Dear Alice | How to Curate Artwork for Your Home

This week’s episode is all about how to select, mix, and display art in your home. Art is an ice breaker and conversation starter. It really tells the story of your home and is the best way to enhance a mood. This week’s episode can be found on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or Google Podcast.

For a home art collection, our number one piece of advice is to switch it up with different mediums! Without variety, the design can start to feel flat and the art take a back seat to the rest of the décor. We recommend a mix of graphic, painting, texture/tactile, sculpture, and photography. The best homes and galleries are the ones where all of the mediums live together in the same space.

Art is the most challenging layer of design because most people don’t know how to respond or what they even like. So, start by figuring out what YOU like. You can do this by going to museums, galleries, and art shows to determine what moves you. You can also spend time on Pinterest exploring and checking out other designers art boards.

One thing that we have found is that people either love or don’t love figures and animals in their art. Be open to it and find new ways to incorporate these pieces because they can be storytellers. Art with figures can also ease loneliness - extroverts especially love to have company in any form. Right now, we are seeing a lot of bunnies (thanks to Hunt Slonem’s work). We also see horses, cranes, and even Tigers. (Tigers are very Gucci and we love the tasseled pillow that they made!) Figures are “very designer” at the moment. Even if you don’t like portraiture, find a subject you like so your pieces don’t feel like condo art and it has soul.

Scale is everything with art! Trust us when we say that you’re going to want to go bigger than you think. We just recently hung a 5’x7’ high-pile rug on Rachel Parcell’s nursery wall and it adds such a layer of softness. Having something soft on a vertical wall is so interesting and we feel that window treatments shouldn’t be the only softness in your room. In addition to size, you can play with scale by mixing up pieces with different matting and frames. Don’t make the mistake of putting cheap frames on your artwork. Frames can be a whole other piece of artwork themselves. There’s something special about hand-crafted works to frame your special pieces. Frames are also an opportunity to mix up styles - pairing ornate and tailored frames will establish added appeal.

Photography can really add a vibe. We did a home in Dallas where we put a Slim Aarons lifestyle shot of Lake Tahoe with trees and mountains. Not only did it fit the client’s lifestyle, it really transported the room.

Art tells your story, so use it to remember a place or moment. While you’re traveling, look for something unique. Consider buying from a street artist after visiting for a few minutes. That piece of art will always take you back to that place. Vintage art is also really special and soulful. There’s something to be said for art that has been passed down. While not all of your pieces need to be original, the ones that are will mean more to you. You’ll be proud of them and pass along those memories and stories.

Make your art work in the space.

• You can mix a large matte, a sculpture on pedestal, a rug on wall, a gloppy oil still life and it all pulls together to create interest and life.

• Putting graphic art in an otherwise formal room can tone it down. And visa versa. You can add a splash of dressy to a drab space with a work of art.

• Don’t be afraid to celebrate little pockets in your home. Adding art pieces above ranges in the kitchen or in small powder rooms makes the space feel polished and interesting.

Expose yourself to all types of art, but the mix is where the magic is at! Photography doesn’t have to go with photography. Watercolor doesn’t have to go with watercolor. The combination makes you look stylish and your space feel alive. Curating art is about picking with discernment. That’s what curating art is all about - picking art that you love.

Pay attention to the art and mediums that draw you in and then spend time seeking out those pieces in your travels, research, and browsing. Any questions or podcast ideas? Email us at dearalice@alicelanehome.com