Hey there and Happy July! We hope you are having a wonderful summer. Can you believe we are already half way through 2023? We certainly can’t. In this weeks blog, we are going to look at something that is super inspirational to designers – artwork.
One of the easiest ways to give your home some personality and edge is wall art. If something just feels “off” or missing” within your home, you are probably lacking wall decor. Without sufficient wall art, your walls are left plain and boring and makes your home feel somewhat empty. A lack of wall art may also give the impression to your guests that your home feels cold and inactive.
Wall art dates back to Medieval times, when the upper class community would display art on their walls to show the charm of their mansions and establish their wealth among guests. In today’s times, some people still see wall art as a sign of wealth, as they purchase pieces from expensive galleries or well-renowned artists. Depending on the artist and the purpose of the piece, some artwork can sell in the thousands, or even for millions.
Luckily for the rest of us, wall art has become much more attainable and budget-friendly since those medieval times when only the wealthy could afford art. In reality, we think everyone can and should purchase artwork for their homes – more often than not it defines your space and really can pull a whole room or project together. Now, let’s get into the nitty gritty – where and when you should use art, and where you can find or source your own wall eye candy.
Wall Art can TECHNICALLY be used as sparingly or as opulently as you’d like. We would recommend using wall art on no more than half the walls in the room. For example, if your room has four walls, we’d recommend putting art on no more than two walls, and even just one wall will probably suffice. Consider the wall space available and the arrangement of your room as well. If putting art on one wall, consider a larger sized piece, but if doing art on two walls, smaller-medium sized pieces work well.
Another tip is to always make your wall art slightly smaller than the furniture item underneath of it, if you have furniture up against that wall. For example, if you are putting some wall art above an 80” sofa, your wall art should be no longer than 70” long, and hung centered above the sofa. This also applies if you are using a set or trio of art – when hung up together, they should be shorter than whatever furniture is on that wall. If there’s no furniture on the wall, then feel free to use the scale of the wall as your determining factor for size and placement of art.
When it comes to finding art that speaks to you – just get out and explore some stores in Des Moines. Some great locations to check out in the Des Moines area are West Elm, Pottery Barn, She: Home & Gift, accents + interiors, and yours truly, Elizabeth Erin Designs. We have a wide variety of vendors which carry beautiful artwork that we can order and deliver for you. Just contact us for some artwork assistance.
If you are looking to support the artwork community in a more personal way, consider hiring an artist to commission paintings or pieces for your home. One of our personal favorite Des Moines artists is Molly Spain. She has curated beautiful pieces for us – a few of which were featured in last summers’ home show. Our owner, Jodi, also has a Molly Spain piece featured in her living room at home. Check out all of the photos below and check out more of her work here: http://www.mollyspain.com/
Hopefully this blog leaves you feeling inspired to find some new art for your home. As always, if you need further assistance or feel challenged by the idea of artwork in your home, contact us to set up a complimentary consultation. We’d love to assist you in the selection, curation, and ordering process of some fabulous artwork! Feeling like taking on a DIY art project? Check out one of Katie’s blogs from 2019: DIY : How to Create Fashionable Artwork for Less!. Or if you are inspired by gallery walls, checkout this blog from 2018: Gallery Wall – With A Twist.
If you have any topics you’d like us to cover in a future blog, contact our marketing team at 515-986-1895 or office@elizabetherindesigns.com. Have a wonderful day, and Happy July.
Thanks all!