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You know the saying, “Home is where the heart is.”? