By Jack Dawson
Those who are fascinated by the timeless beauty of art galleries usually try out their hands at decorating their own homes with any art of their preference. However, most tend to make a complete mess of their walls and their homes; instead of looking like an elegant art gallery the house looks completely gauche. Arranging art in the manner of art galleries is a skilled art and not as easy as it may seem to most. There are a number of techniques involved in displaying wall art for best impact as well as a great variety of wall art to reckon with. Some practical tips for adorning your home with works of art:
Color
Regardless of whether you are buying art simply because its color goes very well with the décor of your living room or just because you happened to fall in love with it or even to add to a particular collection that you own, color is a very important factor that needs to be taken into account while arranging the art. Color plays a crucial role in defining the ambiance of the room, for example vibrantly colored geometrical art may not be the ideal choice in the bedroom where there is a need for a relaxing atmosphere. Similarly, art in subtle pastel shades would be entirely unsuitable for displaying in the kids’ room where they would want to have very bright and cheerful atmosphere.
Balance
It is very important to have a sense of balance when decorating spaces with wall art. If the distribution is skewed and all the art is arranged on a single wall leaving the others bare it will definitely detract from the room’s attractiveness and comfort. Remember to distribute the art you have in a balanced way across all the available surfaces but without creating a clutter. The room’s balance can also be affected due to the presence of doors and windows so be careful to take these into account too. There are no scientific calculations to show what’s right; you’ll just have to depend upon your artistic sense to tell you when you have arrived at a balance that is harmonious.Many leading home furnishing brands offer a lot of good advice about striking the right balance with wall décor on their websites.
Size
The size of the artworks can also play a vital role in the synchronization of the room. Generally speaking, wall art should not be larger than the furniture in the room. However, given the situation that there is a particularly large piece of art, you should display it on a wall that is otherwise base of other decorative pieces and does not have any furniture in front of it that will obstruct its view. It is necessary to ensure that there is sufficient space in front of the large artwork so that people can view it comfortably and absorb the effect of the picture in its entirety. Hanging art over fireplaces can be a good idea but you need to make sure that the heat will not end up damaging it.
Lighting
Works of art owe a lot of their effect on the lighting. Even if you have got a masterpiece hanging on your wall people will not be able to appreciate its magnificence if it’s poorly lit. On the other hand bathing the picture with too much light can wash out the subtle color variations that may be present and dazzle your eyes so much that viewers cannot appreciate the beauty of the wall art.
Height
Most people tend to mount the art pieces either too high or too low preventing them from being appreciated fully. The confusion almost always stems from the fact that it is generally advised that art should be hung at eye level. However, not much attention is paid to defining whether the eye level should be that of a person who’s sitting or standing! The rule to follow is for art in living rooms or drawing rooms where people are expected to be seated; you should mount the art at the eye level of a person who is sitting but for other places like hallways, stairs, etc. the best position to hang the art is at the eye level in a standing position.
Image Credit:Â https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Egyptian_Revolution_-_Wall_Art_-_Free_Egypt.jpg
Jack Dawson
Author: Jack Dawson
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Author: Maralyn
Maralyn Dennis Hill, The Epicurean Explorer, is president emeritus of International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association, member of Society of American Travel Writers, and Society of Professional Journalists. She is Executive Editor of Luxe Beat Magazine and contributes to other publications. She also speaks and is a guest on many shows. The majority of Maralyn’s articles are now geared to the luxury market, spas, corporate retreats, business events, and culinary tourism, from simple to gourmet. Maralyn’s description of herself: I was born to travel and tell the tale. I’m energized by different cultures in every aspect of their lives, from food, wine, and destination, to how they conduct business. Travel represents a continual geography lesson.
