TV presenter and sustainable design expert, Oliver Heath, says: 'Buying artwork offers a great opportunity to bring an individual touch to your home and improve the quality of the space. Buying directly from an artist will mean that you'll own a unique piece and be contributing to the art world. You can do this by heading to a gallery but also by visiting an open-house event, an art trail or one of the many art fairs across the UK.
But how do you decide what to buy? The first factor is the impact you want to make. To create a calming scheme, opt for colours and tones that match your living room, or an image of a serene landscape or seascape, possibly one that brings back positive memories. For something that makes more of a statement choose a piece that catches your eye, one that makes you feel something or challenges you. This may have stronger shapes, forms or contrasting colours and will bring energy to the room.
You'll want the work to fill the space and be in the right proportion. Lara Bowen, art consultant from Four-Walls, says, 'As a rough guide, look to fill two thirds of the wall height with the artwork, leaving enough space around it to create a sense of framing. Also hang it where you'll see it most – ask someone to hold the work so you can stand back and view it from all angles.'
A common mistake is to hang pictures too high and not at the eyeline. If the area is very wide, consider a triptych – a set of three pieces intended to be seen together – or several smaller pieces to tell a story.
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