Recently a friend of mine asked if I ever made large paintings. She had been staring at the same IKEA poster on her wall for a few years and had suddenly realized she hated it. It had a picture of the Eiffel Tower, but she couldn’t relate. It meant nothing to her, she realized, and she was starting to figure out that maybe she wanted something she actually liked on the wall.
A few weeks later, another friend, who had recently purchased a painting of mine, confessed that she still hadn’t hung the work. In fact, she said, she and her husband had not hung virtually any work. She asked me to come over and help her hang my painting- and few others too. The walls were pretty bare, and it was driving her nuts.
What these two stories have in common is a sense that what we look at on our walls affects us. Blank walls can feel empty, and make a home feel temporary or transitional. It makes it hard to “root” ourselves in an empty home. At the same time, when we have images on our walls that we don’t like, we can feel uncomfortable or dissatisfied in our homes. They don’t feel authentic to us, but feel fake and disconnected.
A view of some of the works in my bedroom.
It doesn’t really matter what you put on your walls as long as it resonates with you. Art and design is completely subjective, and what works for one person won’t work with another. You might like Pop Art, Street Art or Minimal Art.
Tastes can also change over time. What thrills you one year looks dowdy or outdated the next.
This can cause one to fear making a choice about what to put on the walls of your home, or to not be sure where to put the work. But have no fear- trust your instincts.
Some things that might work are:
- Think about your taste. Where do you like to shop for clothes? Are there brands you like? What do they have in common? Try to find art like that style. For example, if you like shopping at Anthropologie, you might like vintage or folk art.
- Look at your space and think about where your eye naturally settles. Those are good focal points, and places for art.
- You can mix and match styles of work. Go vintage, modern and expressionist all on one wall, hung “salon style”. Put different styles throughout your home for an eclectic touch.
- Don’t worry too much about art “matching” your colors or space. That can be in the back of your head, but don’t let it drive your decisions. This is a home, not a hotel lobby.
Most of all, think of how the work makes you feel. Spend some time with it. Make sure the work makes you feel good.
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