How to: Solve Your Interior Gripes With Art

Whether you’re a self-described ‘curator’, ‘stager’ or interior decisions ‘procrastinator’, the pressure to plan out the perfect design for your home can be an intimidating process.

Every home is different, and therefore every home comes with its own décor challenges. Maybe your bedroom gives into dinge. Perhaps your shoebox study could do with being ever-so-slightly bigger. Well, we believe that the versatility of art might just be the solution to any layout or ambiance gripes you’re facing.  

This guide will help you stage your home with artwork in a way that maximises impact, expresses your personal style and makes your home feel…

Bigger

Deciding how to decorate small spaces can sometimes feel like a big issue. But, fret not. If you’re living the studio flat life, only have one room of your own to decorate, or want to revitalise a cosy nook in your home, art can save the day.

Just because your space is on the small side, doesn’t mean it can’t display a beautiful piece of original artwork.

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.

Use colour

Get creative with colour. This is a great way to differentiate your new zones. We love the idea of using bright hues from Alex Voinea in one area, and something a little more soothing, like the blues of Maria Paula Suarez’ embroidery piece, in another, to make the space seem larger and less claustrophobic.

Go vertical

A great way to give the illusion of space is to accentuate the higher spaces in your home. Displaying a collection of work above eye level will give a sense of height to a room. Adding a print with plenty of depth, such as the forests and mountain ranges of Sarah Duncan, above a door 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.

Calmer

Take a leaf of inspiration from Mother Nature’s décor handbook to add a more calming ambiance to your home.

Keep it chill

Cool earth tones, such as cadet blue, sage green and the ubiquitous grey, offer an instantly relaxing exhale to any space. Bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms are the top spots for introducing artwork with cooler colours, such as the gentle hues of Sandra Jordan’s photography.

Natural talent

A nature-inspired artwork can really help your home feel calmer. We all know how much of a positive effect nature can have on our mental health, so finding a seascape or landscape to fit your space is imperative if you’re looking to relax.

Cosier

After a busy day, sometimes all you want is to come back to a cosy interior packed with character and homely vibes. Trying for cosy but ending up with stuffy? Walking the line between the two can be a challenge, especially in the smaller spaces of your home.

Down to earth

Warm earth tone art is a dependable friend if you want your interiors to feel cosier. When they’re introduced, expect a closer connection to nature, where more abstract pieces create a sought-after ambiance of relaxation and reassurance. A piece by Paula Dunn cleverly combines shades such as burnt umber, red clay and ochre for a soothing sense of stability.

Feel the love

What’s cosier than embracing all things soppy? Whether it’s friendship, romantic or familial, you can find a whole new sense of adoration for your home by adding artworks inspired by love.

Mix-and-clash

Artworks don’t exist in a vacuum – they can work wonderfully with existing furnishings to really bring your home to life. For an instant cosy update, let your artworks clash with your soft furnishings or the colour of your walls.

The hot pink details of Natasha Barnes’ abstract acrylic paintings will really stand out against bright blue backgrounds or interior details. Or, if you’re feeling a little bit of 3D creativity, keep your eyes peeled at your next Affordable Art Fair to find shapes and textures to deliberately clash against any of your existing wallpaper patterns.

Expensive

We believe that making your home feel more expensive relies on a journey to either end of the clutter spectrum, whatever your budget. Whether you’re a hyper-organised minimalist or a loud and proud maximalist, thinking about your personality and lifestyle is the first step to creating a more lavish-looking space.

Keep it simple

As the old saying goes, sometimes less really is more. This can also apply to your interior decisions if you’re hoping to add an affluent aesthetic. First, it’s time for a de-clutter. Cast an editorial eye across your home and consider what might be best confined to a drawer.

Choosing minimalist artworks doesn’t instantly mean monochrome or having to compromise on the amount of art in your home.

Smooth lines, simple shapes and plenty of space are the ones to watch. Stuart Redler and Gillian Garnica demonstrate how a stripped-back style can still be impressive. A salon hang with simple framing choices means you can still pack extraordinary art into your home without compromising your dedication to the minimalist life.

Make a statement

If you prefer more of a maximalist approach, making your home feel more expensive is just a talking piece away from perfection.

Surrounding a standout artwork with different sizes and textural elements will expand and intensify its impact, creating a beautiful, bold hang. Consider a piece from Elizabeth Riley’s collection alongside a geometrical ink drawing from Lawrie Hutcheon to combine cutout collage with illusive, high-detail depth.

Lighter

Ok, we’re not making history with this suggestion, but if you’re looking to make your home feel brighter, then lighter artworks are the way to go. Plenty of white space, or the soft, California-haze of an artist like Patrick Lajoie, might just cure any dark and dim problems you’re having with your interior.

Mirror, mirror

Hanging mirrors near you light sources is a well-known method for creating the illusion of airiness. We love the idea of mixing it up with a reflective sculpture that adds light and stands out as its own beautiful object. The polished steel of Lee Borthwick’s sculptural work holds the blessed power of impact and light-giving.

Don’t overdo it

It’s tempting when there are so many extraordinary artworks out there, but covering every inch of your wall with art can actually make a room darker. Be sparing, as you’ll need any natural light to reflect off your walls. Smaller, deceptively simple artworks, such as Ellen Williams’ floral line drawings, still have enough impact to hold their own on an otherwise blank wall.

Continue your curatorial journey with these handy top tips and your pesky interior grumbles will soon be solved. Find a restorative artwork at your next fair by registering for updates.

Main image: Johanna Melvin, ‘Klezmer’, acrylic on canvas, Gina Cross Art + Design