Art is a supremely powerful thing, and something that many of us sadly feel is beyond us. Around three quarters of us engage with the arts, but a high percentage of us still find it difficult to get comfortable in a world of paintings and critical theory.
Art, though, is simpler than the airs and graces of the nearest for-profit gallery. Art is expression, impression, feeling and want; something that can empower and bring joy, particularly if you invite it into your home. What are some of the key reasons for which you should put time, effort and expenses towards ‘artening up your own home?
Personal Expression
Outside of any deep and considered reasons for hanging particular pieces upon on a given wall, there is a strong and pragmatic reason for which you should consider adding art to your living spaces: quite simply, to make them yours. Moving into a new home, especially when it comes to blank canvases like new build houses, is a golden opportunity for you to stake your claim to your spaces, by giving them the individual touches that make them uniquely yours.
Naturally, your decoration and furniture choices will have a powerful effect here, but artwork can add a truly special fingerprint to a room. Pieces that appeal to you on a basic aesthetic level could be just the accentuating factor you need to elevate your surroundings.
Emotional Impact
Visual art, of course, doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Good art interpolates history and context, creating lenses through which you can see a variety of things – or, indeed, access a variety of feelings. Art can elicit powerful emotions as a result of its form and depth, even if you aren’t the most well-versed art critic in the room. You needn’t look much further than the works of Rothko to find proof; something as seemingly simple as a block of colour on a canvas can bring the most intense feelings of anger, pain, fear, aggression.
Watercolours, meanwhile, are generally softer on account of their history, form and medium; Monet and his impressionist ilk have the propensity to bring out a dream-like, hazy representation of real and still life, as if memories tinged with feeling. These profound effects could instil some emotional power into your home, actively when observed and passively as part of a curated space.
Introspection and Reflection
Art’s ability to act as a lens is crucial in other ways too, such as with respect to your own sense of self. On the surface level, art can be a highly inspirational thing to own and experience, whether giving you the impetus to try you own creative practice or giving you the strength to continue in other areas of your life. On a deeper level, art can ask you questions, and ultimately help you learn more about who you are and what you believe or value. Choosing to hang these questions on your wall is a powerful thing indeed.
Setting the tone of the room
Framing pictures and prints, hanging signs and displaying paintings on your walls has instant aesthetic impact, but it can also have a noticeable effect on the vibe of the room. You can use art and wall art to channel different trends and themes, but it also sets the tone of the space. From bright neon light installations to beautiful minimalist prints from Watercolor Botanicals, you can create ambience with carefully selected prints, posters, paintings, sculptures or galleries. Think about how you use each room and how you want to feel when you walk into the space or spend time in that specific part of the house. Do you want to create an uplifting, energetic zone for socialising and being creative or design a serene, soothing area where you can relax, decompress or embrace the tranquillity? Look for pieces that trigger the desired emotional response. It’s also important to consider your taste and personality. Your artwork and décor should reflect and celebrate your sense of style.
