Artwork for your walls...

As a former art major in college, I am completely opinionated when it comes to the subject of art in the home. I have a real hard time purchasing artwork with the sole purpose of “matching” the room. Art should be personal and meaningful to the client. If you are not emotionally involved with a piece of art, it has no place on your walls! I don’t care where you find it or if it is considered “serious” art, it has to speak to you on some personal level.

When clients are doing a space, we look to see if what they already own will work. If something new is needed, I encourage them to think “locally” and support the artists in the community whose work interests them. There are art galleries, art and craft fairs, art leagues that have shows and events, and, even restaurants that showcase art work. It makes local work easy to find.

Today there are many options for wall décor. We have used mirrors, game boards, photographs, old signs, iron pieces, wall vases, shadowboxes, baskets, tapestries, textiles, architectural salvage, sports equipment, pressed tin, dried botanicals, children’s artwork, plates, platters, maps, and matchbooks. We have framed keys, doorknobs, letters, baby clothes, ballet shoes, spoons, antique certificates, pages from books, pages from calendars, mementos from trips, playbills from theaters, sports memorabilia, movie theater posters, and nautical items. There are so many options that the sky is the limit. I have even coached clients in creating their own art piece and have hung several pieces of art created by the client’s children. I encourage you to leave the commercial retail print off your shopping list when there are so many other options for the walls in your home. Have fun with your choices, be bold, shop original, create your own and the walls of your home will have a personality as unique as your own!