of your space can be jarring.
Play with Contrast.
Contrast can be difficult to pull off sometimes but it can be an effective attention-grabber if done properly. That is not to say you should avoid contrast altogether, but you should understand the difference between contrast that compliments & contrast that clashes.
Changing things up helps keep a room from being boring or overwhelming. Sure, pink matches pink. But do you want everything in a room to be pink?
- Art is a fantastic way to break up the monotony of a room
- Use colours that fit in the scheme but do not necessarily match
Dip your toe into something that is outside the general scheme of the room. Contrast is essential to creating an authentic interior scheme that helps the room feel secure, but it is not so easy to do when choosing other design elements. Because art is a statement on its own, it gets away with things that might otherwise clash.
If you fall in love with a piece but feel it is too “out there” for your interior scheme you can always find ways to tie it back into the feel of the room. If it is a smaller piece, you can blend it out using other pieces of art that compliment both the room & the conflicting piece. With larger pieces simply choosing a frame can help tone it down.
Pick Art That Calls to You.
At the end of the day, choose art that calls to you. If you find a piece that speaks to your soul, you will find a way to tie it into your interior scheme. If you pass it up, then you risk living a life of regret, especially if the piece is original or limited edition.
Unless it is hidden away, art always has a decorative function, & the root of decor is in highlighting what pleases you. When shopping, take your time & make sure you choose artwork that will not wear on you.
If you are unsure of your art preferences, you should visit a museum or an art gallery. Take your time looking over every piece, noting what catches your eye & what makes you cringe. Once you have developed your taste, you can seek pieces that feed call to it.
Of course, do not be afraid to mix & match art styles. We circle back around to contrast once more, but art is the ultimate opportunity to create a beautiful dissonance in your interior scheme without throwing it off course. Take advantage of all art has to offer, & you will not be disappointed.
Wrapping it All Up.
Sources:
https://panelwallart.com/match-wall-art-and-furniture/
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-choose-art-4101220
https://www.jessicamanelis.com/whats-happening/2017/11/28/how-to-choose-the-right-size-art-for-your-wall-space
https://furnishr.com/blog/art-and-furniture-artichoke/
https://www.jessicamanelis.com/whats-happening/2017/11/28/how-to-choose-the-right-size-art-for-your-wall-space
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