Why Does Art Influence Home Decor?
Art has within it many components of influence. Understanding how art can influence interior decor is powerful. Of the elements which hold impact with visual aesthetics the greatest that can be found is in its composition. There is also aspects such as subject matter and of course its style in era.
Composition holds elements which interior decorators will typically focus on. These are shape, color, texture, space, value, and form. Form is shape as a three dimensional element when applicable. If you are looking to focus on bringing art into your home decor it is understandable you do not wish to be an art student.
The key is having the ability to know what aspects are most important to bringing life to your home. Most who decorate a home themselves will focus on what we call subject and also its color. It is the first two parts within the art that anyone notices.
Art As A Visual Aesthetic In Decoration
Should decorations come first or art in a room? The answer is art always comes first. The rest of the room must flow with it. Why?
The composition of a work can literally transform a room. It can make it inviting or uncomfortable. It is important to keep in mind that art is a representation of something within life. This is still true within nonrepresentational or abstract art. Emotion, thought, and action are aspects which an artist places into these works.
It is a snapshot of these human elements which then is projected to the space around it. When selecting art one can make a mistake in purchasing just because one likes a piece. When placed in a home it can suddenly feel odd or out of place.
In this way art cannot be treated like home decor. Decorations have no depth as quality wall accents. Often they are void of emotion. When art is used for emotional therapy one can begin to realize how much a work can carry within it.
Where Do You Begin?
What do you want your space to say? What message do you wish to project? If you do not answer this question first then all else will go off track. Whatever you have designated the room for the art should speak to that purpose.
You can select a style you enjoy, a work that means something to you and appeals to your taste. Yet it should still relate to the purpose of the room. This can be a common mistake that is easily made.
Focus on subject more than color. Color can be played with as I will soon detail. Multi panel art can be an example for a great way to gain the best of multiple worlds.
Subject Matter And Color Influence On Decor
What is subject matter? Ask yourself what the art is about and what is represented in the art. That is the subject. If it is a landscape then this is the subject. There is a difference between subject and content, yet I am not trying to get you to a point of being an art expert. You get the idea.
The subject is what creates the message within the room. All other elements, the content, within the art aid this subject in projecting what the artist intended. Among those elements is color.
Color is the other obvious point of someones selection. This area is one to take a step back and make some consideration. Color is more than matching or accenting. If the piece you are wanting is to be a focal point for a room, what is the driving element in the room?
Art should never be selected for matching in color. It can work in contrast of color adding to the creation of more impact as a focal point just as well. While this is more of a factor in nonrepresentational art it can also be an influence in life like art as well.
Keep in mind that this color issue can also be impacted by accenting the wall on which the art hangs. If the work is the focal point then this will draw more attention to that portion of a room. It also allows the total composition of the work to reflect on that space.
What Does An Accent Wall Do?
If art can speak to a whole room, an accent color on a wall is like giving the art a microphone. Accent walls became popular with monochromatic works in the mid 1900’s due to this reason. The wall was considered to be a part of the artwork.
Too often accent walls are chosen carelessly. If you begin to to think of this wall as part of the artwork it changes everything. When a color of contrast is the primary color within a work the wall can act as a transition color.
Using concepts within art such as a triadic formula or tetradic selection in color will aid in this transition. Essentially the wall becomes the common ground between the room and the art.
What Makes Art Too Loud Or Subtle?
The value of the art impacts how loud or subtle it becomes. This is another hidden aspect one often cannot see until a work is within a space. The value speaks to how dark or light a work is. Wall art can be impacted by this but not as much as other arts.
Here sculptures are more prone to influence by value than wall art. The medium in which a sculpture is done can be a variable to take into consideration. It is much like walking into a jewelry store and seeing the beautiful gold in a case with optimum lighting.
Some mediums will be impacted based on how it is formulated or its origin. Wood for example can vary widely based upon species and how art is represented within the work. Pottery can be much the same way.
Due to the fact that sculptures command a three dimensional space their impact is exponential when of larger size. Keep the value of the work in mind when considering it for your home.
