Your home is a huge part of your life, it is probably the biggest investment you will ever make. It is also a place where you can be yourself, enjoy life, feel safe and secure, relax, bring up a family and entertain friends. In some cases, it is also a workspace. In other words, your home is an extension of your personality and lifestyle.
Why are we telling you this?
In simple terms, your home is central to your life! It requires careful consideration when deciding how you want the space to work for you. It is important to understand the different elements that when combined, will convey your personality and enhance your everyday experience. One such element is the colour you choose for your interior design and decorative items. The colour palette can dramatically affect your mood, well-being and even your levels of productivity, the same applies to the artwork.
Why are we telling you this?
In simple terms, your home is central to your life! It requires careful consideration when deciding how you want the space to work for you. It is important to understand the different elements that when combined, will convey your personality and enhance your everyday experience. One such element is the colour you choose for your interior design and decorative items. The colour palette can dramatically affect your mood, well-being and even your levels of productivity, the same applies to the artwork.
So how do you choose the right artwork?
Choosing the style and piece of artwork for each room can be a daunting task. There are many mass-produced options that are quick, easy and cheap to install, from impressionist prints to the ubiquitous word art ( please no more “Live, Laugh, Love”!) But have you thought about choosing a piece of bespoke artwork that would provide a point of interest to the room and could last for generations?
Not comfortable visiting a gallery?
If you are one of the many people who would be interested in purchasing original pieces of art but are not keen on visiting galleries due to lack of experience or knowledge, we’ll show that good quality original artwork can be accessible to anyone. We’ll also give you some advice on how to choose the right pieces for your space.
Start with the art
If creating an interior design scheme from scratch, you can build your design around a specific piece of art. Art provokes a dramatic response and can set the tone for any room. Contrary to popular belief, choosing a painting, sculpture or even a print, doesn’t need to be an after-thought to fill a space on the wall. If you consider how the art will integrate into the scheme from the get-go it can provide an instant focal point and also inform your colour palette and styling.
Commissioning art
If you don’t fancy anything mass-produced or you don’t have a favourite piece or collection, maybe you should consider commissioning a bespoke painting? Which leads us to the question of where to source good quality original art. Studio 2 Art & Design located in Puerto Banús (Marbella) offers a wide range of artwork to both creative industry and private clients. Whether you have a penchant for abstract paintings, sculptures or decorative items, the in-house artists can offer advice and discuss your requirements. What’s more, there is an open invitation to pop into the workshop to view the gallery or have a chat over a cup of coffee.
Get the right size and scale
To make sure your art delivers the right impression, make sure you are choosing a piece that is the right scale and proportion to the wall space. If it is on the small size, it will look lost and insignificant, giving the room an unfinished look. Similarly, if you have invested in an oversized modern masterpiece, you don’t want to shoehorn it into a challenging space where it needs to compete with furniture, windows or other artworks. In general, vertical pieces tend to work better on similar shaped walls or between windows and small spaces such as a powder room. Whereas, the horizontal shapes are perfect for above a sofa or bed.
Every space has its own personality
Consider who will use the room and for what purpose, as this will immediately suggest the tone of the space, which in turn will help you choose the type of art. Abstract paintings are often featured in a living, dining or sitting room, as they provide a sense of calm. Water colour paintings are delicate and soothing, where as a dramatic oil painting with lots of texture can bring energy into a room. Similarly, if you are decorating an office, a sense of calm and order would be perfect, which could be anything from a busy city scape reflecting organisation and industry or a relaxing seascape.
Lighting
When talking art and design, lighting plays a crucial role. This is also true when deciding where to hang your art. If you position it by a window in direct sunlight there is a danger that it will fade unless it is framed in UV acrylic plexiglass. Conversely, you want to be able to clearly see the art, so there must be a modicum of natural light or a clever lighting solution. An interior designer would be able to advise you about lighting options.
Match colour carefully
When matching colour palettes less really is more. Rather than going all gung-ho on colour matching your art with the rest of the room, it is better to pick out highlights that can be used in other elements of the décor. So, if you have abstract painting with splashes of blue, you could use just enough blue elements in the furnishings to bring the entire room together. Alternatively, you could go completely the opposite way and use contrasting colour palettes; if your furniture and upholstery is pale and muted, you could go for bright contrasting colours in your art that will really pop when you walk into the room.
Recognising the power of art
All types of artworks offer the opportunity to express our individually and personal taste (or your clients’), it can elevate a minimalist room, add the finishing touch to a seemingly chaotic maximalist space and evoke strong memories and emotions. If you allow yourself to understand its power, you’ll be hooked and will enjoy visiting galleries, commissioning pieces or simply sitting back and enjoying the works you have chosen.
If you would like information about the art workshops and other creative services offered by the Studio 2 Art & Design team, visit the website www.studio2artdesign.com or get in touch at welcome@studio2artdesign.com.