Reimagining your Space with Art

Have you ever looked at the four walls of your room and realised, ‘Oh! That’s a wall that looks like it could use something!’ or noticed that bare space near the window and thought to yourself, 'Maybe I should get a nice sculpture placed here?' Well, being cooped up in the house for what felt like eternity for most of us, can get us all looking at reconsidering a lot of things in our lives, and most importantly, in our homes. In my case, the three months of the lockdown allowed me to breathe life into my home and made me go all shopping galore in revamping my home space, from new curtains and linen sheets to having new art installations on my walls. If you’re someone who has felt the same way, I am going to tell you all about how you can add a fresh perspective to your home with just a few artistic add-ons.

Art for your Space

It is always important to ensure that you start by looking at your space. When decorating your home with artwork or paintings, look at the scale of the item in relation to the room. Wherever you decide to place the art, it needs to fit into the relative scale of the rest of the room or area so it doesn't distract or get hidden by other items. For instance, when hanging artwork over the bed or any other piece of furniture, a good way to go about it is to find a piece of art that is approximately the same size as the piece below it or

next to it, creating a sense of balance and uniformity.

The Showstopper

Large-scale art is the way to make that much-required statement! It creates deliberate impact, commands space, and is meant to overwhelm by itself. When I say largescale art, I mean an oversized painting, photograph, or something so magnificent, it would command attention. When you choose to style your living room or any part of the house in particular, make sure there is that one striking art piece that just takes the viewer's breath away, well not quite in the literal sense!

Mirror Mirror on the wall

Mirrors have a variety of uses in the home, such as reflecting light, opening up space, and generally enhancing the decor. A large mirror in a small room creates the illusion of depth, so don't be scared to go

big. One bold piece can set the entire tone for the room. However, having said that make sure to limit the use of mirrors in your kitchen and bedroom. After all, why would you need to take a glance at yourself in the middle of a cookout, right?

Your own personal Art Gallery

Nothing adds persona and colour quite like a gallery wall. You can go as elaborate as you want and hang up to 25 art projects or sculptural objects, or mix photos with drawings and paintings, mix and match picture frames, and even throw your favourite wall clock or mirror in there. The idea is to create a story to tell.

Pro tips: lay your art out on the floor first to see how it will look on your wall. Additionally,

you can extend the gallery wall to the ceiling to create the illusion of a larger space. If you have kids that love to draw, paint, or craft, designate a particular wall in your home that shows off their work, creating a dedicated gallery wall for those mini Michelangelo's.

Accent walls say it all!

In addition to decorating the wall with art, consider decorating the wall itself. You can experiment with colour, material, and pattern on your walls. From quirky patterned wallpapers, and shiplap panelling, to floral, abstract, or motif art murals, bold and bright paints, stencilling, or other decorative paint techniques, let your walls transport you to another place.

Plants, Baskets, Plates, you name it!

Your plants don’t have to sit on the window sill, nor does your fine china have to be hidden in the cabinet! Try wall-mounted planters to add a bit of nature to your space, or use wire plate hangers to display your favourite dishes and serving platters.

You can also liven up any wall with an assortment of baskets in different sizes and textures. If you’re running out of closet space and want to try something unique, just hook and hang your hats on a wall, or take those vintage scarves or other pretty textiles, frame them and place them on the wall adding colour and pattern, as well as a sense of softness to the space.

Sculpture or Artifacts

A room is often not complete until a statement-making piece finds its way inside. Something as extravagant as the Bust of Nefertiti or Pablo Picasso’s Guitar, sculpture can completely change the look of a space and work as a time machine that transports you through time or gives you the essence of living in the medieval period. For example, a neoclassical sculpture in your study could immediately transport you to ancient Greece. Apart from sculptures, one can try the usage of artifacts to fill up spaces as well, like old antique tools, weaponry, jewellery with an ethnic touch, ceramic vases, kitchenware, and more. Always remember to spruce up your home using sculptures and artifacts that go with the theme of your space.

Don’t hang it all

We don’t just want to see all the art hanging on a wall! Imagine having to drill holes in your walls for every piece of art you install, a little much isn’t it? Instead, install floating shelves and display your art. Additionally, framed art can be arranged elegantly on a shelf, a counter, or even on the floor for a crisp modern look and a less formal display.

Remember, these are just a few things you can consider to change the look and the much-needed feel of your home. I know the times have been challenging and uncertainty hasbeen daunting, but the best we can do is add splashes of colour, a dash of art, and a whole lot of alacrity to our lives through our homes. Make this that little art project you always thought you needed!