Art has a special way of adding colour to a decorator’s life, with various creative expressions filling their space. From selecting unique pieces that speak to their decorating style to arranging them in their self-made galleries, artwork can transform the look and feel of space that reflects their identity, Homes and Gardens highlights.
According to the home improvement website Houzz, quirky artworks are unique pieces that add character to hallways, living rooms and kitchens, bringing colour and elevating mood. However, as noted by Elle Decoration, creating harmony when arranging these elements together can be challenging.
This article will discuss how to decorate spaces, covering tips and techniques for curating unique pieces and incorporating personal touches to reflect one’s character.
- Select Art Pieces Carefully
- Balance Art and Room’s Colour Scheme
- Create a Focal Point
- Experiment with Different Mediums
- Maintain a Cohesive Design Element
What is a Quirky Artwork?
Quirky artwork encompasses various styles and themes, which are often used to express a unique personality. According to an online art marketplace, Iamfy, quirky artwork enhances spaces with one-of-a-kind pieces that make bold statements within a home.
Quirky artworks are often characterised by styles such as pop art which features bold colours and playful imagery inspired by popular culture.
Another quirky choice for artwork is abstract art due to its non-representational and subjective nature –allowing the viewer to interpret the work in their own way, as highlighted by Studio Q.
How to Decorate Spaces with Art in 5 Steps
Whether one prefers to enhance their space with unconventional artwork or other home decor, this section outlines essential strategies for quirky style decorating.
1. Select Art Pieces Carefully
Whether one has identified their preferred art style or is still discovering their artistic tastes, selecting artwork that reflects personal aesthetics is key to curating a space, as noted by The John Dyer Gallery.
Furniture company Swyft Home recommends incorporating retro patterns for mid-century modern living rooms while favouring clean lines and abstract shapes to complement Scandinavian-inspired spaces.
Nonetheless, selecting artwork is a personal choice, making it essential to choose pieces that resonate with their style and emotional connection to the art.
Take the time to understand what resonates—whether vibrant colours or striking compositions—and ensure that the chosen pieces enhance the space and reflect one’s identity.
2. Balance Art and Room’s Colour Scheme
To balance quirky art with the room design, consider integrating the pieces into the overall decor by ensuring they complement the room's colours and styles.
This can be achieved by applying the 60-30-10 colour rule, a decorating guideline that combines a colour scheme by adhering to specific proportions:
The 60% Colour Rule
According to a home improvement website The Spruce, the 60% proportion represents the primary colour chosen for the room design, providing a foundation for the other colours in the palette.
Examples of elements that typically make up this 60% include:
- Large, colourful murals or series of paintings
- Large furniture pieces (sofas or beds)
- Wall paint or wallpaper
The 30% Colour Rule
The 30% proportion represents the secondary colour in the room, used at half the amount of the primary colour. This hue complements the main colour while providing enough contrast to enhance the room’s visual interest.
Examples of items that typically make up the 30% of a room include:
- Accent chairs
- Quirky artwork
- Vases or sculptures
The 10% Colour Rule
The 10% proportion represents the accent colour in a room. This colour can be drawn from artwork or printed fabrics on larger items.
Examples of elements that make up this 10% include:
- Side tables or ottomans
- Throws or blankets
- Vases or bowls
Ultimately, the 60-30-10 colour rule is a guideline that promotes a harmonious and balanced look in any room.
3. Create a Focal Point
One effective way to grab attention is by establishing a focal point, such as an art piece anchoring the arrangement of the furniture.
A founder of The Art Buyer, Helen Armon-Jones, claims that displaying a single artwork in this manner creates a striking statement that naturally draws the eye.
Jones adds that if someone has a large sofa positioned against a blank wall, one should consider hanging a landscape-format artwork. This choice can add height, depth, and a focal point to the room.
Additionally, a room can feature multiple focal points, like wooden ceiling beams and stone mantels, contributing to its complexity and visual interest. Furniture can be arranged around these natural anchors, creating a dynamic and cohesive space.
An effective way to establish a focal point includes:
- Arranging a gallery wall of art, preferably on a noticeable wall
- Designing a feature wall with elements like bold wallpaper to capture attention and set the room's overall tone
- Incorporating statement furniture pieces that act as focal points while minimising clutter –providing functional and decorative advantages
4. Experiment with Different Mediums
Decorating a space does not have to be limited to framed paintings and drawings. Interior designer Clara Ewart mentioned that various mediums can transform an interior space.
