Any room in the house can benefit from having a focal point as this draws your attention to one particular part of the space and allows it to rest there for a few moments before taking in anything else present.
Art lovers have long been using pieces of artwork as focal points for hallways, dining rooms and even kitchens, so here are a few ways that you can display your artwork in your home along with a few great tips on how to give your pieces the impact they deserve.
Perfect placement of your artwork
When it comes to presenting any artwork as a focal point in the home, placement is important. You want to make the art the first thing that anyone entering the room sees. Try to place it on the dominant wall in direct line of sight from the door or entryway.
You’ll also need to ensure that you have enough space to hang your artwork on your chosen wall. A good rule of thumb is to leave 3/8 of the width of your art on each side of your wall to ensure that it looks perfect once hung.
New Horizons by Artist Soos Roxana Gabriela
Surrounds and space
To make a big impact with your artwork, ensure that you give it pride of place on your chosen wall. Resist the urge to add anything else to this area as this can sometimes make the space look cluttered and too busy for the eye to focus on any one piece.
Another way to make your artwork stand out is by looking at different surrounds. If you are able to frame the piece, this can often bring a whole new dimension to your artwork.
Drawing the eye
In some cases such as canvas artwork, the use of a frame just isn’t going to work, but there is another way that you can draw attention to it. LED light technology has come a long way in recent years, and there are several new products on the market that allow you to attach lightweight sting lights around the canvas to illuminate it after dark.
This is a sure way to ensure that your artwork remains a focal point of the room at any time of day. You can even choose to install spotlights set at angles to provide light to the area that your artwork resides. This means that anyone visiting your home after dark is sure to notice it and you’ll also be able to enjoy the piece too whatever the time of day.
Sunny Day by Artist Cinzia Mancini
Complimentary pieces
If you are looking for a slightly more modern composition for your artwork, don’t be afraid to experiment with smaller complimentary pieces in an arrangement that draws the eye and adds interest to the area you wish to enhance.
There are several different ways that you can achieve this type of focal point, and finding out what works best for your space is very much a case of trial and error. Fortunately, there is an easy way of choosing the best artwork display set up without having to drill holes in your walls several times.
First, select the pieces that you wish to display in a group and measure them. Now, cut out the same measurements in coloured paper or cardboard so you have rough approximations. Once you have the sizes, you can use a peel off tape that won’t leave a messy residue on your walls to stick the paper or card to the wall. Change them around until you get the perfect composition for your cluster of art.
If you’re not 100% sure of the peel off tape you’ve chosen will leave a mark or take paint off the walls when you remove it, its always a good idea to test it on a small area that you won’t notice such as the corner of the wall or behind the sofa or piece of furniture just to be sure.
Next, all that’s left to do is drill holes so that your artwork is hung securely and stand back and enjoy the fruits of your labours.
Use contrasts
One final tip for using art as a focal point in your home is to use a contrasting colour on your walls. This will show your artwork off and allow the colours to spring from the walls. Although creams and whites are popular shades for many walls around the home, they can lead to pale pieces of artwork looking washed out and dull, so try to go for a stronger background shade as a stark contrast to your piece. This easy trick is proven to draw the eye to the artwork adorning the wall in question.