Size Matters
Ensure that the space which will house the artwork is accommodating for it. This is actually a tough one despite it being common sense. When in a store, gallery, or shopping online it can be really difficult to know how a work can impact that space.
While dimensionally it may fit, does it really fit? If you are wondering what I mean let me twist your brain. If the subject matter is subtle it may not add enough to the space. If the subject matter is bold it may be too overpowering. How large a piece is can dictate how much volume the piece speaks to a room.
The size of a work and its impact within a room are related due to a works subject and composition. It does not take long for one to realize that something more than a measuring tape is needed to account for knowing size. How much volume do you want to give that piece?
Should Style Of Art Match With Style Of Room?
Most often the answer will be yes. This should be known commonly yet I bring it up for another reason. If a home is more traditional for example and one likes modern art, how can this work? It can if it is done well.
There are times when art needs supporting actors within a space. Furnishings can play a role in this support role. While many do not always wish to get new furnishings it can also be a great excuse to go shopping.
Mixing styles is something to be done with care yet it can be accomplished successfully. No space is equal to another and what one adds to it can compliment art so that it flows seamlessly. This will allow you to explore alternate options within art rather than being stuck to one format.
What Balance Does The Art Have In The Room?
Within art there is a concept called balance. In its most basic explanation it refers to how the different parts of the art, its composition, relate to each other in size, color, and texture. It can be referred to in another way with the word proportions.
Is the proportions within the art balanced from left to right, and top to bottom? Is there a subject within the art where more focus is given to one figure or element? If more focus is given to a single element within the art then the balance shifts to that direction.
When placing art within a room it should also fit the balance of that space. In other words the art should not have an element which stands out from the rest of what surrounds it without purpose. While there are times that this is desired, generally speaking an even balance is preferred.
When does this become a problem? It relates back to the issue of size matters. Does it fit the space in a way that is relational to what you desire from it?
What Makes Art So Powerful?
Emotion makes it powerful. It is the key ingredient within any work. It is also the most lacking ingredient within general decoration. Not having art is like reading a book with no subject or context. It can look pretty but has no depth.
While not the same as art, family photos have this impact of emotion on a personal level. As the photos are of your family there are memories tied to them. There are emotions that come back from those memories.
Within art this same aspect is captured. The job of an artist is to capture this emotion or meaning while being unrelated to anyone as family. When eyes fall on the art it should stir something up for that someone that it means something to.
Within a home this is amplified to all that is within it. It sets the tone for not only aesthetics but also feeling and well being. Do not underestimate its importance and power.
Can Prints Or Posters Serve The Same As Art?
Fundamentally prints and posters can serve the same function when done well. Yet they are not the same. If framed nicely it becomes far more accommodating.
Original works will always have greater personal impact. Someone visiting your home may not be able to tell the difference. It comes down to what holds value to you and its impact within your life.
I have mentioned how art is used in emotional therapy. I know artists who compose their own works and display them for this purpose. In time it will change as new works come into their emotional expression.
Genuine art is much like this. There is a value that reaches beyond the image depicted and into the work itself. The composition as a whole including its medium, craftsmanship, and textures play a major role.
Within those components a reproduction simply is not the same. It may be more affordable than the alternative. At times with historic works of importance and great value a reproduction may be the only option we have. Yet when possible original works always hold far greater personal value.
When Is Art Good For Your Life?
Those who suffer from emotional issues can find great comfort in art. The ability for it to change a space in turn aids in helping ones moods and focus in thought process. This is why it is also used within therapy.
The desire in using art for a home is clearly to impact its space. The end result is how this then impacts you in your daily life. You should receive something from it. The things we surround ourselves with can impact us in similar ways like the people we surround ourselves with.
Art holds influence within its brush strokes and imagery. The impact can reach beyond you to those also within your family. It is far less about projecting wealth or using it as a talking piece. It should serve you daily.
Gaining this kind of appreciation is something that some are born with. Yet if anyone takes the time this same appreciation can be learned. It may hold different depths with different people but everyone can benefit from art in its use.