Artwork In Your home
Last minute accessory or essential component?
Works of art can be as important as furniture and objects in their role in giving a home a unique personality, in some cases perhaps even more so. Art is so personal that the choice of pieces on display in different parts of the home can give an insight into the owners’ lives and passions. Helping clients to select the artwork for their home is often the last piece of the design puzzle. Artwork for display can all too easily be treated by some clients as a last-minute accessory and only given cursory attention, but I advise that, when chosen thoughtfully, art is an essential component for any home, with the ability to transform a space, bringing it to life and infusing it with personality. Below are two examples of artwork introducing a different atmosphere to that provided by the furniture beneath it.
Opinions on art can be very personal (we’ve all come across that famous phrase, “I don’t know art, but I know what I like”). As a designer, it can be difficult to second guess a client’s taste in art, but working together, I can draw out their preferences and use these to help find the right pieces for the space. And there is a great joy to be had in the search for those perfect pieces of art which speak to your soul.
Sentimental and emotional attachment
The deeply sentimental and emotional attachment we often have to the art we have personally selected can’t be overstated. There are a number of different elements which contribute to this feeling – the search for something special which you connect with on a spiritual level, the rush of adrenalized joy when this search is successful, the reminder of this feeling every time you glance at the piece in situ, perhaps also the sense of satisfaction in knowing you own an individual piece of art which is one of a kind (maybe you discovered a local artist or commissioned a piece especially for your home).
Your art may remind you of certain periods of your life associated with happy memories. Alternatively, you may wish to tie your choice of art to the location of your home. Below are some images from a project which do both of these things. The 1930s print of the swimmer has relevance because the building also dates back to that period, the London bus sign because the clients were originally Londoners and the Berger 45 poster in the kitchen is associated with memories of a holiday they took in the Riviera.
The perfect decorative element
Interior designers will often expound on the extra depth and texture that the right piece of art can bring to a space, and how a certain style of painting or print can add the perfect decorative element to finish off a room, but it could be argued that our personal connection to the art we display is possibly the most important thing of all. The picture of the sitting room in my recent Kingston project is a good example of how wall art can add extra textural interest to a decorative scheme.
Where to start
But what if you feel that you don’t know much about art and don’t know what you like, but sense that the beauty of your home would be enhanced by having some art on display? Where do you start? How can you find out how to make the best use of art? Here are some tips…
Make or break
The use of art can either make or break a room, so it is important to understand the role that art plays in any space, whether that be a cosy sitting-room, a busy multi-functional room, or even an office. It can be used to tell a story, to add life and sparkle, to create a focal point, or to blend with or offset an existing colour palette. The artwork in the bedroom in the picture below is a focal point statement piece which also suits the atmosphere of the room in which it sits.
Depending on its scale and style, the artwork on display in any given space can be either the centre of attention or form part of the decorative backdrop. As an interior designer, I have often based a design for a client around a favoured piece of art. One large piece of art in a sitting room can be an arresting focal point which can really ‘make the room’. Alternatively, one beautiful piece of art carefully selected to work with other items of furniture, lamps, glassware and other accessories can combine to create a visually gorgeous vignette in the corner of a room. The beautiful beach scene painting is a natural focal point in the sitting room pictured below.
Size, proportion and the use of colour
But if you don’t want your space to be dominated by one large, standalone piece, a carefully curated selection of mixed paintings and prints can combine to create more than the sum of its parts. It’s important to remember when doing this that size and proportion are instrumental in deciding where to place the art, whether one ‘standout’ piece should be the star of the show, or if all of the pieces will share an equal spotlight in the ‘ensemble’.
The eclectic mix of framed artwork in the stairwell at a recent project is a good example of art being used to ‘mix things up’. Even the frames are all different to one another. The art in the hall at another project serves a similar purpose.
Colour in a neutral space
Artwork can also be used to introduce some elements of colour into an otherwise neutral space. And if you are using the art as a starting point, the colour palette for the space will be influenced by elements of this. In the picture below, the pink flower painting on the wall inspired the use of pink curtains in this sitting room.
Contrast and texture
The clever use of art can bring about a harmony of colours and/or contrast of textures. Hanging a painting above a bed or fireplace will introduce extra texture and interest to the natural focal point in the room as seen in this picture below.
Art doesn’t have to just be paintings or pictures. Sculptures, ceramics, masks, tribal artefacts, tapestries, collages and even rugs can all add texture and character to a space.
Pivotal role
It’s almost impossible to overstress the benefits that the creative use of artwork can bring to a home, an office, or even a café or bar. It can play a pivotal role in creating or enhancing a particular atmosphere and, for the owner, can be a lasting reminder of a special time or place – with all of the sentimental value attached.
It can be an expression of the owner’s personality (think paintings of a hunt, or generational portraits in a stately home, or striking black and white prints in the modernistic home of a photographer or architect).
It can challenge the status quo, provocatively raising questions of a social or political nature. Or, conversely, there may be elements of humour or whimsy that will lighten the mood of any dinner party or social gathering (humorous posters work particularly well in kitchens, as demonstrated in the pictures below).
The perfect finishing touch
Perhaps the art on display generates an atmosphere of tranquillity, bringing about a sense of calm, with all of the associated positive benefits for mental health and well-being. But whatever style of art you choose to work with, it can either provide a direction for the colour palette or blend with what is already there, providing the perfect finishing touch to a beautifully designed home interior.
I love creating homes that truly reflect the personality of the people living in them. So, if you would like a hand creating your dream home or just want a second opinion, give me a call on 07773 372 158 or send me an email via nicky@nickypercival.co.uk