4 TIPS! HOW TO CHOOSE ART FOR YOUR HOME
Are you having trouble deciding how to purchase art for you home or office? There are SO many factors to consider when deciding what artwork to buy. Let me take the stress and the guess work out of purchasing art...
These are the questions I get asked the most before someone invests in my paintings and prints…
“How do I know it’s the right piece for me”
"What size art will fit this wall?"
"What size orientation looks best over my mantle vs couch, bed, dining table, entry, etc?"
"Will these colours/style of the art look good with my decor?"
If you've had similar questions, please let me help! As an artist that creates custom commissioned paintings for clients, I have consulted many times on these frequent questions so I have experienced advice. Here are my top tips on how to decide what size and style of art will be perfect for your room. to help make your selection process a little bit easier;
BUY ART YOU LOVE: Regardless of whether you want to invest in an original painting or a reproduction print, if the art takes your breath away, BUY IT. The heart never lies. And I have heard countless times, “Darn it! Someone beat me to buying it!” So, if you get goosebumps when you set your eyes on it, GO FOR IT! To feel is to be human. Art ignites something primal in us. It lifts the soul, it inspires, it transcends, it connects us to our deepest humanity. It can transport us to a place, a time and a feeling. Why we feel what we feel when we find a piece of art we love is so hard to put into words but it is a feeling that is powerful and important. Art you love is something that will bring you ja powerful experience every time you view it.
STYLE, DOES IT MATTER? That depends. Why are you purchasing the art? Is it because you are a serious Art Collector/Professional Interior Designer or a New Collector/Hobbyist Decorator? Are you buying the art for art’s sake or are you more interested in it complementing your decor? Is it a print or an original painting you need? Is budget a factor? Do you believe in the artist and want to support their pursuit and know the story behind the art? Here’s a few questions to ask yourself to help guide you to the right art…
Serious Art Collectors/Professional Interior Designer say and feel most of these things:
It was love at first sight
I had to have it
I want to invest in this artist, she is one to watch
I believe this art will increase in value over time
It doesn’t matter to me whether it matches my decor
I need to see the texture of each original brush stroke the artist made on the canvas
I want one-of-a-kind art
I want to support the artist’s journey of original exploration
I am looking for a luxury investment for my client’s home
I need a commissioned original for something specific
New Collectors/Hobbyist Decorators say and feel most of these things;
It was love at first sight
I want the art to complement my decor
It needs to be affordable enough I can change it up when design trends change
I want to support the artist’s journey of original exploration balanced with fitting my budge
I prefer a flawless and smooth textured print
I need to buy multiple pieces to fill my space
I can’t decide on one, I want them all!
The bottom line? I believe art is like wine, if you like it, it’s good. Whether you want prints or originals; whether it needs to match the decor or stand on it’s own, BUY ART YOU LOVE.
SIZE MATTERS! Yes, I said it, lol. But we’re talking about art in this blog, so get your mind out of the gutter, lol. Deciding on what size of art to buy can be so overwhelming. You may be thinking, “What size is the room and how much furniture is in the room. How big is the space on the wall and it what furniture is near the art. Is the art going to be a focal piece?” I believe THE MOST important factor is PROPORTION. The most common mistake that I see is that people tend to choose art that is much too small for the space. If you are investing in art, and then hang it, only to discover the art looks like a tiny speck of an island floating in a sea of wall space. Almost always, after I consult with my Collectors they discover the art needs to be BIGGER than they thought. The rule of thumb is the art should cover between 2/3-3/4 of your wall space. How do you figure that out? Measure the width and height of your wall and then multiply them both by 60-75%. This will give a range of sizing to know what will work best in that space. Now, go grab your painter's masking tape and use it to mask out where you want your art to go. Tape-off two different proportions for variety. Stand back. Does it look proportional to the wall size, does it fit over your mantle? (That's why I provide such a vast range of print sizes in my PRINT SHOP! I want you to have the perfect size art for your home!) Still not sure? I can help! Read below….
HELP! I STILL CAN’T ENVISION IT Envisioning what art will look like in your home is probably the most challenging obstacle my collectors have. Thanks to technology, I can help with that. It’s you me and technology! I have this handy dandy app that I can insert my art into your home. Send me a photo of your room where you want the art to hang, with the masked area and presto, change-o! I can super-impose the art onto your wall! See the demo photos below. Clients have sent me photos of their homes, I then correct the exposure of the photo and add the art. I can fit the art to the sizing of the masking tape shown so you know exactly what size art you need. I can also show you some of the framing options I offer. All the guess work was taken away and it became very quick and easy to decide what you want for your space. I'd be happy to be your ART CONSULTANT and do this service free of charge if you wish! Simply shoot me an email and let's get started.
I hope this was helpful! Don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have more questions. xo Ronei
