Do you love the art in your home? Are you searching for new pieces to add to your collection? Not sure what types of pieces match or accentuate your home’s style? Or maybe you’re new to the art world and aren’t even sure where to start. What art should you buy? Where should you look?
Today we’ll answer these questions and hopefully inspire you to discover new pieces you love and that you’ll be proud to display in your home.
Let’s get started.
Art’s Many Benefits
When it comes to decorating their homes, too many people overlook the importance of artwork or choose pieces that they don’t love, simply to fill empty space. Those are mistakes!
Displaying the right artwork in your home has many benefits. Art can:
- Make your space look and feel larger. Use different-sized pieces to highlight and accentuate your home’s best features.
- Make you feel better. A beautifully designed home, including well-chosen pieces can make you feel less stressed. You’ll feel more relaxed and you’ll just enjoy your home more.
- Build community. By purchasing pieces you love from local artists, you’re supporting your community and helping talented artists earn the living they deserve.
- Serve as a focal point for your home’s style. Your favorite pieces shouldn’t fade into the background. Instead they can serve as a focal point to build the rest of your home’s style around.
- Reflect you, your values, your loves, and makes your space your own. By selecting pieces that you truly love and want to look at, you’ll make your home your own. Your space will become a reflection of you, your style, and your aesthetics.
Do You Love Your Home’s Art?
Ask yourself, “Do I really love every piece in my home?” If not, now’s a great time to start thinking about replacing the pieces you don’t love with ones you do.
Before you rush out and buy a houseful of new pieces, ask yourself a few more questions to help you understand why you love some pieces more than others:
- How do you feel about the shape and color of a particular piece?
- What would you change about a piece, if you could?
- What matters most to you about art? Do you love pieces associated with specific memories– art you bought on a trip for example– or do you just enjoy looking at pieces you find beautiful?
Once you have a good sense of what you do and don’t like about the art currently in your home, then you’ll be ready to start choosing new art for your home.
Choosing New Pieces for Your Home
The key to filling a home with art that you love is simple:
Don’t rush.
Learn to savor and enjoy the process of searching for pieces of art that you love. The more time and care you put into choosing a new piece of art for your home, the more joy that piece will bring you.
But before you buy anything, here’s something to try:
Move your artworks around.
Often, you may see a piece in a whole new light (no pun intended) just by moving it to a new room. Some pieces look their best in bright light, while others work better in more subdued surroundings. So experiment! Try moving a painting in your living room into the bedroom or vice versa.
By giving the art you have a chance to breathe new life into your space, you’ll learn more about the style and type of artworks you love. And you’ll be better prepared to bring new pieces into your home.
Where to Find New Art?
Finding new pieces doesn’t have to be a chore or break the bank. There are many great places to look for artwork that you’ll love.
Your Travels
One family I worked with used art and souvenirs from their vacations and travels to decorate their space. I love this idea! Every piece is chosen with care and brings back great memories of fun times together!
As you travel, keep an eye out for locally-made pieces. Many galleries and artists are used to shipping their work, so you may not even have to fit it into your carry-on luggage!
Local Colleges & Universities
Often, if you’re looking for a truly unique piece on a budget, look to local schools and universities. Many students will love the opportunity to create a piece for their portfolio and the chance to earn money for their work!
If you live in the Portland area, visit the Pacific Northwest College of Art student galleries to see if any artists inspire you. You’ll see a variety of styles and mediums by up-and-coming and very talented artists.
Local Galleries
Living in Portland, we’re lucky to have an entire neighborhood full of great art galleries. Join the crowds on First Thursday and walk through some of the area’s most popular galleries. My favorites include:
The more galleries you visit, the more you’ll begin to recognize styles and pieces that speak to you. But again, don’t feel pressured to buy right away. As you see pieces you like, look at the materials and style (ask the gallery curators for help) and then search out similar artists.
Vintage Stores and Consignment Shop
Depending on the style of your home and your personal preferences, you might be able to find some great pieces of art and some great bargains by searching vintage shops, consignment stores, and other secondhand dealers.
My Biggest Tip for Choosing New Art
Don’t stress.
Art should be fun and something you love. Don’t worry about choosing the “right” pieces, just look for pieces that speak to you and makes you happy in your home. Don’t feel like you have to search out hot artists, fashionable styles, or pieces that cost a fortune. Simply look for pieces you love and pieces that you want to have in your home.
Art that’s chosen with care, love, and thought will always look great.
Need Help Finding Art for Your Home?
If you’re planning on changing out your art as part of a home-design or remodeling project– or if you’re just looking for new art, get in touch or give us a call at (503) 406-6179.
Our interior design team can help you find great artwork for your home, give advice on colors, styles, and shapes, and much more. We’d love to help you find new pieces that you love!
Photo Credit: Akash Kataruka