Selecting Artwork For Your Home

Choosing artwork for your home can be an exciting adventure and a source of enjoyment for years to come. The artwork in your home says a lot about you. It tells whether you prefer modern or classic, colors or monochrome and what design aesthetic appeals to you. That's why it's important to choose the right artwork for your home. Read on for ideas on how to find that perfect artwork that will compliment your home decor.

Look at as much artwork as possible before you make your selection.
In addition to museums and for-profit galleries, check out local outdoor exhibitions, co-op and non-profit galleries, and art in public spaces such as banks, restaurants and libraries. The internet is another great way to find a large variety of fine art available worldwide. One advantage of using the internet is that you can search for the specific kind of art you are interested in, whether it's photography, impressionism, bronze sculpture, or abstract painting. Choosing artwork for your home is a big step and you want get a good idea of what direction you want to take with the artwork.

Purchase art online.
Purchasing paintings over the Internet lets you avoid the snooty salesperson telling you what you should like and allows you to look at things leisurely with no sales pressure. Know that you can spend anywhere from $20 (for a poster) to $2,000 (for a painting) for art purchased over the Internet. Many specialized Web sites allow consumers to do searches within a specific price range. Always view art on the Internet with the highest-resolution monitor you can. Also be sure to view art on the Internet in its largest possible size. When using the internet to choose artwork for your home you are able to take all the time you want to search for the perfect artwork.

Look at whatever information the artist provides about him or herself, and the painting.
Often times artists will put a pamphlet or a note card with their paintings, telling the story of its creation, and any events that inspired it. Sometimes you will find moving stories that help you understand the painting better. To establish a good art collection, you should know as much as you can about the history of the painting, and about the artist who made it. Research the biography of an artist. Chances are if you like one of his or her pieces, you'll like another. Choosing several pieces of artwork for your home from the same artist will give your home a cohesive feel as guests travel from room to room.

Hang correctly.
As a rule, paintings should be hung so that the center of the painting is at eye level. Sculpture may sit on the floor, a table, or pedestal. Rules should be considered guidelines only, however, so feel free to experiment. One collector hung an acrylic painting on her bedroom ceiling so she could better view it while lying down. Choosing the right artwork for your home is only part of the process, hanging and displaying the artwork properly is essential.

Select artwork by size to fit a particular space.
Art that is too large will overwhelm and art that is too small will be lost and look out of proportion. The bolder the art, the more room it needs to breathe. Measure the space you want to hang the art and leave enough "white space" so that the painting will not feel crowded. Remember when choosing artwork for your home, you want the artwork and your home decor to work together.

Choose artwork that harmonizes with the color of your room.
When selecting a painting to match color, select one or two of the boldest colors in your room and look for art that has those colors in it. You're not looking for an exact match here. Picking up one or two of the same colors will send a message that the painting belongs in this environment. Choose artwork that compliments the colors in your home, but don't try to match the colors or the artwork you choose for your home won't stand out enough to be noticed.