Unique ways to display art and show off your personality.
“I want my house to look just like everyone else’s,” Said no one ever!
Decorating your home with art is a great way to infuse your unique personality and character into your living space. Art can also be used to express your interests, style, and creativity. If you're looking for unique ways to display art and personalize your home, here are three ideas to inspire you.
1. Create a gallery wall
A gallery wall is an excellent way to display a collection of art pieces in a single space. You can create a gallery wall using different sizes and styles of frames and mix and match different types of artwork, such as paintings, photographs, prints, and posters. You can also add other decorative elements, such as mirrors, shelves, and plants, to create a cohesive and interesting display.
This should NOT be intimidating.
I know what you’re thinking. I don’t want to do all that measuring and get out the laser level to get everything just perfect. Take a look at the slide show above, and you’ll see Several examples of gallery walls that are not in a perfectly symmetrical grid.
For those of you who love your symmetry, well, get out your laser level and your tape measure and go to town. Just don’t call me for help. I have no patience for that😜
Here are a few tips before you start
Choosing a focal point, such as a large piece of art or a statement piece.
Arrange the other pieces around it, making sure to balance the sizes and colors in a way that pleases your eye.
You can use a template or grid to help you plan the layout, Trace around the edge of all your art pieces in their frames, and cut out the shapes from some old wrapping paper or kraft paper. You can use masking tape to arrange them on the wall until you find a balance you like.
Have fun with it. If you like it, and it brings you joy when you walk into the room and see it, then it works! You DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT have to follow the lead of generic rooms you see posted on the internet. It’s your space. Do what you want!
2. Use unconventional display methods
If you're looking for a more creative way to display your art, consider using unconventional methods such as leaning it against the wall, Adding a small framed piece of work inside a cabinet door as a little surprise when you open it, or even mounting a framed piece of art on the front of a bookcase.
You can use unexpected surfaces like doors, shelves, windows, or even the ceiling as a canvas for your art.
Using unconventional display methods can create a sense of whimsy and playfulness in your home and can also help you make the most of limited wall space.
You can get creative with frames, too. Look at the gallery wall pictured above using all clipboards to display the art. No need for expensive frames, hang some nails and clipboards and change your display daily when the kids come home with a handful of new treasures after school.
3. Incorporate art into functional objects
Another way to display art in your home is to incorporate it into functional objects such as furniture, textiles, or home accessories. For example, you can use a rug or a pillow with a bold pattern or design as a statement piece in your living room, or you can use a piece of furniture such as a side table or a bookshelf as a canvas for your art.
Using art in functional objects can help you create a cohesive and personalized look in your home and can also be a great conversation starter.
Here are a few of my favorite places to find quirky art to fit your style that can be printed onto fabric, wallpaper, towels, pillows, and even Yoga mats!
Spoonflower.com (artists upload repeat patterns for you to purchase unique fabrics for your own sewing projects, or they have home decor items you can receive readymade!)
Society6.com (a Print-on-demand site where Artists upload digital images of their artwork that you can have printed onto all sorts of items, think pillows, canvas prints, art prints, water bottles, mouse pads, etc.)
Redbubble.com (also a print-on-demand site with many of the same items as Society 6).
Check your favorite artist’s websites. Many of them may have some of these items right on their website. Any suggestions for items you’d like my art printed on are welcome. I do not have these items currently but am looking to add some in the future.
In the end, I cannot stress enough that the key is to HAVE FUN and let your personality shine.
The things that you might be thinking make you weird are actually what makes you interesting!
So go ahead, Cover a wall from top to bottom with Band posters collected over the years, or press all the flowers you grow in your garden in glass frames. Paint the inside of cabinet doors with a wild stencil or an unexpected cheerful color. These things you might be self-conscious about trying are exactly what will make your space memorable.
