Our Top 5 tips for selecting art

Art always requires a special consideration when it comes to their role within interior spaces. The right piece can transform a space from totally bland to a showstopper. Here are our top 5 considerations when selecting art. Click the link below if you want us to send you a PDF guide for your future reference.

1. Contrast

When selecting art, it is important to consider how it will sit within the space being created. Sometimes clients have special pieces of art which are the starting points for us to design spaces around. This might mean choosing colours that compliment the piece to make the piece fit seamlessly into the interior. Alternatively one can choose a contrasting colour scheme, with the intention to create a real feature of the artwork. 

Which ever way you go, always be clear of your intention - do you want a seamless look, or a contrasting effect. Knowing this from the offset will help you decide on either the colour scheme for your space, or the piece of art you will be looking for. 

Low contrast art

High contrast art

2. Scale

​We love playing with scale and doing something unexpected within a space can really help create a moment. Our go to rule is to ensure that the piece of art is related to the size of the objects around it, normally with a 60-80% fill. What this means (in relation to wall art) is; if you have a console that is 1m wide, the piece of art above it should be no smaller than 60cm wide, or no larger than 80cm wide.  The same thing applies to art above a bed, or a sofa.  Always aim for the art to be around 60-80% the width of the furniture below it.  You can either create this with a singular large piece of art, or select a number of smaller pieces of art to create a gallery wall within that 80% zone. If you want to read more about gallery walls stay tuned!

Large scale art. Interiors by Phoebe Howard

Small Scale art - Festen Architecture

​On the other hand, an overly small piece of art, can really draw someone into a zone of the room and create a very intimate viewing experience - usually a piece of art which is quite textural and intricate works best. This is a slightly trickier balance to master but always worth considering for those extra special pieces. 

---

3. Form

​What people find visually appealing in art is incredibly personal and difficult to predict. As designers, we engage in lengthy consultations with our clients to try and identify what sort of art they are drawn to before putting proposals forward. Nonetheless, it is important to consider the composition of the art within the room. Lets say you have a lot of soft curves, textures and organic forms in your space, introducing a harsh, flat and strongly geometric piece of art might create too much tension, so we might advise a piece with smoother lines to soften the balance. Don’t get me wrong, juxtaposition and tension are important in interior spaces to keep them interesting - but you don’t want it to be too much as this is your home after all - not an art gallery or immersive art experience. 

Organic forms in this sculpture mirror the organic forms in the marble, within an overall linear interior.

---

4. Style

​I try to encourage my clients to have an eclectic collection of art. From Photography, to oil paintings and sculpture, to woven textiles and even ceramic wall hangings. Don’t just think of a paintings as the only form of art. Anything that fulfils the above criteria can be considered an art piece.  We have a 6m Japanese silk obi (the belt worn around a kimono) hung on one of our staircase walls which really creates a unique talking point, but also shows off it's beautiful craftsmanship and our love of travel. We feel it is important that the pieces of art displayed in your home reflect something about you. Be it where you are from, something about your family, your favourite place or even you’re an ambition of yours. The art within our homes can be an extension of our personal expression so do not limit yourself. 

Collection of photography, sculpture, sketches and litographs.

---

5. Budget
​Most people aspire to have a home filled with curated pieces of art from travels and galleries. But the biggest factor is usually budget. Whilst with deeper pockets, you may be able to invest further in art, there is no reason why someone with a more modest budget cannot create a beautiful collection. I always suggest visiting art fairs, and antique stalls as sometimes very unique pieces can be found here. I would also recommend doing some research into local arts schools, as they invariably have yearly art shows where you might be able to nab yourself a one of a kind piece. 

Did you find this useful? We can send you our handy guide for future reference direct to your email. Just hit the button below.