Ewart of Homes and Gardens cited how they incorporated textile art, ceramics, glass, and metalwork into their projects. Their team sourced a large antique tapestry in Paris that adorned the wall of a country house dining room, establishing the tone for the entire room’s design scheme.
Examples of Quirky Items
When deciding on decorating a space with quirky items, artwork is just one option; other home decor can also add personality such as the items listed below:
- Funky Chandelier
- Handmade textiles
- Mismatched furniture
- Playful figures
- Quirky art prints
- Strange poster design
- Unusual-shaped vases
- Vintage finds
5. Maintain a Cohesive Design Element
A lighting company, BlissLights, says that a cohesive space is achieved by meticulously planning the colour palette, decor, and furniture to ensure all elements work harmoniously together.
Additionally, interior designer Ransford Ofori describes design elements as the visual components that define a space’s appearance, including shape, colour, texture, material, pattern, scale and proportion.
Here are some examples of design elements to consider when designing a space:
- Bold Colour Combinations: Choosing a colour palette that reflects the desired mood, such as bright oranges with deep blues, to create a playful and vibrant atmosphere
- Playful Patterns: Using bold, whimsical patterns on wallpaper, rugs, or textiles, such as polka dots, stripes, or florals, to add energy and fun
- Asymmetrical Shapes: Incorporate furniture and decor with unconventional shapes, such as a wavy bookshelf or an irregularly shaped mirror –challenging traditional design norms
While it may be tempting to incorporate various elements, maintaining a cohesive design element is essential to creating a harmonious and visually appealing space.
Tips on Displaying Art Creatively
Displaying art creatively can transform a space and showcase personal style. Here are some tips to inspire innovative art presentations in any setting.
Create a Gallery Wall
According to Eden Gallery, displaying art in a home is more than just placing pictures on the wall; it involves designing a harmonious and visually appealing arrangement that elevates the overall space aesthetic.
One creative idea for displaying art is the salon-style hanging, where a collection of artworks covers the entire wall –promoting a dynamic and crowded arrangement of artworks, as highlighted by an online art platform, Saatchi Art.
Mix and Match Art Styles
Mix classic paintings with contemporary prints or photographs to explore various wall art styles. Canvas printing service Canvas Factory notes that this approach can create a vibrant and varied display.
To give an example, consider mixing:
- Canvas pieces with framed art prints
- Family photos with landscapes
- Vibrant pop art with concert posters
Play with Sizes and Shapes
According to DIY tips provider Human Tide, arranging art and accent pieces in various sizes adds visual intrigue and introduces variety, preventing the display from feeling monotonous.
As noted by an online art gallery, Rise Art, this can be achieved by mixing a variety of square, rectangular, and circular paintings, adding style to traditionally structured displays.
Style Decorating that is Uniquely Yours
As much as one might want to fill their space with home decor, it is essential to consider balance and cohesion. Overcrowding a space can easily overwhelm the design; thus, carefully curating pieces that complement each other ensures the room feels spacious.
In this sense, understanding the fundamentals of stylish decorating is vital. This involves selecting art, balancing colour schemes, creating focal points, experimenting with different mediums, and maintaining a cohesive aesthetic throughout the space.
From there, personal touches and unique elements can be incorporated to reflect the individual’s personality, ensuring the space is well-designed and distinctly personal.
Quirky Artwork: Frequently Asked Questions
1. How to make a room quirky?
Add elements like bold artwork and unconventional furniture that reflect personal style to make the room quirky. Mixing patterns, colours, and textures adds visual interest, while unique collectables or handmade items provide personal touches.
2. How can I decorate my room with art?
Select an artwork that can be used as the foundation for the colour palette. One can also incorporate home decor like throw pillows, rugs, curtains, and additional artworks that complement the chosen piece.
3. Does art in a room have to match?
No, art in a room doesn't have to match, but it can contribute to a cohesive look by harmonising the colour palette and theme.
Curate Your Space with MyAssets
Whether one desires to showcase abstract art or pop art for a quirky look, never miss a piece by cataloguing quirky artworks using tools like MyAssets.
MyAssets is a complete asset management platform that allows art enthusiasts and decorators alike to digitally catalogue artworks by storing information like title, artist name, art style, art type and more.
With MyAssets, users can organise their quirky artworks by grouping them together or creating a custom group of their choice, offering a handy reference that simplifies the decorating process.
Tired of art collection chaos? Start organising your collection with MyAssets 14-day free trial and experience the peace of mind that comes with a perfectly organised collection.
