Select Wall Art to Match Your Personality, Not Your Furniture
You’ve downed mega cups of coffee or a few glasses of wine discussing it. What elements do we start with before designing your room? New furniture? That vintage trunk you bought at the antique show? The carpet you saw in the store you loved?
When starting any interior design project, it seems only natural to think about the basics or a piece you already own. Flooring, wall color, window treatments and furniture are all important elements that go into the creation of a beautiful interior space, but what should our first step in the design process be? Which element do we want to use to create the specific look we have in mind? That is the million dollar question! If you want to select your wall art to express your sense of style or create a specific mood, then I have the answer. Select your wall art first.
Create A Focal Point
Wall art helps to draw the eye into the room and create the mood. By selecting your art first, you are not tied to any color scheme or style and you can then make your wall art the focal point of your space. As the focal point, the wall art you select gives the room personality and helps to express your distinct sense of style. Think of how much easier (and fun!) it will be to pull it all together after selecting your art, versus trying to find your art to go with your specific style of furniture or color scheme.
Choose Colors
Choose a few coordinating colors from the wall art to incorporate the art into the room. First choose a dominant color then one or two coordinating colors to use as your color palette. Then you will have the freedom to rock out! Take your color choices and use them to select wall color, fabrics and carpets to match or coordinate with your palette. Don’t be afraid to mix and match!
Sometimes it’s nice to just let your art be the star of the room by keeping the furniture and accessories neutral or monochromatic. By keeping the other decor consistent, you allow the art to stand out and truly be the focal point. For example, if your dominant color is red and your coordinating color is cream, then allow the furniture and accessories to be cream and you will be amazed at how your art will pop.
Size Matters
When choosing a piece of wall art you should also consider what size is appropriate. Take measurements of the wall space available, so you’ll know how much room you have. Look for art that not only speaks to your sense of style, but fits appropriately into the space. After choosing the artwork, be sure to get appropriately sized furniture for the room. Furniture that is too small will make the art look too large and if it’s too large it will make the art look tiny.
Placement
Placement of your art is important, but so is the placement of the other furnishings around the art. Be sure to place items around your wall art that complement but does not detract from its appearance. For example, when hanging an art print over the sofa, be sure it is centered and positioned at eye level.
{ TIP – A good rule of thumb is to select art that is at least two-thirds the size of your sofa. }
{ TIP – If you want to see the placement prior to hanging, take a piece of cardboard and measure it out to be the size of the art. Tape the cardboard onto the wall to see how well it fits in the space. This way you’ll save the wall until you are sure you want to put holes to hang the art in that space. }
Add Texture
Look for art in different mediums to add texture to the room. Besides paintings and prints, you should also consider using mediums that add depth such as sculpture or shadow boxes.
You could also make an art collage incorporating matching or coordinating pieces of wall art together. Combining multiple works of art by the same artist or those that have a very similar style, creates a greater impact and a stronger look than each would have by itself.
Accessories Complete the Look
Accessories are finishing elements that can help pull a space together and make it feel complete. Whether you go minimal or over-the-top, your accessories should complement but not overshadow your art. It is that little extra touch that can take your space from looking dysfunctional to appearing as if it should grace the pages of an interior design magazine.
How much importance do you put on wall art when decorating a room? At what point in your design process do you usually select your art? Let us know in the comments below.
Heather McCoy is a freelance graphic designer specializing in business branding and digital art. When she can tear herself away from her computer, she greatly enjoys spending time hiking with her children, cooking and writing. Check out some her latest work on her website: Design By Heather Lee 
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