Paralysed by the idea of choosing and buying wall art? 

There’s this idea that art needs to mean something. Art doesn’t need to mean anything more than your sofa does. Or anything more than a cushion does. You never hear people say that their dining table needs to speak to them. Or that they’ll know the right bedside table when they see it. The art is no more important than the curtains, the carpet, the paint or the coffee table.

On the flip side, there are homes with art on walls that just don’t work.

And so below I’m going to walk you through the steps you can take to find the perfect piece. It’s going to clear everything up.

 

1. STYLE COMES FIRST 
   
   What style is your home? Hampton with plenty of whites and blue pops, some greys and blacks? Or maybe you have an industrial style with exposed bricks? Or do you live in a restored 18th-century beauty? Assess the style of your space first. That’ll help you choose art for your home much more easily. Sometimes you might see art you love, but you’ll know in your hear that it won’t work with your style. So back away slowly 😉
   
   
2. DECIDE IF YOU WANT ART TO BE THE FOCAL POINT
   
   Your room should only have one focal point. So if you already have one, choose art that’s less imposing. If you don’t have a focal point yet (and the room feels a bit flat or boring) then you know you can choose art for your home that feels more visually striking. less imposing, by the way, doesn’t mean that the art has to be small. it just won’t be bright, or heavily patterned.
   
   
3. SIZE MATTERS
   
   - Art should span the entire width of your bed's headboard 
   
   

   - It should also run almost the full width of your sideboard or dining table

   - If it’s above an entry table, same rules: span almost the full length, but never over

   - If it’s in an area with no furniture below it, it should take up a large amount of that wall
   
   

4. ONE LARGE PIECE, OR TWO SMALLER ONES
   
   Should you buy one large piece of art or two smaller ones? It actually doesn’t matter, as long as the two artworks will still almost span the width of the headboard. Ensure you factor in that you’ll need 10 to 20cm of space between the two artworks when they’re hung though. It’s all about figuring out the size of the wall you need to fill and then filling it with something. That something can be one piece, two pieces, a four grid, and so on.
   
   
5. CANVAS OR FRAMED
   
   Most of the budget chains that sell canvas art unframed sell it this way because it’s so cheap to produce. And because of that, it can feel cheaper on your walls. Framed canvas art can look a bit more upmarket. Framed art behind a panel of glass can look the most high-end.
   
   
6. HUNT DOWN A PIECE YOU LOVE
   
   You should have a good idea of how to choose art for your home now. You’ve figured out your home’s style. You know if you want the art to be a focal point. You’ve got your sizing sorted. And you’re across the configuration. The last piece of the puzzle is to find art that ticks all of those boxes and is something you genuinely love. But don’t get stuck in the love mindset. You can like it. You don’t have to be falling head over heels for it. It’s really about how the room looks as a whole, and the art is one piece of that puzzle.
   
   

If you have any additional questions on how to buy art for your home, pop a comment below.