Do you have a process for selecting artwork to hang in your home or office? Some people naturally have an eye for visual style, but the rest of us could use a little help when pairing paintings with furniture and décor. This guide can educate you on what to consider when selecting cool paintings, photography, prints and objects that enhance your space and spark joy.
Why Buy Art
If you have four bare walls surrounding you, your room looks and feels unfinished. The point of art is more than having something to look at or fill the space; it’s about expression or creating a mood. Selecting artwork is also very personal. What appeals to one person may not be your taste, and that’s okay. With a world of imaginative paintings to discover, something will catch your eye and give you a feeling that you want to have again and again.
Of course, you may not have the time or budget to curate your art collection. Interior designers can assist you by making suggestions or showing you possibilities, but you don’t need to rely on anyone else. Trust yourself, see what speaks to you and use design principles on your own to steer you to artwork that blends well with your style.
The Starting Line
What kind of art do you like? Are you looking for watercolor painting ideas that blend seamlessly with your home décor, or do you want something bold and unexpected to energize or motivate you? Remember, you must look at your choice every day, so you should love it.
A good starting point is to sit in a room and observe it. How much space do you want to fill? What is the current tone or style? Do you have a color palette that appeals to you? Would your room benefit from more texture? Getting a sense of your wants and needs can put you in the right direction before you search for photographs or oil paintings for sale.
All About Proportion
Just as important as style and color is the scale of your room. After spending some time in your space, get down to brass tacks by measuring the dimensions of your room to determine how much wall space you have to hang art. Once you know the measurements, you can narrow your painting choices by what fits your room well. The last thing you want is to fall in love with an artwork only to have it overwhelm your space.
While making measurements, pay attention to the size and scale of your furniture as well. Large bookshelves or heavy sofas may look out of proportion with miniatures or a triptych. The goal is balance between what already exists and what you want to incorporate into your home design.
Color, Shape and Texture
If your instinct is to look for colorful art that coordinates with your furniture, you may unnecessarily limit your options. Pairing paintings with furniture or décor is as much, if not more so, about adding texture and complimenting lines and curves rather than sticking to a color scheme. A room with plenty of textures may benefit from a calming, simplistic painting to feel less busy. Likewise, artwork that mimics some of the lines and curves of your room or furnishings may complement your décor more than just certain hues on the color wheel.
Here are four ways to effectively respect color without looking too matchy:
- Create an accent color in your space to carry beyond the wall with pillows, throws, candles or other décor that has a similar shade as the artwork you want.
- Think about complementary colors on the color wheel to give you a bit of direction. Reds with greens, yellows with purples or blues with oranges play nicely together, according to color theory.
- Explore the absence of color with black, white and gray. The minimalism represented by these gradients may work well in a minimalist or modern home, so don’t overlook black-and-white photography or art that emphasizes patterns over hues.
- Stick within the same color family. If the natural world inspired your interior design with shades of earthy tans and beiges, consider similar colors to reflect your space’s calming mood or emotion. Monochromatic artwork can also be bold and vibrant, so decide which colorful direction speaks to you.
A La Mode
Without mentioning style, no conversation about selecting artwork that pairs with your décor is complete. Your taste already dictated how you furnished your rooms, so trust yourself to know what paintings can complement your style. These suggestions can point you in the right direction:
- Traditional or transitional – black and white photography, landscapes, still lifes or portraits
- Minimalism or scandi – neutrals, black and white or monochromatic abstracts
- Mid-century modern – op-art, futuristic expressionism or geometric abstracts
- Eclectic or boho – florals, patterns or figurative prints
- Coastal – blues and greens with watery movement
- Modern farmhouse – Vintage or industrial signs and typography, neutral abstracts
Living Arrangement
Finally, give some thought to how you want to arrange your paintings. Do you want like symmetry, or are you more a fan of a balanced triptych? How do you feel about gallery walls clustering smaller artworks with photos or objects? Are you bold enough to use an oversized painting as a headboard in a bedroom? Clearly, the options for hanging your art are as varied as the art itself.
What is the takeaway in this conversation about pairing paintings with furniture and décor? How you determine which artwork to include in your home is up to you! Chairish has an impressive collection of artwork to browse if you are hunting for paintings to hang in your home. Check out our curated pieces to find the perfect ones for you.
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Lead image courtesy of Taylor & Taylor
