How to transform your home with art

'It's what speaks to you': Displaying paintings, prints, textiles and sculptures can all help create a fresh living space for the new year — and here's how, according to experts.

January is a popular time of year to refresh our priorities – and perhaps our surroundings too, creating a new mood for the new year. New artwork can transform a living space or spark future interests, intentions, or desires for new goals. Even repurposing our existing paintings, prints, and photographs can make a home come alive and feel like a new beginning.

Imaginatively selected and displayed art can both evoke cherished memories and promote a sense of well-being, and can change the overall mood of a space. For example, abstract art evokes emotions in a non-literal, suggestive way—a large painting or print featuring loose, expressionistic markings can give a home a romantic, free-spirited feel while also Bringing a more angular, graphic feel to a home. The style gives the space a modern, urban feel.

Buying and displaying art isn't just for homeowners, either. In fact, it’s a great way to make your rental feel more personal without having to redecorate, and your photos can continue to be used while you redecorate. It's this flexibility that makes art such a useful element in home decor—art pieces can be arranged and then reconfigured to change the character of a room. “A piece doesn’t have to sit in one place forever,” says founder Katherine Kittoe. kito contemporaryan online and brick-and-mortar art gallery and art consulting firm dedicated to promoting emerging and established artists. “Rehanging an artwork every few years – similar in principle to the rehanging of a large public gallery, although obviously on a smaller scale – can be hugely rewarding and refreshing.”

However, this raises a practical but important question: how to repair a wall that is dented by the holes left after hanging. “Pinky nails are your best friend—it's easy to patch them up with putty when you move,” says founder Cathy Glazer. clever walla curated website for art buyers in the UK and US. “Lightweight pieces can be hung with thin nails and hooks from a basic picture hanging kit. Most standard easels can hold up to 30 pounds. It's easier to lean the art against a wall shelf or stack of books, on a mantel or console , for a very casual look.”

Of course, when art is added to a home, it must coexist with the furniture and household items that have accumulated over time. However, it doesn’t have to compete for attention with existing elements or visually get lost in them – it can be cleverly displayed next to homewares that share similar qualities, such as echoing a bold colorful pattern in a rug or the sensual curves of a ceramic. It can be displayed alongside ephemeral things – from postcards to family snapshots – creating a beautiful juxtaposition.

Sophie Goldhill, co-founder of Liddicoat & Goldhill and its interior design division, says wall art can balance the bulky, imposing look of furniture that occupies a fixed position, such as a sofa. hector interior design: “A striking painting can serve as a visual focal point paired with sofas and tables, and can offset the weight of larger pieces that might otherwise take up the entire space,” she told the BBC.

Goldhill adds that introducing new artwork into a room can make the space more cohesive. “Art provides the opportunity to connect different design elements within a space, such as contrasting materials or colors, ensuring it doesn’t feel disjointed. Carefully chosen artwork can reflect or complement tones of fabric or wood, tying the design of a room together. “

The selection of available art can make buying and displaying art fun and convenient. Set of coasters and placemats – created with images from a British photographer Martin Parr And by art platform base ——is a good example. These food-themed creations feature kitsch close-up photos of cocktails filled with maraschino cherries, ice cream or tea in traditional cups and saucers.

Food is also a major theme in the British artist's work selena snowtheir joyful creations depict mouth-watering delicacies from around the world – from colorful sushi to a humble full English breakfast. Snow has an eclectic collection of art and personal memorabilia, including paintings and prints by her late father, Peter Snowan artist and theater designer, and the countless posters, textiles, objects and artefacts she acquired during her travels. The pieces are displayed at her home in the New Forest, Hampshire, alongside her own artwork, against a neutral backdrop of gray and white walls.

The buttercup yellow fireplace in Snow's living room influenced the choice of items displayed on the mantel and the art on the wall above. The mantelpiece is flanked by a Balinese theater mask representing the head of a devil and a bust by artist Corin Johnson that is reminiscent of Marlene Dietrich, both of whom are of similar height . An abstract painting hangs above, with a pattern of yellow spots that echo the color of the fireplace. “I love the way the bust and mask balance each other and frame the painting,” Snow told the BBC.

But Snow doesn't see her object compositions as simple color palettes. “I don't want the parts to blend together so that they lose their individual personalities, but so that they enhance each other. I like to tie the colors together, but not overtly. I have a sculpture of a violinist standing on On the sulfur-yellow table, a black graphic detail from a painting sits above it.”

She also paired it with very different pieces that had the same theme. Snow's bedroom features a wooden headboard carved with flower shapes carved by her late husband, the sculptor Richard Austin. Above is a painting of flowers.

Snow placed postcard-sized reproductions of paintings into inexpensive frames to enhance their texture and make them stand out. But for original artwork, she recommends investing in professional framing services to better preserve them.

Roberto EkholmA London-based artist, curator and art consultant who holds art exhibitions in his home makes a similar point: “Take care of the medium carefully. Don't let direct sunlight hit a framed painting. You may have to install UV window film on the brighter areas of the glass.”

Ekholm also noted that while sculpture may be associated by many with monumental works in galleries, it also has a place in the home. “Using just a table, plinth or floor space to display sculpture can be limiting,” he says. “At home, I like to place my stuff on affordable free-floating shelves of varying heights and sizes, which create a fun display around the home.”

While Snow and Ekholm's art collections grew organically with the help of long-standing connections to the art world, many build their own art collections from scratch. So what criteria should you follow when buying your first original piece of art? “Visit art shows and auctions to explore what kind of art resonates with you,” Kitto advises. She considers London Art Fair (later this month), Affordable Art Fair and UK Art Fair to be great places in the UK for sourcing art, art trails and open studio events.

Kittoe also recommends taking advantage of “try before you buy” services: “Many galleries allow you to view the work in your own space before committing to a purchase. This can be useful as a home is very different from a brightly lit gallery, and the arrangement can Allow yourself to see the pieces at different times of the day and try them in different parts of the house. When hanging multiple photos together, place them on the floor first and then place them in a fixed location on the wall. to unleash potential configurations.”

Finally, choose what works for you. As Cathy Glazer says, “Whether it's travel posters, collages, or flea market finds, your collection should reflect what resonates with you. But if you're not sure where to start, It helps you stick to a theme, such as choosing a set of art pieces which can be intimidating, but it’s not about right or wrong, it’s about what works for you.”