Decorating With Wall Art

What’s on the wall often does catch the eye first.

Here are some ideas for new wall art this year!

The time, money, the energy spent in research; the creativity and emotion that leads you to one type of wall art more than another – absolutely all of it comes together for a statement in long-lasting beauty for living spaces.

We understand the undeniable  connection between art and emotions, processing it differently based on our likes and dislikes, experiences, memories, and relationships.

It follows naturally that, like so many other elements in the process of interior design and décor, the choices we make for wall art are also incredibly personal.

TOP THEME PICKS FOR WALL ART

These – depending on size, scale, and number of pieces – are suitable for practically any or every room in your home!

THAT LARGER-THAN-LIFE CANVAS

You may perhaps guess by the visualisation itself, that it’s the one piece, with a focus on no other. Such pieces are typically found in the main drawing room, or a spacious lobby, greeting visitors as soon as they step in through the main door.

These artworks are also popularly surrealist-abstract, or modern-graphic-absract by theme.

Their free-interpretation signature invites conversations and discussions, and the neutrality provides a sensory ‘time out,’ if the space is otherwise busy with other types of elements. If not, such artworks aren’t just a refreshing contrast, but could also be a thought-provoking ‘portal,’ hinting at the depth of the surrounding simplicity, beyond what is directly obvious.

BIOPHILIC OR BARKITECTURE ART

There’s always space for a tribute to Nature on our walls – whether or not we have direct access to natural elements in our surroundings. Mountains and seascapes, open meadows, farm life scenes,  and forests; or more specific flora-fauna still life pieces are never out of style.

A charcoal sketch of your favourite pet?

Perhaps, a painting of horses to remind you of your favourite childhood summer camp activities? Of birds that hold talismanic value for you?

You, alone, make the rules about these artworks in particular!

GRIDS. NO.. NOT THE INSTAGRAM ONES…

But, collages are very Instagrammable. These are collages of individual artworks, rather than a singular piece where ‘collage’ refers to different types of materials used within the sketch, to bring it to life.

Smaller moodboard style arrangements  work nicely for those walls that suddenly catch your attention – they’re rather bare, the angle is awkward, but leaving them as they are makes them stick out from the rest of the space as if it doesn’t belong.

A mixed-bag style grid – with individual artworks of varying sizes, or even various focus subjects, contribute an informal, inviting atmosphere in kitchens – especially open kitchen island spaces. They also look great in children’s rooms, especially if the artworks were made by the children themselves.  

FABRIC FRAMES AND INSTALLATIONS

A great way to repurpose old, leftover, or fragile fabric that’s too precious to simply throw away. Fabric pieces make for great background borders inside wooden or metal frames, supporting the main artwork. Or, they could be the subject of the artwork themselves. If there’s got more airy spaces to work with, entire reams of fabric can be draped from wall section to wall section. Some of us have the knack for this level of pleating and draping, but with a clear enough brief to follow, a professional interior decorator or stylist can easily get the job done.

POP ART OR ROMANCE NOIR & GOTH

We could perhaps add retro advertisements or vintage comic strips in this category.

Replicas are more easily available, but the sincere connoisseur wouldn’t shy away from going through the motions of sourcing-networking exercises for acquiring the real deal.

Inherent quirkiness of pop art, or the specific lifestyle-culture themes of some retro advertisements and comic strip artworks often makes them a more suitable choice for very personal spaces – like bedrooms, even bathrooms; WFH studios, or smaller lounges designated for informal hosting.

The same applies to romance noir artworks – and for many, goth art is pretty much on the same spectrum, even if an individualistic aesthetic in its own right.  

All of these speak to a particular penchant for moody, melancholy, or simply dark-glam beauty. These, too, tend to have designated spaces in equally ‘mysterious’ parts of the space, or they can be under the main spotlight in the more communal areas, especially if the rest of the space has been decorated in a similar vein.

RAW MATERIAL SCULPTURAL ARTWORKS

Not that its popularity ever dipped, but wood artistry is taking centre stage, even with wall art. Not limited to ‘within-the-frame,’ either. We see 3-D elements, or wooden artworks ‘trailing’ or ‘branching’ on walls, suspended as they might be from ceilings. Ceramics and clay, or stone, pressed flowers and leaves, remain equally in style.

Raw sculptural artworks are a powerful, and very real way of introducing texture.

CREATIONS BY AGELESS MAESTROS, AND EMERGING LOCAL ARTISTS

Honouring the greatest artists of our own culture, country, or from anywhere else in the world, and the authenticity of their work, is a wonderful thing to do. There are so many new and promising artists too, and many have a genuinely unique way of branding their own work. These artists are closer than we think. A trip to local contemporary exhibition halls, or art events is an easy way to identify them, contact them, or even obtain a more private viewing of their work to choose from.