Art brings a home’s character and personality to life. Working with colors, textures and patterns, interior designers create different moods and styles for a home. Bringing in the work of artists, they can combine multiple elements to highlight and accentuate a client’s personal taste in their daily life. At the same time, designers can show their clients how the right pieces will work together with furniture, fixtures and room decor.
While designers look for art when laying out a room or house, they may not have the opportunity to work directly with an artist or curate a client’s collection. At PROJECT AZ, art is selected that supports new talent and young brands, in addition to working with established artists. At the same time, we welcome the opportunity to curate art around the style or mood of a home. The following ideas are a few things to consider when selecting art, each an exploration into selecting the right piece for your style. The Chelsea Project incorporates the owner’s existing art and collectibles.
Working with an Existing Palette
When selecting art and decor for a home, first look at what colors, textures and layouts already exist in a room. From the walls, floor and ceiling to the furniture and lighting in place, consider how art contrasts or complements the architectural features of a building, or the furniture that a client already has.
At the same time, new pieces of art may need to work in combination with a client’s existing collection. You can use this as an opportunity to draw inspiration from what’s existing and show how old and new elements can work together. Remember that when pieces, textures or colors are too closely aligned, they can become lost within a room or space.
When working with existing elements, it helps to take measurements and photographs to plan out where everything will go. From there you can organize floor places, furniture placement and paint colors. When interior designers choose the right art for a room, it can provide the perfect framework to plan the furnishings in that room. Madison Square Park Tower Living Room Interior, Artwork from the Departure series by Alex Katz
Consider a Local Artist
Between coordinating furniture, fabrics, and colors, designers should also consider selecting work by a local artist. Not only can you start to know the story behind an artist and their work, but there’s also the possibility to commission an artist to create a bespoke piece. Designers can begin to build relationships with artists, and in turn, better help their clients select the right pieces for their home.
If you’re looking to commission a piece, consider the artist’s existing style and how that may fit into your interior design approach. There are many different ways to find inspiration, from Etsy and Pinterest to searching for independent artists on Instagram. Take some time to look and get a sense of their work. Also, remember that you can also create an entire room or interior design around one piece of art. New York City Pied-à-terre Living Room, artwork commissioned by artist Matthew Sakuta
Understand Your Space Planning
An art collection can help tell a client’s unique perspective and story throughout their home in a really beautiful way. When creating an interior design, it’s important to have a clear understanding of space planning and how everything will be organized in a home. Take stock of how much art there will be, including the number of pieces, their size, and where they will be located. There are many different layouts to choose from depending on the space planning approach, from creating a triptych of three related works to a single, large statement piece.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match different scales or sizes of art. There are many templates that can help when figuring out how to arrange potential artwork, whether you’re simply aligning a series of edges or grouping small paintings and photographs together.
Remember that art needs to be seen; give space to stand back and look at it. In space planning, it helps to think in groups and how a grouping of art may work throughout a home or as a gallery wall and showcase. Brass sculptures by Tom Corbin, a Lindsey Adelman chandelier and chairs by Gabriel Scott in the NoMad Manhattan Apartment
Embrace Mood and Lighting
When thinking about art and what to select, ask what activities will take place in a room or space. This usually begins to establish a mood, or how a client will feel in their home. You will often respond to existing conditions, whether it’s light or views. You may also want to create a specific feeling that the room evokes, like a sense of calm. Consider this when positioning each piece of art.
To embrace lighting and create a mood, also look to color theory. Lively, energetic or bright works of art may be more appropriate for spaces where there is more activity. Art can be both a great pop of color or a complement to the mood you’ve already created.
At PROJECT AZ, interiors are full of small discoveries rooted in a love for finding unique art and products that haven’t been mass-produced or overused. If you’re looking to redesign your home and want help selecting the right art pieces or curating an existing home collection, please reach out to us today.
