Decorating Your Walls
with Personality
I need stuff for my walls!
Sound familiar?
Selecting art and decorating your walls should be a source of enjoyment, however many find it to be a huge dilemma and yet your rooms appear “unfinished” without it.
The key is simply figuring out what you like and where and how to hang it.
Interior walls are prime backdrops to a whole host of decorative details including prints, paintings and photos, and don't overlook the versatility of textiles.
An expansive tapestry, printed cloths such as batik can stand alone on a wall and add texture to the room.
Visit the local exhibitions, art fairs and galleries. Some of your favorite cafes and restaurants will feature local artists. Check out the library and banks for displays and the paper to hear about open house receptions.
If you’re decorating your walls with art to fit the room, consider the size and color.
Art that is too large will overwhelm, and art that is too small will be lost and look out of proportion.
The bolder the art the more the art needs to “breathe.” Large scaled items will make your rooms seem larger, and a large painting has more impact if left alone on a wall.
When using small pieces of art or photographs, use a mat in a deep tone of white, 6" or more which will create a more visual attraction to them.
When selecting a painting to blend in with your decor, pick out the most dominant color in the room and look for art with those colors, or choose art with muted colors or black and white art.
Don’t worry about an exact match, because you should buy art you love first and then find a place for it.
Style is another consideration when decorating your walls and selecting art to fit its surroundings.
Use vintage style framing on the paintings you hang if your home is filled with antiques.
As well as modern or more contemporary art in a sparsely furnished room with high ceilings.
If you want to make art the center of attraction, play down the other elements of the room like window treatments, carpeting and even furniture. A room crowded with other objects will take the spotlight away from the art.
As a general rule art should be hung at the eye level, but only as a guide.
Feel free to experiment to learn what pleases you.
Try hanging art on different walls, it may look great in a spot you haven't thought of.
Avoid predictable placement when decorating your walls.
Create a border by hanging prints in similar subject and size along the top of a wall at the cornice especially if you have distinctive molding or at chair rail level.
Hang pictures unexpectedly high or low, unframed canvases, and not precisely centered on a wall.
Plan in advance when decorating your walls with arrangements.
Don't sprinkle things around just to fill the space. It's better to create a grouping of related art.
A clever arrangement creates great impact and the collection does not have to be expensive or rare.
Botanical prints from Audubon and Redoute books can be found in antique and junk shops, or used bookstores.
An arrangement of favorite framed photographs, wall art and collectibles can change the focal point and the entire look of a room while adding personality and warmth.
Small or medium sized artwork and drawings grouped together become a stronger statement and more impressive than if left individually.
Frames in different shapes and sizes are more interesting than a wall with identical rectangles, and you can add diversity to the arrangement by including mirrors, wall brackets, shelves and anything with some dimension.
Pay attention to balance of the entire room by being careful not to put everything on one side of the room and leaving the other side empty.
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