Selecting Art

In my opinion is one of the most important choices in moving a space from good to incredible, It can be the glue that sticks all the furniture and design elements together and makes it feel cohesive and often its the main focal point in a room.  It sets the tone and depicts the mood of the space.

Selecting art for your home can be a daunting and time consuming task, lets face it the choices are endless. It is important however, that the art you choose adds to the overall look and feel of the room.   Art does not have to be a canvas or framed art it could be a sculpture, a macrame wall piece or any number of other ideas.

So how do you or your designer find the best art for your space?

The first thing to do is determine what type of art you like and what type of art will fit into the style of your home. A good start is to browse your local art gallery, Pinterest or do an internet search to gather inspiration, look closely at the colours and styles of art that you gravitate to the most.

If you already have art that has meaning to you, perhaps it was bought for you by a loved one or brings memories of places travelled, then it is worth considering the possibility of incorporating this into your space, it may work better than you think.  I always try to find a way to incorporate what's important to you and if a colour palette has not already been decided I may even base the whole room’s colour palette on this.  So don’t pack an old piece of art away thinking it won’t fit into your style, you could be amazed how a good designer can incorporate almost any art into a room.

Your home should be a reflection of you, your memories and things you love!

When selecting wall art consider the size, shape, quality, materials that the art is printed or painted on, and whether or not you would like to frame it.  The two most common art issues I find in my client's homes that lets down their rooms are 1) the art is too small for the space and 2) the art is placed too high.

Typically your artwork should take up 2/3 to 3/4 of your wall.  You could also use a collection of artworks or framed pictures together in which case this would refer to the overall size.

Preferably art should be placed where an average eye height is at the centre of the artwork.

There are always exceptions to rules for instance if your room has sparse furniture, then an extra large artwork will be great to fill the space, and sometimes doing the unexpected creates great drama, so these are only general rules to consider.

When deciding on your artworks, it is a great idea to create a mock-up of the room and virtually place art in it so that you can visualise what the final product will look like. This can be done through various design tools or with a camera and printed images.

Art can be the key element to making a space feel cohesive and inviting. It is important to take your time when selecting art for your home, as it is an investment that can give a room personality and set the tone for the entire space. This process should be enjoyable and creative, so take your time to explore different styles and find what appeals to you, and be open to incorporate art that may have sentimental value as a way to honour your memories and things that you love.

Consider an original artwork by one of our amazing local artists, there are just so many to choose from, or better yet take an art class and create your own masterpiece!

Koolonbung Healing by Mel Casey

Blue Underwater Organism by Jane Whitfield

Here are some of my favourite local artists and places to find art: