Finding art that reflects your personal style
When I was in my early twenties, I bought a lot of art. Mostly prints and posters, with a few original pieces here and there (if, and ONLY if they were small and inexpensive). Think generic landscapes, or cities I had been to and purchased 11 x 14” prints of on a whim. But a couple years ago, I realized that my personal style had changed - and I wanted my home to reflect that. I didn’t want generic pieces that just about anyone could have in their home.
So, then what’s next as far as finding your own personal style goes? Here’s some of my recommendations.
1. Don’t worry about a color scheme or “fitting” in with what you already own. You know that feeling when you bring home the perfect couch for your living room, or finally buy that new bedroom set, and something about the room “just doesn’t seem right”? Sometimes, this is because the room is disjointed – there’s too many different styles present – but a lot of the time it can be because there’s not enough contrast. For example, if you’re finding that everything in your space is the same shade of copper, adding something that’s completely different – like a bright red or blue painting – can add some visual interest. The fun part about finding contrasting styles is that no two homes can be the same.
2. Think about your interests. For example, let’s say you LOVE music and are telling Alexa constantly to play your favorite playlists. Can you search for prints of the world’s most-famous concert halls online? Or can you frame some vintage records cases? Or, if abstract art is more your style - there are even artists who will take your favorite song, listen to it, and paint a piece that represents the essence of the song. How fun is that? Any hobby you have – whether it’s golf, old cars, reading, writing, dancing, whiskey tasting, fishing – you can pretty much guarantee some artist, somewhere, creates something that fits in with interests you already enjoy.
3. Take LOTS of photos, no matter where you are. This can be difficult sometimes, because we think we’ll *just remember*, but I’ve always found that seldom works for me! Some of my favorite places to take photos of art are restaurants and hotel lobbies – they usually have interesting, unique pieces. And it makes sense – when you enter a public space like that, the owners typically want you to feel some sort of emotion or some sort of awe.
Once you have some photos of art you saw and loved, it becomes a lot easier to identify similar pieces. Favorite these photos in your phone and start searching online or in home stores.
4. Shop for pieces on trips and vacations, but DON’T feel pressure to buy. We’ve all been there: when we’re on a vacation, we stumble across the most ornate Persian rug store, or an art gallery of stunning aquamarine, Tuscan poolside scenes.
If you find a piece you love and can’t live without – then by all means, get it! Especially if it’s something you’ve never seen before. But, sometimes, we end up purchasing art that we think we’ll love, just because we’re romanticizing our trip, or just because it will fit in our suitcase. When I was in Australia once, I went to a beachside art gallery and saw a painting of a beach scene of these gorgeous women in swimming caps. It was beautiful, but realllyyy tiny. I knew if I bought it, the painting would be too small to hang on a wall by itself. I’d probably have to put it in a standing frame, place on a table, and eventually - it would end up in a drawer. So instead, I decided to wait until I came home. I researched similar art styles and found a similar, much larger piece. Making the decision to wait helped me find a piece that suited my style much better, that wouldn’t end up forgotten.
5. Consider creating art out of something that’s *not* typically defined as art. This might be my favorite tip because it’s a surefire way to create something unique to you and no one else. And guess
Framed sheet music I loved as a kid
Hung vintage postcards in an empty frame
Stapled old cocoa sacks in frames to create rustic, “Old World” type art
Hang an empty but ornate frame on a wall
And guess what? If you decide you don’t love whatever you decide to buy, or hang up on your walls, you can always change it. Just like our personal style, our art can change over time too.
7 things to do when buying a new piece of art
Maybe you’re one of the millions of Americans who moved during the pandemic, and found yourself with a new, “blank canvas” of a home to decorate. Or maybe you’re upgrading your early-twenties collection of posters and prints to pieces that reflect your current style. Or maybe you just want to switch artwork pieces around in your home, depending on the season and your mood. (Or perhaps – you’re like me, and all three of these scenarios apply. :) )
If you’re interested in bringing a new piece of artwork home, here’s a few things I recommend doing before you buy.
1. Measure your space. Any easy way to do this is with tape. Mark with painters’ tape on your wall where you want to place your new art and how large your ideal new artwork should be. Do you want to center your new piece over a couch or a bed? Do you want a staggered look coming up your stairs? Once you’re happy with your placement, get out your tape measurer and write down the dimensions you marked. I know this sounds super easy, but it will save you time.
2. Consider larger pieces over a collection of smaller pieces. Hanging medium to larger sized pieces (think pieces that are 24” x 24” or greater) is a great way to make your space look more luxurious and put-together. Plus, it’s always a great conversation starter with guests who come to your home (“Where’d you get THAT?”).
3. Consider the colors and mood of your room – but only to an extent. Let’s say your home has a little more of a rustic or cabin-type feel to it. Start by looking for artwork that pairs well with your other pieces as you move from room to room or fills a gap you may have in your existing collection (for example, do you not have any portraits yet, or artwork depicting animals?).
Only consider color and themes to an extent though. Sometimes an unexpected jolt of color in an otherwise neutral room, or a traditional oil painting in an otherwise minimalist home, provide that “wow” factor better than anything we could have imagined.
4. Don’t think about what’s popular. Think about what YOU like. Just because something is trending right now doesn’t mean you have to also buy it. Prefer saturated, more mellow colors over girlish lime greens and pinks? That’s great. Don’t love modern or abstract art? That’s fine. Do pieces with words, phrases, or even quotes just speak to you more? Awesome. Save the trends for your wardrobe and personal style. Invest in home décor that will bring you joy for years to come, based on what you love.
5. Invest in the proper hanging tools. A good rule of thumb is to buy hanging tools that can support a piece at least three times the weight of the artwork. For example, if a framed photograph you want to hang weighs 5 lbs, look for a hook that says it can hold at least 15 lbs of weight.
6. If you love it – just buy it. Don’t wait until you’re home, or until the piece is no longer available. There is artwork I saw YEARS ago that I didn’t buy, that I still remember and regret (if you ever see a beautiful, Mexican-style portrait of a woman in a turban, let me know, okay?).
Finally, one more that may surprise you:
7. When you buy, look for a certificate of authenticity. If you’re purchasing an original piece, see if the artist will produce a certificate of authenticity for you. This is nice to have for a few reasons – a certificate shows you that the artist is serious about their work and wants to protect his/her/their art as an original piece and can help you if you decide to resell your piece in the future. There are countless oil paintings at garage sales and estate sales that sell for way less than they are worth because the previous owner doesn’t remember where they got it or can’t prove if an artist made it. Don’t let that happen to you!