How To Choose Artwork To Enhance Your Decor

By Author: John Brick
Total Articles: 4762
Comment this article

Even the if you are not an art aficionado, you can use simple works of art to enhance the decor in your home. It's not a case of having expensive or well-known pieces but rather about how to find something that you like and a piece that looks at home in the room you are decorating. By following a few very basic tips in your selection process, you can ensure that the art you choose will show off both your personal taste and style. If done right it'll also complement and enhance the decor in the room.

Evaluate the Room Where you Want to Place the Artwork

Factors such as the size and shape of the room will determine the type and size of art that can be placed in it. Consider how much wall space there is available to hang the painting and where the wall space is in relation to entry points, windows or large items of furniture in the room. If the room has many large windows, a painting might be dwarfed no matter how spectacular it is.

Try to establish if the room is characterized by horizontal or vertical lines. Tall ceilings or a double-volume room typically create vertical lines, whereas long, narrow rooms ...
... are characterized by a more horizontal pattern. The artwork you choose should therefore be in keeping with this theme. Horizontally oriented pieces will be more suitable for a room with horizontal lines and vice versa for a vertically oriented picture.

Practical Considerations for Choosing Artwork

In addition to the shape and size of room, there are several practical considerations that should be taken into account when choosing artwork. Paintings, prints and photographs all weather when exposed to high levels of sunlight or moisture. You would therefore not hang a valuable painting near a large window or in an area where moisture might accumulate. If there is an area like this in your home that you would like to decorate with artwork, select a more inexpensive print that you won't mind replacing once it has weathered.

How Does Color Affect Your Choice of Artwork?

The color theme of your room is quite an important consideration when choosing artwork. If a room already has a several colors then you may want to select an artwork that has only a few colors or tones. In this way, the artwork will stand out from the busyness of the rest of decor. Conversely, if your color scheme is more monochromatic then you can introduce movement, depth and vibrancy by choosing a colorful painting or print. Some paintings might be lost against a colored wall whereas others will be enhanced by a darker background. While there are no set rules, unless your objective is to create a contrast, it's generally a good idea to stick to the existing tones in your room and simply use the artwork to enhance them.

Style Considerations for Your Room in Relation to Your Artwork

Most rooms are characterized by a particular style. A room could be modern and minimalistic or have a homely feel about it that blends different styles. The function of the room will largely dictate the style as you will decorate a bedroom differently from a dining room or lounge area. In a similar way, the type or subject matter of the artwork you choose will be different for particular rooms. In general, very personal photographs or erotic paintings are better suited to a bedroom or hallway than a living area. The style of a room may also affect the choice of frame for your artwork. In a modern apartment, you may keep the canvas on a block mounting while a French-styled room would benefit from a more ornate metal frame.

What Decor Effect do you Want to Have With Your Artwork?

Some people simply hang a painting to fill up a space. Other people choose and place a piece of art so that it is the focal point of the room. If you have beautiful antique or modern furniture that you would prefer to showcase, don't let the artwork compete for attention. In this case, the artwork you choose should complement the room, adding to the decor rather than being the focal point of a room.

If, however, you feel that your furnishings are quite ordinary, you can use a distinctive piece of art to enhance the room's decor. Place the artwork in a prominent place where it can be seen from most angles in the room. Next use the style and colors of the artwork as your decor theme. For example, if your room contains neutral tones and you would like to liven it up, you may consider an oil painting or print of a field of red poppies. You could then match the red tones of the painting and get scatter cushions or a throw in similar shades for your couch. You could also add a red vase, set of candle holders or candles that are in tone with the painting. In this way, you will introduce some vibrancy and color into the room without having to spend much money.
About Author:
At PostersFramed.com we are dedicated to providing great quality prints, posters, and canvas transfers, framed or unframed, to consumers and businesses alike. We offer low prices on framed posters and fine art prints. Visit online today.