Art for Big or Small Spaces

Deciding the proper size and placement of a new artwork can seem daunting. So, if you’re asking yourself: ‘What size painting should I choose?’, we’re here to help make the process a little easier! With this common dilemma firmly in mind, read our definitive list on how to decide what size of wall art will be right for you. Find out ways to make the most of your space, and what to consider when planning your purchase.

Decorating Large Spaces

Creating a sense of comfort and creativity in big spaces can be tricky. Having a big room with a smaller budget might seem problematic in terms of making the space feel homey, but art is a great way to add impact and create cosiness, no matter how much you’d like to spend.

Big and bold is best

It may sound simple, but a great trick to break up large expanses of wall is with a bold art display. Going with one statement piece helps bring the whole room into proportion and makes the space feel balanced, even if the amount of furniture might be lacking. Anchoring your room with a single outstanding piece really helps avoid lots of disconnected elements or clutter. Whilst for many, this might be done using a large piece of furniture, we believe that a large, bright piece of art is the perfect anchor, and a great focal point to design your other interior around.

Accessorise

We know that in a perfect world, you’d be able to fill a large wall or airy room with canvases, prints and paintings galore. However, if that isn’t the case, there are some great, affordable tricks to fill up your space without breaking the bank. A couple of carefully invested pieces of art incorporated into a salon hang might just be the way to go.

Otherwise, a great way to create a curated impact is to place two or three pieces above your sofa, bed or other large piece of furniture. Surround them with plants, fabric wall-hangings, home photographs, ceramics or anything else that fits your vibe. Perhaps you could accentuate the different colours and textures within the piece with your other objects. Surrounding one or two standout artworks with different textural elements will expand and intensify its impact – creating a beautiful, statement hang.

Be creative with your framing

Should you be in favour of a frame for your latest beautiful painting, print or photograph, then why not choose something a little wacky and original? A bold and alternative frame, particularly if you opt for something substantially larger than the original artwork, will help fill a wall in no time, adding some of your own personality.

You can read our guide to framing for any budget here.

Decorating Small Spaces

Perhaps you live in a studio flat the size of a shoebox, have one room of your own to decorate, or want to revitalise a cosy nook in your home? Just because your space is on the small side, doesn’t mean it can’t display a beautiful piece of original artwork. If you live in a small space, you may automatically think of the downside: tight spaces, not enough storage and of course, less wall space to fill. But in fact, a few well-placed prints, paintings or sculptures can really maximise your space, and make it feel lighter and brighter than before.

Create zones

An excellent way to help compartmentalise a smaller space is creating specific ‘zones’ within it. Divide your space into different segments depending on how they’re used – work, sleep, relax or eat, for example. Art seems like a great way to reinforce this idea, adding a few framed monochrome artworks in one corner perhaps, juxtaposing with a statement painting in another area of the room.

Use colour

Get creative with colour. A great way to differentiate separate spaces; we love the idea of using bright hues such as oranges or reds in one area, and something a little more soothing, like greys or greens in another, making the space seem larger and less claustrophobic. Specific ‘colour’ areas can be supplemented with flowers and fauna, or home accessories – the sky’s the limit!

Go vertical

A great way to give the illusion of space is to accentuate the higher spaces in your home. Displaying a collection of works above eye level will give a sense of height to a room. Adding a pretty print or canvas above a door or within a set of shelves is a brilliant way to add an illusion of depth and some extra space to a room, and likewise a vertical gallery hang can suggest a higher ceiling.

And remember…

Whether you consider your space to be small or big is, of course, subjective – so one person’s mini space might feel like a castle to another! Either way, if you’re feeling like your space isn’t quite the right size for you, don’t underestimate how adding some art of your own (alongside some careful placement) can make a big difference.

Whatever the size, there’s plenty of ways to revitalise your space with the latest contemporary art. When browsing art at your next Affordable Art Fair, make sure to keep our

Main Image: An installation at Affordable Art Fair NYC Spring 2018.