Transform Your Space: Curating Art for Your Home
Your home serves as the outward expression of your inner-self, something of a vessel for your spirit. To capture that essence, clear structure, a thoughtful palette, and ambient lighting hold key roles; but it’s what you display in this space that makes it unique. Curating art for this blank slate is what makes a home uniquely yours.
Perhaps you’re a strategist, focusing on pieces with a kind of visual mathematical precision; maybe you’re a minimalist, preferring one or two bespoke pieces where the light hits them just so; or it could be that you’re a bona fide enthusiast, peppering your dwelling with an eclectic mix of oils and photography, not to mention a strategically-placed sculpture or two.
If you’re unsure of where to start when it comes to art, you’re in luck—the home itself is one the best starting points when looking for curation clues. After all, everything from the white quartz of kitchen counters to industrial-chic finishing touches can inform your art collection. Consider your abode a look book for inspiration, and transform it from blank slate to bespoke gallery. No gallery-white walls necessary.
IDENTIFY YOUR TASTE
Some things in life speak to you, and you alone, and that can lead to feeling torn between aesthetic aspirations and authentic representation when decorating your home. In theory, you may love the idea of sharp, mod looks and lines, but in practice, find yourself choosing bold colors and organic shapes.
The same can be true of art curation. You may admire the broken grid gallery walls in a recent issue of Wallpaper*, yet in a gallery, you’re drawn to a single, enveloping piece commanding the space. Instead of trying to conform to an idea of what should be into your home, consider what instinctually draws you in.
FOCUS ON MOOD
How do you want to feel when you walk into a room? Elated? Relaxed? Inspired? Just as you took great care in finding a home with an infinity pool to end your days on a mellow note, equal attention should be given when seeking poolside art to complement it. Perhaps the wave-like quality of a smooth marble sculpture reminds you of peaceful shores, or maybe the mirrored shards of a mixed-media piece in the library help shift your focus to self-reflection.
You can embrace, amplify, or transform moods with the right curated collection. Art can shape not only how a room looks, but also how it makes you feel.
PLAY MATCHMAKER
You have this room in your house that’s truly magnetic. When friends and family are introduced, they immediately get it. There’s something about the way the furniture frames the window, or textures you’ve added throughout—it simply works. Now you just need to add some final polish by finding that perfect finishing touch.
When you’re searching for new pieces to fit the bill, bring mementos of your favorite rooms with you—think photos, fabrics, swatches, or even small hardware. Trained in the art of curation, gallery directors can help create an encompassing artistic voice for your space from similar textures, colors, or cues. Sometimes the smallest slice of similarity is a match worth marrying.
FRAME IT RIGHT
Framing your new favorite piece isn’t simply about the physical frame. In fact, your burgeoning collection may not require wall mounting at all—it’s about how it works withinthe space. Great arrangements draw in the eye and invite it to explore nearby, but they continually loop you back to a focal point.
Decide what you want the focal point in your room to be. It doesn’t have to be the art, but it could be a breathtaking view, elegant handcrafted side table, or even a prominent lighting fixture. Wherever you want your eye to start and finish, frame it with complementary—but not overpowering—furnishings and works, so you keep coming back to your favorite spot.
However you decide to curate for your inner-sanctum, let it reflect your personality and show yet another side to how you love to live.
