Curating artwork for your home

Welcome! Today’s post is all about how to make your home cohesive when you and your spouse have different style preferences. Whether you’re building a new home or putting in the finishing styling touches, it’s hard to navigate how to design your home when you have a spouse with different tastes.

We can design for any cherished and conflicting styles by creating clear and concise Mood Boards for all of our clients. These boards function to both express what your vision is and keep you on a clear path of your style of home. Most people can’t verbally communicate what they’re drawn to or don’t understand what design terms actually mean, which is why this visual representation and Mood Board is so critical. 

If you set out to create your own Mood Board, you can go about it virtually, physically with papers or magazines, or on Pinterest boards. You just need to see and show what you like and don’t like. Go on dates with your spouse and pick out your favorite paint colors, finishes and pieces- it makes for a really fun date night! Don’t assume that your spouse doesn’t care about your preferences. Instead, ask their opinion and try to find common ground.

During the compromising, remember that you should never hate anything in your home! You might not have chosen a specific item, but as long as you can compromise then you’ll have a happy home. Passion is infectious, especially in your spouse so ask them and yourself why they love or hate something in a space so you can understand the why. New styles are often a reaction to a different style and as long as you know the specifics of what inspires you and your spouse, you both can find pieces of certain styles of design to incorporate into your home in order to compromise.

Consider who is using which rooms; if your spouse is going to primarily use the office, let them design the office. If your family loves to cook together, involve your family in the process. Prioritize your spaces- the others might not be the hill for you to die on. Pay attention to the little things- the details might be really important to them and make them feel wildly involved. No couples come to us with the exact same taste so be ready to make some adjustments. Generally speaking, men typically like simple and contemporary designs, women want cozy and lived-in. There’s lots of life experience that comes into play when picking selections and designing your home.

All in all, pay attention to the way you and your spouse react to pieces and visuals when designing your home. That’ll tell you all you need to know.

How to Curate Artwork for Your Home:

We are so excited for today’s post, talking all about how to select, mix, and display art in your home! Art is an ice breaker and conversation starter. It is a concentration of your design style, telling the story of your home and enhancing a mood better than any other design element. These are just a few reasons why we always advocate for setting aside some money in the budget for artwork.

For a home art collection, our number one piece of advice is to mix and match different mediums (ie: photography, oil painting, abstract piece, etc.)! Without variety, the design can feel flat unfinished, lessening the value and overall intrigue. We recommend a mix of graphic, painting, texture/tactile, sculpture, and photography. The most balanced and intriguing homes are the ones where all mediums live together in the same space.

Art is the most challenging layer of design because most people don’t understand the “art” of art, or even what they like. While they may love an item in their home, they may not be drawn to it as a standalone item, making it difficult to know which items to incorporate and purchase. That being said, it is always best to start by figuring out what YOU like. You can do this by going to museums, galleries, and art shows to determine what moves you. You can also spend time on Pinterest exploring and checking out what other designers/people have used in homes of your style. 

One thing that we have found is that people either love or don’t love figures and animals in their art. We highly recommend being open to it and finding new ways to incorporate these pieces. They can be storytellers in your home! Art with figures can also ease loneliness (extroverts especially love to have company in any form). Figures are very “designer” at the moment, but also throughout time. Even if you don’t like portraiture, find a subject you like so your pieces have a soul.

Just like with rugs, scale is everything with art! Trust us when we say that you’re going to want to go bigger than you think. A piece too small for a wall will feel disproportionate and random. Having something soft on a vertical wall is so interesting and provides a softness similar to drapes, rugs, and blankets. Mixing up pieces with different matting and frames is another way to play with art scale. That being said, the piece’s frames will make or break a piece, so don’t go cheap with your frames. Frames can be a piece of artwork themselves. There’s something special about beautifully crafted works to frame your impactful pieces. Frames are also an opportunity to mix up styles. For example, pairing ornate and tailored frames within a gallery wall or room will incorporate added appeal and intrigue.

Photography is another opportunity to add a vibe to your house. Not only can it add a lifestyle element, but it can also transport a room. 

Art tells your story, so use it to remember a place or moment in time. Look for unique pieces while you’re traveling! Consider buying from a street artist. Not only will that piece of art always take you back to that place, but it could also be a bargain! The right vintage art can also be special and soulful. There’s something to be said for art that has been passed down through the generations. Not all of your pieces need to be original, but the ones that are will likely mean more to you. Just remember, the best way to spruce up and use your vintage piece in the right way is by adding a new and beautiful frame! 

Make your art work in the space.

• You can mix a large matte sculpture on a pedestal, a rug on a wall, and an oil still life and it all pulls together to create intrigue and liveliness.
• Putting graphic art in an otherwise formal room can tone it down (and visa versa). It’s often the contrast and juxtaposition that makes a room feel unique and intentional. 
• Don’t be afraid to emphasize and enjoy the little spaces in your home. Adding art pieces above range in the kitchen or in small powder rooms makes the space feel polished, interesting and beautifully finished.

Expose yourself to all types of art, but remember that the mix is where the magic happens! Photography doesn’t have to go with photography (in fact, it is best paired with pieces that are NOT photography). The same thing can be said about abstracts. The combination is where the style awakens and shines. Curating art is all about selecting with discernment, and ultimately, selecting what you LOVE! 

Pay attention to the art and mediums that pull your attention and then spend time seeking out those pieces in your travels, research, and scrolling.