Are you looking to change up your decorations around the home? Decorating with fine art is an excellent way to make your home more attractive. There are plenty of different options, and each piece of art is unique.

If you’re ready to start decorating your house by purchasing fine art from an art gallery, you’ll want to check out these tips. We made sure to include everything you need to know to decorate and give your space an entirely new feel. Keep reading to learn more!

1. Create a Mood or Theme

First, you’ll want to use the art to create a certain mood in the room. If you want to capture a certain theme or make your space evoke a feeling, then art can help you do that. You may want to include energetic art in your study to help keep you motivated. Or, you can set up calming art in the bedroom to help you relax. 

Color has a significant impact on how a piece can make you feel. You’ll want to consider the color in a piece when decorating. You can set the art up as a focal point, then have other items that make it stand out even more.

Many people also choose art based on room themes they already have at home. For example, if your living room has yellow accents, a print with mainly yellow will fit in perfectly. 

Overall, you’ll need to consider how the art impacts the mood of your house and how it fits in with room themes. You can always change your space to better suit the art, so don’t hesitate if there’s a piece you love but you don’t think it’d match what you already have at home.

2. Play With the Arrangements

Photo by Spacejoy on Unsplash

Next, you’ll want to “play” with how you arrange your art. You don’t need to stick with any one arrangement- you can move the art around until you find a setup that you like the most.

Here’s a tip if you want to start a gallery wall! First, cut out large pieces of paper in the exact dimensions of your art. You can use reusable sticky tack to arrange the pieces of paper on your wall without causing damage. Then, replace the paper with your art.

This method lets you play with your gallery wall arrangement before committing to a layout. It’s especially helpful if you use nails to hang up picture frames. 

If you have statues or other three-dimensional works, you can try different arrangements by moving the pieces around. However, you’ll also want to focus on lighting. Adjusting how light hits these works can change how we view it.

In short, you must realize you don’t have to commit to the first arrangement. You can always move your art around, whether it’s an hour or months later.

3. Consider Height

Photo by Minh Pham on Unsplash

It’s also important that you consider the height of where your art will sit. Generally, you want to have the center of the art about 57 inches (145 cm) above the floor. This position puts the piece at eye level for most people, which is why galleries use this setup too.

You can use this rule to view the art anywhere you expect to stand. However, you can always lower it if you expect to be sitting when looking at it. For example, many people place the art in their home office or living room lower than that rule.

Since you mostly sit in these settings, you can view the art more naturally. You can also put it higher up on the wall if the piece is very large. In short, considering the height of where you plan to set the art is essential.

4. Don’t Set Out Small Works Alone

Photo by Spacejoy on Unsplash

If you have a smaller piece of art, you won’t want to set it out alone. Smaller art can look awkward in large open spaces. For example, a small print can look lost if you place it on a large, open, blank wall.

Instead, you can try adding a few more pieces of art to the space and the smaller piece. You’ll need to choose art that matches the work you want to make your focal point.

The same goes for three-dimensional works- they look out of sorts when they’re by themselves. Set out similar pieces and arrange them in a way that’s appealing to you. 

According to the rule of threes, objects arranged in odd numbers appeal more to us. While we also like items in fives and sevens, three seems to be the option we prefer the most.

You’ll always want three similar three-dimensional works that you can set up near each other. While these objects can be different sizes, you still want them to match thematically with one another.

Overall, you won’t want to set out small pieces alone. While it works for large pieces of art, we tend to feel that small artworks are out of place in the home. 

5. Try Using Varied Frames

You also won’t need to get frames that all look the same. We tend to like variety more, so mix and match picture frames as you please. You can choose frames that are different colors and even different materials.

You don’t want the frame to be too similar in color to the art, or it could blend in. The right frame outlines the piece and makes it look nice. It can also match the themes in your home if you want them to blend in better.

You won’t need to use frames with all art, so don’t hesitate to try out different combinations. You’re sure to find something that suits the art nicely since there are many options.

Choose Art You’re Passionate About

If you love a piece of art, you can show it off. Always choose art that speaks to you, and you’re sure to love being in the space that you create. We all have different tastes, so you may love something that someone else doesn’t- but don’t let that hold you back.