There’s no doubt that art pieces beautify a home. In fact, aside from area rugs and throws, artworks are a go-to decor when you want to spice up a boring interior in an instant. Just remember that too much is never pleasing. Your choice of artwork/s, as well as their placement, can make or break your home design.

If a piece of art can make a loud statement, imagine the commotion it would bring if you decide to hang numerous artworks in one wall. As someone who makes art or an avid collector of stunning art pieces from different eras and perspectives, you might’ve felt the struggle of hanging your beloved collections and ending up in a noisy, cluttered interior.

If you have a lot of art pieces to display, and you just can’t bear to keep them in your closet, you may use some decorating techniques to avoid going overboard. These eight simple tricks can be used to make your art pieces work for you and not against you.

1. Repetition of colors and patterns

   

One trick used by most designers is having a standout piece first and selecting the color schemes, shapes, and patterns of the room’s furniture design and accessories from it. This simple method can make the room’s design cohesive and organized.

If you have a large, stunning painting or a series of paintings you’re proud of showcasing in your living room, take a couple of significant elements from the picture, like interesting lines of forest trees’ branches or vivid colors of the landscape. Have a subtle touch of these elements on your upholstery and table design, and on some accents like throws, curtains, area rugs, vases, and figurines.

2. Muted room elements

   

If you have a busy yet striking maximalist artwork, establish balance by toning down other room elements. Keep your backdrop pristine and let the artwork steal the spotlight. Having your furniture and accessories lightweight and in monochromatic scheme will also help in emphasizing the eccentric beauty of your highly-detailed artworks and allowing the eyes to rest.

An all-white room is not necessary but will perfectly contrast with colorful and detailed artworks. Pulling a mirror into a salon-style art display grouping can also provide a little airy dimension when there’s an overwhelming visual information going on.

3. Dramatic backdrop

   

Quiet backdrops are always the safest choice in interior design. However, you have to break conventions at some point to make your room less boring, especially if you collect minimalist artworks. If you have artworks with clean lines and simple colors, make the backdrop dramatic to emphasize the artworks. You may finish the wall off with patina, faux bricks, stones, and wood planks, or patterned wallpapers.

4. Art of reflection

   

Aside from giving an illusion of a larger space, mirrors also have the power to add drama through reflection. Designers suggest to reflect the beautiful elements of your home, like your beloved artworks. You may place a large mirror on your ceiling, adjacent to the wall where the painting is placed to have an illusion of what the art piece looks like upside down, which will add a unique edge to any room.

5. Unconventional frames

   

Dare to break conventions and think outside the box. Or perhaps, think outside the “frame” in displaying your artworks? You can use a pulley, or rope or leather straps, then suspend them from a vintage hook. You may also use wooden coat and pant hangers and clips to hold your quirky sketches. Then, play with placement. Put artworks in unexpected places, like the bathroom, kitchen, and on those awkward and unused nooks and corners.

6. Diverse but unified

   

Art comes in different forms, colors, and meanings, and created by artists of different perspectives and expertise. However, putting them in one wall can be visually distracting rather than amusing if not done properly. Segregating the portraits from the landscapes, the realism art pieces from the abstracts, the monochromes from the colored ones, as well as compiling art based on the artist, are just some of the ways to organize art.

The key here is to look for that one unifying element that binds these pieces together. If you’re opting for a salon-style look for your wall gallery, have a particular theme to make these stunning pieces look cohesive. For instance, you can mix artworks from different eras and unify them by having frames of the same or monachromatic color and design.

7. Mixed media

Take your passion for eccentricity to another level through mixed media technique. Add a little quirkiness by mixing together artworks in frames, bare, artworks without frames, wood and paper pieces, artworks in 2D and 3D, artworks from different eras, and even frames without artworks. The technique adds depth and texture to your gallery wall.

Start with one to two large art pieces and hang them near the center of your wall, then gradually add medium and small-sized artworks around the larger ones. Lose formality but group with purpose as you mix paintings with other 3D artworks like carved masks, plates, trivets, statement mirrors, wall clocks, car plates, and faux taxidermy

8. Story and composition

Art pieces are great decorating elements but keep in mind that they are also a way of storytelling. If a picture paints a thousand words, just imagine the story two or three pictures can communicate. Aside from choosing the right frames and establishing balance and proportion, composing a story through thoughtful arrangement may also be taken into consideration.

When three framed portraits, having similar elements are placed near each other, they create the illusion of having one story in three pictures, whether it’s intentional or not. Each picture stands on its own, yet engages different interpretations when presented in series with other paintings. You can do this trick to add humor or make a statement.

Carmina Natividad is an all-around artist and writer who loves collecting vintage items and decorating her space with an eclectic approach. She shares her deep interest in interior design by writing informative blogs for Fab Habitat Outdoor Rugs Online, a one-stop shop for stylish outdoor rugs and mats throughout Australia.