10 Ways to Add Abstract Art to your Home
We’re all spending a lot more time at home these days and so living in an environment that makes us happy has never been more important. Art can transform a room - making a house into a home and adding style and personality to your space.
If you want to incorporate more art into your home but don’t know where to start, let these ideas inspire you.
As a former art advisor with Blue Tangerine Art — a boutique art consulting firm which I founded in San Francisco and ran for seven years — I helped collectors, architects and interior designers source and select beautiful artwork for their homes and offices. It was my dream job (before I knew I was an artist!) and I loved getting to know my clients and introducing them to sculpture, paintings and photography that made their hearts sing.
Below are 10 ideas of to inspire you to add original abstract art and limited edition prints to add wow factor and style to your space. I’ve focused on abstract art because that’s what I love - and love painting - and because it’s perhaps the least understood of all the art genres.
1. Art to uplift the spirit
Don’t afraid to be playful and bold. The addition of these two abstract paintings above this rather fabulous pink velvet sofa creates a happy and inviting space in which to relax.
Image: Hoops, left and Links, right, both oil on canvas by Trudy Montgomery. With thanks to Josie Eastwood.
2. scale & influence
Adding a large abstract painting gives a focal point to an expansive open-plan space and ‘holds’ the room in a way that multiple smaller pieces couldn’t.
Image: Esplanade, oil on canvas, 72” x 96” / 182 x 243 cm
3. Change your wall colour
Sometimes an artwork is best displayed on a contrasting wall colour. This abstract painting really sings in this room set with dark grey walls.
Image: Strands of Wisdom - Harmony, oil on canvas, 39 x 35.5 in / 100 x 90 cm
4. Art Groupies
Sometimes more is more. Hanging multiple artworks framed the same way such as these abstract prints is an inexpensive yet effective way to inject joy into a hallway or entrance - transforming a corridor into an inviting space that encourages the viewer to stop and reflect.
Image: limited edition prints from left to right: Meditation VIII, Meditation VI and Meditation VII
5. Make a statement
This large (67 x 59 in / 170 x 150cm) painting, Threshold, adds drama to the upstairs landing of this Georgian manor house in England.
With thanks to Alexander Thomas Lifestyle and Cricket Fine Art.
6. Original Art in a bedroom
Interior designers will tell you to design around a rug or artwork, which cue the colour scheme. Original paintings with texture add depth and a personal touch to an intimate space such as this master bedroom of a holiday cottage in Cornwall.
Sea Wall is framed in a thin trench frame with moon gold for a touch of luxury and sophistication.
7. Balance with Pairs
A pair of complementary artworks provides balance and sophistication to this traditional dining room in Newport Beach, California.
8. Staircase? GO big!
Hanging artwork in awkward and out of reach spaces such as a staircase isn’t the easiest, which is why our stairwell was empty for over a year! But with a ladder, a plank of wood and a fearlessness of heights, it can be done.
Don’t be afraid to choose large scale artwork to transform a big empty space into a warm and happy place. You’ll look at it every day and once it’s up you’ll wonder how you ever lived with an empty wall.
9. Art in the kitchen?
The heart of the home, the kitchen is where everyone gathers. There’s a simple rule for adding art to kitchens (and bathrooms too, for that matter): remember to ask “What’s the media and surface finish?” Moisture and steam won’t be kind to works on paper behind glass so opt for original paintings in encaustic (a kind of wax) or in oil or acrylic paints that have been properly sealed and varnished.
10. order it your way
Commissioning a painting to fit your space is also an option from a favourite artist if you can’t find what you’re looking for ‘off the shelf’. But there are risks involved as the artistic process doesn’t always deliver guarantees! As an art consultant I helped collectors commission paintings from other artists and I have also made paintings on commission. Get in touch if you’d like to know more about how to commission a painting.
Where would you hang your abstract art? I’d love to help you choose the perfect painting or print for your home to make your heart sing. Simply email me a photo of your room with wall dimensions and any details that are important to you, and I’ll send you ideas for artworks in your budget to transform your space.
If you’ve enjoyed this article and would like to download this information as a PDF, please click here to get the Free Guide to Hanging Abstract Art in Your Home. I’d love to know if it inspires you — so feel free to send me your ideas and questions and photos of art in your home!
