How to 'do' art at home
It is the ultimate finishing touch: how to choose it, how to hang it, and where to buy it.
Many conversations about art seem to get tangled up with talk of ‘provenance’, ‘collections’ and ‘curation’. To me it is much simpler. Art is whatever you want it to be. Whatever you look at and think is beautiful, arresting, intriguing or even just pretty. It is the ultimate finishing touch to any home, but we sometimes stumble over where to find it, how to hang it, and what indeed to choose… I’m going to help you with all three of these!
Art can be the punctuation points of your taste. The visual pauses and full stops around your home that tell something of your story. They are memories in 3-dimensions that allow glimpses into corners of your personality.
Art can also make you as happy as falling in love, so says professor Semir Zeki following a study at University College London.
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Pablo Picasso
As such, let’s underline that however you define it, art is essential, a pivotal part of the interior design toolbox, as important as furniture, colour, or plants. Capable of elevating any space, whether rented or owned, from mundane to marvellous. To surround yourself with the richness of creativity is to wrap yourself in wellbeing.
Falling in love with an artwork though is quite different to falling for a new dress or pair of shoes. Fashion ebbs and flows; inevitably our tastes change, whereas the connection to a piece of art is more visceral. You make a bond with it, that cannot often be easily explained. Some pieces just speak to something inside you.
Because of this, I believe the placement of artworks within your home should always be the final layer of your decorative journey. It is the emotional embroidery, if you will, on the characterful tapestry that is your abode.
Six suggestions for getting it right… plus where to buy from…
PS check out former ELLE and ELLE Deco editor Rachel Loos’ new book, Art at Home: An Accessible Guide to Collecting and Curating Art in Your Home, It’s filled with expert advice and loads of inspiring images.