Which picture? A guide to choosing artwork for your home
admin
02 May 2011
Deciding what to put on your walls is often the final step of decorating a room. You’ve done all the hard work and now you can build upon it with a few final touches. But unless you’re a Hundertwasser follower or a Dalí devotee, choosing artwork you like that also goes with your newly decorated living spaces can be a headache. Here are a few things you should bear in mind to make sure you pick out the right pictures for your home…
Budget
The first thing to consider is how much money you’re willing to spend. There’s no use going shopping if you haven’t budgeted beforehand. If you’re willing to spend a lot, then you could think about searching out for local artists and maybe visit a few galleries in your area. If you’re looking for something cheaper, then there are many different prints available for a fraction of the cost. Perhaps you’ve got a very limited budget, in which case you could get artistic and create your own artwork.
Space
Measure the spaces where you want to hang your artwork. Keep the measurements handy at all times by noting them down in your phone or wallet. If you like the idea of large pictures, you’ll need fewer paintings than if you want to hang several smaller ones. Have a think about what kind of effect you’re after – large or small, cluttered or minimalist.
Colours and themes
If you want to make sure any artwork you buy matches your décor, think about choosing pieces according to colour or a theme. If you’re going for a modern look, then you should invest in modern art, whereas if you’re going for an older look, consider more traditional pictures. Some colours clash, so take samples of the colour of your walls and furniture when going to look at artwork. Think about whether you want to make the artwork blend in or stand out and choose complementary or contrasting colours accordingly.
Hanging
Once you’ve selected your artwork and had it framed, it’s time to hang it on the wall. This is not always as simple as it sounds, and you should know what kind of wall you are hanging the picture on before you start drilling. Aside from the possibility of there being concealed cables or pipes, some walls are made of much sturdier stuff than others. For masonry walls, for example, you’ll need a powerful piece of equipment such as a Bosch drill to make a hole. Chances are, you’ll have to use a wallplug, too, especially if your picture is heavy. You could save yourself some time by ensuring you have the tools you need to hang your pictures before you start banging away. If you’re missing anything, you can order something online with Tool-NET UK and have it delivered straight to your door.
If you want to avoid clashing colours, disparate themes and falling pictures, make sure you consider these points when you’re putting up artwork.
