How to Choose the Right Art for Your Home

By Riesa Maree

A painting can change the whole feeling of a room. It brings colour, warmth and a sense of you into a space. But choosing the right piece is not always easy. Here are some gentle, practical tips to help you pick art you will love to live with.

Start with what you love

Before you think about matching cushions or curtains, choose a piece that moves you. A painting you truly love will always find its place, and it will keep giving you pleasure long after a trend has passed. Let your heart lead first, then work out the practical details.

Get the size right

Size is where many people go wrong. A piece that is too small can look lost on a large wall. As a rough guide, art above a sofa or bed should be about two thirds of the width of the furniture below it. When in doubt, go a little bigger rather than smaller.

Think about colour and mood

Notice the mood you want in the room. Cool blues and greens feel calm and are lovely in bedrooms and studies. Warm tones bring energy to a living room or entrance. You do not need to match your walls exactly, but choosing a piece that shares a colour with the room helps it feel at home.

Hang it at the right height

A common mistake is hanging art too high. As a rule, the centre of the piece should sit at about eye level, roughly 145 centimetres from the floor. Above furniture, leave a gap of around 15 to 25 centimetres between the top of the sofa and the bottom of the frame.

Let it breathe

Give a special piece room to be seen. A single well chosen painting on a clear wall often has more impact than a crowded arrangement. If you love the gallery look of many frames together, keep the spacing even and the theme consistent.

Find your piece

If you are looking for something with the colour and calm of the coast, you are welcome to browse my gallery of original paintings. I am always happy to talk through sizes and help you picture a piece in your space.