Buying art is both an investment and a way to decorate your home with the expression and beauty of masters. You don’t, however, need to own artwork that costs upwards of tens of thousands of dollars. A painting you bought from a local artist at a craft fair can do just fine. The point is that the painting speaks to you and fits in with your home. To truly make the most of your artwork, however, you need to display it properly. Here are 5 simple ways to make any artwork a focal point worthy of being in your room:
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Frame It (Or Don’t)
Whether you should frame your artwork or not entirely depends on the piece and your room. If your room is more traditional, with a flair for the French Renaissance, you’ll want to frame your artwork. If your room is modern, with sharp lines and bold colors, you can get away without a frame. The frame must act as a gateway to your room, especially if the artwork it is holding is different from the rest of the décor. You need something to balance it out.
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Frame Things Around It
Rather than place the artwork on a blank wall, you can frame it within your room using the natural features – such as windows or corners – and your furniture. Hang your artwork over your bed, over the couch, or over a table in the hallway. Frame the artwork so that there is a natural balance in your room and it is pleasing to the eye. Symmetry can absolutely be your friend, and it places your artwork as the focal point.
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Illuminate It
To truly make any artwork you own, whether you bought it at a craft fair or an auction house, deserves to be properly illuminated. That’s why you need to install track lighting. Not only does it light up your room, but it also gives you the ability to directly light up various parts of your room, namely, your focal points. Draw the eye with symmetry, with lighting, and with the artwork itself.
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Hang it At the Right Level
Regardless of where you hang your artwork, make sure that it is at the right level. You typically want it to be within eye level and for the size of the artwork to make sense with the size of the space. You don’t want a small painting three-quarters up a bare wall. Not only is it out of eye level, but it is also severely dwarfed by what’s around it. Make sure there is a natural balance to your artwork placement.
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Remember Negative Space
Negative space is not your enemy. You don’t have to go overboard and fill up every bit of wall space – you need the negative space, too! Overcrowding your walls will make your room feel smaller. It also means that there are no focal points in the room.
The artwork you buy deserves a place in your home. It deserves to be a focal point that the eye is drawn to and the room revolves around. Follow these tips, and you will be properly displaying your artwork in no time.