A Guide To Buying Art - The Interiors Blogger's Tips
A Guide To Buying Art - The Interiors Blogger's Tips
This month is a continuation of the Guide To Buying Art but from the perspective of the wonderful Imani - Interiors blogger and colour enthusiast. I first encountered Imani on Instagram and instantly fell in love with her passion for colour and unusual approach to home decor.
I later went on the use her mentoring service and it totally changed my mindset towards my business - game changer!
Here are her three tips for finding the perfect art pieces for you and your home.
Over to Imani…
Before gathering my thoughts about how best to choose art for your home, I thought I’d quickly stroll around the house counting the actual number of gallery walls my home contains, though that counting process soon became redundant as I realised that every single wall in my home is an art gallery of sorts. In my home, no display space is neglected, and my (ever expanding) art collection adorns each and every wall in my quirkily vibrant home.
My passions are art and colour, and my love of colour is fully explored and expressed through my art and decoration choices. For me, it’s the art that truly adds the personality and individuality to any interior space. If the eyes are the window to the soul, the art in your home is an expression of our inimitable spirit.
Tip 1 –
Consider the mood and energy of each art piece
Art is not only a visual medium. Art is a powerful and potent source of mood-altering energy. So consider what you want your interior art to ‘do’ to you energetically. Do you want your interior to feel serene, calm and relaxing? Do you want to add drama, impact and flair? Do you want to express playfulness, cuteness, friendliness, sociability and warmth? Or maybe you might want your art to help you feel confident and empowered? Art really CAN do all that, and it’s absolutely possible to carefully choose art that evokes the desired mood and energy you crave and importantly that suits your personality and temperament. When you look at a piece of art, try to look beyond the immediate visuals and tune into how that piece of art affects you inside. For me, I’m looking for art that causes that sharp intake of breath and that excited lurch in my tummy. I’m looking for something that makes me smile and feel that warm soothing rush of contentment. But that is all so individual, and there is no right or wrong way to respond to art. A piece of art that gives you that ahhhhh feeling (whatever form that takes or however you define it) is going to be something that gives you happiness not just for today, but for years to come.
Tip 2-
Let your art be your colour source
Many people live in neutrally decorated homes, and that’s not necessarily because they love neutrals. Sometimes it can be that we lack confidence in committing to a colour-based interior aesthetic and just going for it as it feels too risky, like we might end up making an interior mistake. The best thing about art is it is portable and moveable home decoration. Even if you keep your walls white, cream or light grey, art can be a great way of adding welcome pops of colour that are not too scary and dominating for colour newbies. In my home, the majority of walls are white and my flooring is white & grey marble, but far from being boring, these white walls and light floors are the perfect backdrop for that art gallery colour pop vibe. Art and other colourful accessories add so much life and personality to an otherwise neutral backdrop, and they are risk-free and flexible. I often switch my art pieces around as my interior scheme evolves, and that is far easier than re-painting and papering walls!
Tip 3 –
Don’t be afraid to invest in art if you LOVE it
Whatever your budget, do prioritise a proportion of it for art. For me, art purchasing is my ultimate treat, and it’s the thing that gives me the biggest spending buzz, not to mention the most lasting wash of joy. Art is a long-lasting investment that you can easily take with you if you happen to move. People tend to think nothing of paying a fortune on fixed items in the home that can’t be packed up in a moving van and taken with you (kitchens, bathrooms and heavy garden landscaping spring to mind), yet the art side of things can often be people’s last priority, even though art is something that can potentially stay with you and your family for life. I still own art I bought and hung in the very first home I lived in, and that art has travelled with me and given happiness and joy in every home I’ve lived in). If you invest and perhaps pay a little more for something you absolutely LOVE, rather than something you are lukewarm about and just ‘like’, you are likely to keep hold of it for far longer, making it far better value in the longer-term. Art doesn’t have to be expensive, and the more expensive art is not necessarily ‘better’, but choosing art that you LOVE rather than just ‘like’ is an investment that you’ll never tire of. If it gives you the feels, don’t be afraid to make the investment in it, because the art you love gives pleasure that never fades!
I really hope these tips have helped you think about art in a different way, and realise art is valuable, powerful, flexible, expressive and accessible. Follow your heart, tune into how each piece impacts you, and let your chosen art add the colour, personality and lasting joy to your home.
Imani
Where to find her…