Home art 101

So you bought your dream home and you have been Pinteresting like a fiend and have these awesome amazing ideas for your living space and the oh so fancy pieces you have in mind for your home... Yes, that is what most of us feel and go through when we are nesting but the truth is that when you apply those fancy ideas you saw on Pinterest, they don't always come out looking like that perfect shot of the living room you saw on let's say this awesome blog, LOL and I am not laughing at you here, trust me! I am laughing at myself coz I have been in that situation far too many times. The good thing is that I now know better about decor and textiles and the inter play of colors and fabrics and I also know and appreciate the power of awesome photography and lighting! Let's say that with time I have come to set realistic expectations.

Decorating a home is a task, it's exhausting and challenging.You spend months looking for the perfect rug, the perfect wall art, the perfect paint for your walls, the chairs and the lamps..it is a lot of work and none of it is easy because this is a very subjective space. Like in my case, my husband Mr. X and I don't always end up liking similar stuff so it becomes harder than usual because then we have to keep looking till both of us have a grin ear to ear.
So after months of hard work, you are finally done. You sit down on that couch you picked after looking at 77 couches in 39 stores and then it hits you- SOMETHING IS MISSING and then it hits you AGAIN, it is the artwork. You walls look bizarre and naked almost without any artwork on it. If you ask me, artwork on the wall is probably the most overlooked area of decor, especially when we are in charge and do not have a "decorator" doing it for us. I never hired a decorator, two reasons - they are too expensive and I am very house proud with a shade of control freak, I like doing things by myself for my home. So if you are anything like me this post will be helpful and fun if you are considering decorating or doing up a new house or making some improvements :)

One of the reasons why art gets ignored or left off is because let's face it, its daunting and intimidating to even walk inside a store and pick up a piece. But trust me once you get over the block, art really helps bind the whole look and your space looks more together not to mention it also is a great way to personalize your decor. For instance I have a few pictures that were taken by Mr. X in my living space, it's our style and a personal statement. Art is a great way of bringing in your own personality into your decor. Let's talk about a few ideas for how to go about picking and placing art for your home

1.If it's your first time with wall art and you are still on the fence about it , don't worry. Never commit to something you aren't sure of. Go with smaller items on a table maybe and see how you feel about it.It will give you a perspective if you do something than your usual way of decorating. Go for smaller pieces,something less ornate. Maybe on your shelves or the side table next to your accent chair. These small pieces will make your home look more inviting and personal and will give that "lived in" feel we all love and look for

Some statement pieces like a candle stand

                           

A colorful throw and a stack of books on the side table

2.Mixing and matching is a great way of getting that "i put few things together look" believe me nothing is more impressive than using items that you had or picked up randomly and put together. But hey, don't just really throw things together, think it through, try different combinations and see what works best for you. Think about the layout and set up else it can have the opposite effect of what you want. A cohesive color scheme is super important but try experimenting with shapes and sizes, its your play ground, you can make some rules :) I suggest a combination of vertical, square and horizontal orientations for your wall to maintain balance.

If you don't want to do multiple pieces, that's OK. You can do one statement piece for your wall and that can be the main piece for that wall and everything thing else around it will accentuate it. Like go for a show stopping piece, something big, bold. It's actually amazing how statement art can change the entire look and feel of the room. Style it over a mantel, couch, or bed – wherever you have plenty of white space to let this piece take center stage. I am telling you as daunting as it may sound, it's totally worth it ! One important thing to keep in mind while picking this statement piece - this will be the hero piece of your wall so think about the colors, the shape, if you are looking to make the room more airy, open , go with something white & bright, something with more white space and softer colors. If you are more into boho-chic , go for something that has many layers in terms of colors and patterns, colors that will pop - fuchsia, turquoise, basically go for pieces with high contrast and bold hues. 
Apart from all the technical and the so called right and wrong ways of choosing art for your home, in the end pick something that speaks to you, something which is you and is an extension of your personality. There are no right or wrong ways to decorate your home. Just make sure you pick something that is you and not a "trend". Feeling inspired is great but maintaining originality is even better. 

Happy Decorating ! 

For some awesome statement pieces for your home, check this store 
Statement Decor

And my favorites pieces - Coffee table tray cum wall decor