They say, the right wall art sets the tone for your space by adding a personal touch about your personality as well as keeping it inviting and speaking volumes about your your lifestyle as well as approach towards others. 

Hence, when selecting art for your living room, whether you are focused on colour, size, a theme, or something that provides inspiration, one has to give it immense thought before actually installing it as you would be putting a summary of yourself on display on the wall.

According to Brosa, an Australia-based interior design firm, ‘wall hangings, art, and photos serve as the stylistic icing on the cake that is your home. Wall artdraws the eye, pulls together space, and makes your home inviting. While there is no set of rules in place for adorning a home, following some basic instructions can help you select the perfect pieces, based on size, style, colour, theme, inspiration, or floor plan. The options are limitless.’

MyDomaine, a US-based interiors firm, however, states, ‘unless you’re an art curator, a gallery owner, or artist, chances are buying art does not come very naturally. As it turns out, choosing art for the home is much more intuitive than one might think if you follow a few simple rules.’

Zoe Pawlak, a modern artist and a designer of rugs, furniture, and interiors, urges people to use their walls for more irrational or eclectic choices. “Art is a place for expression through colour, content, and texture,” says Pawlak, adding, “Getting to know the artist that made your art helps you to understand the content of the work and the context around the piece itself.. If you don’t get the chance to meet the artist in person, read up.”

Erika Lancaster, artist, art content creator and teacher living in Monterrey, Mexico, says, “If you’re a visual/creative person like I am, you’re probably well aware of how your surroundings can affect your mood and even your daily productivity levels. At the same time, it’s likely important to you that your home (being an extension of yourself) is able to transmit your personality and individuality.
“You probably like to live your days in an inspired state of mind and simultaneously enjoy bringing inspiration to others with your distinct style and ideas. Many of us can fall into thinking that collecting original fine art is only for people who have lots of money to spend. However, with the Internet, it’s easier than ever to find amazing decorative artwork at all price points.”

Here are some tips from the experts on how to choose the perfect wall art for your space

Be inspired
The first rule of thumb when selecting an artwork is to not stress about the decision. Unless you have a strict timeline, it’s unrealistic to think you’ll just walk into a gallery, immediately find something you love,and hang it on your wall that evening. There are many things to consider when looking to decorate and taking them all into consideration is important.

 

Something unique
While it can be practical (and cheap) to buy mass-produced art reproductions, there’s nothing like being the sole owner of an original art piece that can be handed down for generations to come. Nothing compares to the feeling of owning an original painting that an artist spent hours upon hours creating and has a piece of them in it.

 

Size matters

Acquiring smaller pieces or quality reproductions may be a great way to start your collection and developing a relationship with an artist or gallery, but it’s important to acknowledge that they have a tendency to get lost in a room. You don’t want your art to look like a tiny island in a sea of a wall, light fixtures and book shelves.

Most likely, if you’re going to invest in an original artwork, you want it to be a focal point in your room. A good rule of thumb is you want your wall art to cover two-third of your wall. 

 

Proper installation

Don’t just hammer a nail and hang your art. If you’re going to put in the time and effort to buy an amazing art piece that you love, make sure you’re giving it the respect it deserves and hang it up properly.

While certainly a room’s architectural design (wall height/width, location of windows, etc.) may dictate where the frame should rest, you will want to carefully consider what wall and specific location the piece should be installed in. Consider the furniture and accessories you already have in the room.

 

Take care
Aside from direct sunlight, another factor that can affect the painting is humidity. Make sure you choose a room and area with low humidity and no direct contact with water. Excessive moisture can damage a painting over time. If your art requires cleaning, simply dust it with a feather duster and leave it alone. Never use water or cleaning products. The gallery or artist will be happy to provide tips and recommendations for cleaning.

 

 

Selecting art by colour

There is a big difference between room colour palettes versus the colour palettes of art? With art, there is more allowance for the use of bold colour schemes or the brights you may only reserve for an accent wall. 

There are two major approaches to selecting your wall art by colour – First, add art to your room that incorporates colours already present in the room. Note that:

• Your most significant piece of artwork should have a background colour that matches your wall colour.
• Use the same colour but in different shades. (A light blue and white painting looks beautiful with a navy-blue wall.)
• Choose wall art if that exact shade is already in your room. Most spaces should not exceed four colours to look pulled together.
• Stick to black and whites when in doubt about colour. Black and white match everything while, also adding to the elegance of a structure.
• Stay away from bright colours and neons as these do not always match up with neutral wall colours.
• Alternatively, choose art for your room that introduces bolder shades on the same colour scheme.
• Tie together the room with line work or style rather than colour. Pieces from the same artist could be different colours but pulled together with the style of painting.
• Introduce a new colour into the room in twos or threes. One occurrence of a bright pink could be accidental, but two circumstances make it intentional. Repeating colour increases its impact in the room.

 

Artists speak

What factor is most important when selecting an artwork for your  living room?

 

Madny al Bakry

The artwork hast to be pleasing to me when I look at it. It should make a statement – it should stand out and has to have a history by an artist I know or is known, and have reasons of his choice of colour and subject.

Elizabeth Davis

It has to be big and eye catching and go with the rest of the décor. When a   canvas is small, your go to the painting, but when the work is big, it   comes to you. That’s the impact!

Hassan Meer

I love abstract art with limited colours when selecting art for my living   room. Sometimes,  I love to have a big size black and white photo to   break the monotony of colours in the room.

Farah Asqul

The main artwork in your living room should be a statement about  the owner and their personality and character. It should capture the spirit  of the home and be unique.

Tahira Fida

I think, the most important factor is colour combination. All the colours   should have harmony and connection. The other factor could be the style   of furniture. You can’t display an abstract art piece with golden or  Victorian furniture.