When you walk around your home, does it feel like your photos are displayed at random? The décor used in any room in your home creates a particular vibe. Family photos give a family vibe, bright colours are energetic, making a room feel lively.
When deciding on what art or prints to put where in your home, consider the emotions that you want to evoke when you’re in that space.
Design, colours, and style all play a part.
Balancing art with family photos
In family homes, it is normal, traditional even, to have a lot of printed photos of the kids, grandkids, and relatives. Self-printed photos tend to be displayed on smaller sized frames on tabletops and shelving, with the professional photoshoots printed and framed in larger sizes, or as part of a gallery wall.
A good space for a gallery wall featuring family photos is in the hallway. It’s the first thing to be seen when entering the home, setting the tone that it is a family home. That in itself tends to invoke a feeling of relaxation.
Entering the sitting room is when art can make a striking difference
In the sitting room, your family is around you. If you have family photos here, chances are that you’ll become immune to the photos being there. They become just wall décor after a while. Ignored by those mostly seeing them, benefiting guests only.
In the living room is where you can bring in art of different styles, textures, and mediums, and display them with different styles of frames to mix things up so that it never feels bland.
Oil paintings, watercolours, photographs of landscapes and still life are all types of art that can be framed in different styles and sizes of frames. The number of pieces that can be accommodated on your walls is determined by the size of the room. Yet, regardless if it is large or compact, you can still pack in quite a few pieces. Larger statement artwork is suited to above a mantel, in alcoves (if you have them), and above the sofa. Smaller pieces of 10 x 8 picture frames and smaller are best suited to gallery wall displays, which are just groupings of art displayed together.
The bedroom is where to scale things back
The bedroom is considered the sanctuary of the home and it is where to be careful of putting in too much colour. Ideally, keep things scaled back with a single piece of art framed and displayed above the headboard. The colours should be neutral or pastel blues to keep the feeling relaxed. When you enter the room, you want to be seeing something that invites you to take a breath, inhale deeply and slip into a state of relaxation – fast. You won’t get that cosy feeling from hanging a bright geometric abstract print with fiery reds, and orange dominating the piece. The same applies to bathrooms, where you would want to be relaxing, too.