When it comes to personalizing your home, few things make an impact like vintage paintings do. Whether you’re a classicist who’s moved by Monet or you prefer the stranger-like charms of antique portraits, what you choose to deck your walls with says a lot about you. Of course, aligning your personal whims with your decorating aesthetic can be tricky, as not every painting is a shoo-in for every space—no matter how much you may love it. To help, we’ve rounded up the best painting-picking tips we know. From the top things to consider, like color, size, and framing, to the best subject matter for your space, this is how you shop for paintings like an in-the-know pro!
What Should I Consider When Selecting Paintings for My Space?
Your Home’s Architecture
Selecting art is an immensely personal process, but that doesn’t mean your space won’t dictate some of the decisions. Neoteric architecture naturally complements more modern art, while traditional architecture better enhances vintage art, including old painted landscapes and portraits. Consider the age of your space’s architecture before purchasing a painting. But remember—there are no hard and fast rules. Designers often use modern art in old Brownstones and vintage art in new builds. Their secret to pulling it off? A surplus of furniture and decor that also panders to the contrasting aesthetic.
Color
Another attribute you’ll want to pay mind to when choosing a painting includes color. If your room is mostly awash in earth tones, a neon painting might feel a bit aesthetically jarring. That said, art can be a good place to go rogue with color. Art usually sits above the visual furniture plane, meaning that a palette of uncharted colors may cause less visual friction than a contrasting throw pillow or ottoman at eye-level might.
Size
Resist the urge to pick up a painting that might be too small for your intended spot. Unless you’re placing a painting on an abbreviated wall, you’ll generally always want to go with a bigger piece. Ideally, for full walls, you’ll always want to be in the range of 24” x 24” or larger. If you do fall in love with a smaller piece, invest in multiple paintings to create a gallery wall.
What Are My Vintage Painting Options?
Landscape
With an acrylic landscape painting, even air-shaft-facing apartments can be rendered every bit as picturesque as a home situated among sweeping vistas. Landscape paintings are beloved for the ability to provide “views” where none exist. While it’s possible to source contemporary landscape paintings, the majority you’ll come across will be vintage in style—and hence—fairly small. Use one in a windowless bathroom or set one atop a kitchen counter. Designers are particularly fond of integrating painted landscapes into homes with vintage farmhouse and coastal aesthetics.
Portrait
There’s something pretty irresistible about a portrait. That may be why they’re one of our most quickly scooped-up items here at Chairish! Portrait paintings lend rooms both a sense of formality and irreverence—a beloved combo that few other pieces effectively strike. A portrait will steal the show virtually anywhere you place one, so consider deploying one in a high-stakes area. (Over a fireplace mantel or over a console in an entryway, for instance.) Keep a portrait in mind even if your aesthetic is more modern-leaning than traditional. While traditional portraits tend to steal the limelight, Mid-Century portraits are relatively easy to land and they can be just the unexpected note to bring an MCM room to life.
Abstract
About as no-fail as it gets, abstract paintings are ideal for imbuing a room with dynamism. Most abstract paintings will lend a vibrant sense of movement to a room and flood it with color. Abstract paintings’ focus on shape also makes it easy to enhance shapes already found in your room. For instance, in a room with a surplus of rectangles, it’s fairly easy to find abstract art that also showcases rectangular forms. If you’re considering placing a modern abstract in a more traditional space, dress it in a more classical frame. It’ll bridge any anachronisms with ease.
Lead photo courtesy of Liliane Hart Interiors
