How to Choose Art like an Interior Designer
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of buying an artwork you love, but finding that perfect piece can be difficult. At Bluethumb, we believe buying art should be easy and enjoyable, even if there’s time pressure or you’re in the middle of a stressful move. Our Head of Art Advisory and in-house Interior Designer, Alexandra, has years of experience working with homeowners and designers, meeting tight deadlines, and bringing complex briefs to life. Her portfolio of happy clients speaks volumes (and you could be next, as our art advisory service comes at no cost)!
With Alexandra’s expertise, selecting art for any space becomes a breeze. Embrace these five expert tips and elevate your space to designer status!
Interior Design Rule 1: Use Your Space Wisely
“This is probably the first and foremost step to finding that ideal artwork for your home,” Alexandra highlights. “When a company or client comes to us with a brief, knowing the size of the space, the decor and furniture allows us to start thinking about what scale we’re looking at.” For example, consider if a large painting will cramp up your space. Would a small A5-sized print get lost in the breadth of a large wall? There is a place for every piece and a piece for every place.
“Knowing the size of the space you’re working with also feeds into all the other decisions you make with the artwork, such as color and style.” Once you’ve decided on the artwork, the importance of correctly hanging art cannot be overstated.
Art by Katie Wyatt is displayed in the entryway of a residential property, complementing the wooden accents.
Interior Design Rule 2: Be Subtle When Matching Colors
“People often go in choosing art thinking that the room’s dominant color needs to match the dominant color of the artwork,” Alexandra says. “A tip from the pros is that it’s much better to complement hints of colors in a piece of art with the space.” For instance, if your decor uses a lot of pastel pinks, choosing an abstract with a dash of pinky hues will be just enough to encourage a sense of cohesion in the space.
“Another effective way of choosing a color palette for a piece is by contrasting tones with the room’s decor. If your furniture is grey, choose a bright or bold hue that will pop against your decor instead of just layering greys.”
A subtle touch of olive in this Hayley Kruger masterpiece works beautifully with the furnishings in this room.
Interior Design Rule 3: Use Series and Cohesive Groups
Why stop at one artwork? Having a series of art throughout a space or creating a gallery wall can deliver impact and give a polished, professional look, even in more restricted areas. “A recent project we took on included corridors throughout an aged care facility. A series is a perfect solution to the size issue in these areas, which have a lot of length and not a great deal of width. There are plenty of ways to create a common theme between the artworks, too – we’ve seen gallery walls featuring work from the same artist, similar size works, similar subject matter, or the same art style tying the series together.”
Two of Emma Whitelaw’s prints pair perfectly with the chosen decor in this Airbnb.
Interior Design Rule 4: Nurture the Personality of a Space
Think about what you’ll be using this space for, and take the opportunity to set the tone of a room with the art you choose. Creating cohesion between your art and home is key to finding that ideal artwork. A peaceful abstract, for instance, can promote serenity throughout a central living room. Similarly, watercolor paintings are more likely to soften a space, whereas oil paintings with thick textures can energize the atmosphere in a room.
“Both residential and commercial projects I’ve worked on have been centered on the energy the client needs in that space,” Alexandra explains. “How can we nurture the personality of that room? That’s the question we always need to consider. For instance, if we’re looking at art for a client’s kitchen, a warm-toned still-life of fruit is a perfect match. If it’s an office space, opt for energizing cityscapes or calming beach scenery.”
A vibrant Indigenous painting adds energy to this office’s meeting booth.
How about letting your location lead your decision? Alexandra says. “A recent example of this was a large-scale project in Sydney, Australia. We started by looking at iconic scenes of Sydney and work by Sydney-based artists, then gradually spread out to neighboring areas. Choosing artwork influenced by location is an approach taken by residential and commercial clients since it’s such a fruitful way of reminding people of their unique place.”
Interior Design Rule 5: Get that Custom Look!
How often do we see things that are almost perfect but missing one small detail? Maybe the size isn’t right, or the color isn’t quite what we’re looking for. On Bluethumb, you can get that perfect artwork commissioned. “There’s a lot of misconceptions about getting a piece commissioned, and many see commissions as a daunting, perhaps expensive way to buy art,” Alexandra explains. “Don’t let these thoughts stop you–Bluethumb arranges commissions at no extra charge! So, there’s no reason why you can’t have that dream piece!”
Feeling inspired but don’t know where to start? Check out Alexandra’s picks below!
https://bluethumbart.com/curations/interior-designer-s-picks-18-april-24
