July 15th, 2015

All You Need Is Art


Do you have a space that is a little ho-hum and could use a little character? Perhaps your walls are bare because you have no idea what to put up. Or do you have the opposite dilemma with far too many photographs, paintings etc. that you are not sure what to keep up and what to take down? Fear not, finding the perfect balance between bare and busy can be found! We have gathered some of our tips and tricks to create your own art inspired space.

Group ’em

You don’t need to be an art collector to have an art inspired space. Just a couple good prints can do the trick! A large over sized painting or photograph centered on a wall creates a focal piece that is hard to miss. If you have a series of prints or photographs, line them up and space them out equally and you will have a mini gallery! Just add some lighting and your prints on a budget can look like treasures only found from art dealers. If your space is smaller and less formal, don’t even bother with hanging up your art pieces. Line them up along a shelf or even place on the floor or console and prop against the wall. You can create a vignette this way by layering your art with some sculptures, accessories and books. Voila, you have created your own masterpiece. If your art is bold and loud, keep your furniture neutral in color and pick up some of the same color in toss cushions to pull the room together.

Frames

The same way a hairstyle frames a face, a frame on a photograph, print or painting can make a huge difference. A thick fame makes a bold statement whereas a thinner gallery frame barely intrudes on the image allowing the art to speak for itself. Color is also an important aspect to consider. Black and white frames keep it nice and simple. While metals such as silver add a bit more glitz and glamour or even traditional appeal. For a more eclectic look mix and match frame thicknesses and colors (this one can be a bit tricky for a first timer, be careful as it can also look like a mess. I suggest you find an inspiration photo to follow for this look). Looking for frames on a budget? Check out IKEA, or for a more professional look try the gallery collection from Pottery Barn. If you have artwork that doesn’t fit in these pre-fab frames then head down to Opus or Michaels and custom frame your pieces.

Composition

Keep your spacing between pieces consistent. We often suggest you lay the arrangement out on the floor and make sure you like it before you put the first nail in the wall!  Once you have determined your layout now you need to find the center of your wall and start with your center image and work your way out. I suggest mounting your first image around 5’-0 above the finished floor the center of the art pieces.  If all your frames are the same size you will most likely be creating a cleaner, more modern arrangement. Such as stacking a grouping of say 4 or creating a horizontal line. In which case the bottom and top of all your frames should be aligned. If you have opted for various size frames you may decide to try hanging them at various heights. This look is harder to achieve as it really depends on the amount and sizes of your art pieces. I would suggest you have a minimum of 10-12 to start your gallery wall and be sure to pre-determine your layout.

Shopping for art

Looking for a great piece of art? On a budget? Head over to art.com or allposters.com although I warn you…you may lose hours of your life. Etsy and Society are also worth a look. If you are ready to invest in an original piece we have lots of great local talent right in our own backyard. Some of our favorites include Jill Pilon, Studio N2 and Carla Tak just to name a few. Although only once a year a fun way to source up and coming artist is by visiting their studios during the Eastside Culture Crawl.

 

Is there a space inspired by art that you love? Have you created your own gallery wall? Share it with us using the hashtag #area3art

art images