Curation Made Simple

Incorporating curated artwork into your décor gives you the opportunity to express your aesthetic in an authentic, visual way. Hanging the wrong artwork, though, or displaying your pieces in the wrong way, can throw off your entire design. Whether you have favorite pieces you’re hoping to display or you’re seeking new artwork to make a bold statement on your walls, these tips will show you how to use art to bring out the best in your interiors.

Make it personal

Great art isn’t about what what’s expensive or popular – it’s about what resonates with you. Decorating your space with artwork isn’t about just finding pieces to fit, it’s about filling your home with meaningful expressions of yourself. Your art should reflect who you are as a person, so focus on what you like and what you want your space to represent. Well-chosen artworks will evoke feelings of happiness, contemplation, or even transport you back to memorable moments in your own life.

Look beyond what you might find in a store to find pieces that will be particularly effective; the most deeply individual artworks will be simple, personal things. Consider framing a handwritten note, an important postcard, or a favorite Hermes scarf, or display handmade gifts from loved ones. Personally, I love to take photos, so I printed and framed an image I captured last summer at La Fontelina beach in Capri, Italy. Now, this photograph hangs on a wall in my bedroom, where it brings a smile to my face every time I look at it.

Still, purchased artwork can be equally personal and meaningful – you’ll just need to be thoughtful in how you choose it.

Enhance your design

With the right piece of art in mind, you’ll need to find the right spot in your home to display it. Since art can instantly change the character your design, it’s important to carefully evaluate what kind of feeling you want your room to evoke – and how your piece can add to it. Even an older, historic space can take on a bit of a modern edge with the simple inclusion of a large piece of contemporary art.

A painting or photograph with strong geometric lines will resonate with crisp, clean-lined furniture, and a heavily-detailed poster can bring out the plushness of your upholstery. Mixed-media artwork is also becoming more popular, and with varied materials like paint, enamel, wax, and more, it’s the perfect textural complement to a multi-themed home.

Artworks that you’re particularly attached to can even inspire the interior design of the entire room. Choose colors, textures, or patterns from these pieces to carry throughout your home, creating a cohesive design that evokes the same emotions you feel when admiring your favorite works.

Shop smart

If you don’t already have a piece in mind, you’ll need to find something new that will enhance your interior. This list of affordable places to buy art online will help get you started, but shop thoughtfully to ensure your purchase will fit your space.

A good place to start is by evaluating your space. Look for design elements that might be missing or that could be further enhanced by bringing in the right piece of artwork. If your furnishings tend to be more traditional, perhaps add a contemporary work to make the space more modern. For interiors that are dominated by neutral tones, maybe a bold, eclectic piece would brighten the room. A humorous piece could be incorporated to liven up a serious, sterile environment. This approach will turn your artwork into a dramatic focal point in the room, drawing the eye to your favorite statement pieces.

You can also seek inspiration from your surroundings to influence the type of art you purchase. Choose colors used in your furnishings, accessories, wall colors, or any other part of the space, and select artworks that reflect these hues. The end result will be a beautiful, harmonious vignette.

However you decide to incorporate art, broaden your search to include more than just well-known artists with an established brand. Resources like Artsy and Etsy make it easy to find works by emerging artists. Just be sure you’re choosing timeless pieces that you’ll want displayed on your wall for years to come.

Hang it right

Finally, you’re ready to get your piece in your space. Before you pull out the hammer and nail, though, think carefully about where your artwork is going to go.

A basic rule of thumb is to have your art fill two-thirds to three-quarters of your wall. Contemporary art should be larger, to maximize the impact, but you can always create a gallery look with clusters of smaller pieces. If you do this, make sure they are carefully curated to form a cohesive set that works together to enhance your space. An effective gallery wall will balance light and dark colors, graphic and painterly elements, and various sizes and shapes.

Think carefully about how you’ll be viewing the piece. You’ll want it centered on the wall at eye level, but you should consider whether you’ll usually be sitting or standing in the space and choose your eye level accordingly. Most people hang their artwork too high up on the wall, which ends up looking awkward and can ruin the flow of your interior design.

You should also hang pieces in relation to the rest of your décor. If you’re hanging your artwork above a piece of furniture, like a sofa or a credenza, ensure that the bottom edge of the piece is six to twelve inches above the furniture, and approximately three-fourths the width. This will ensure your art becomes an integrated element of the overall design, instead of seeming like an afterthought.

Measure carefully and put a light pencil mark above where the nail or hook should go, then gently hang your artwork – and enjoy an instant design update to your space.

Art is an important element of any interior design, and gives you the perfect opportunity to express your individuality. With these tips, you’ll be able to make the most of the empty space on your walls.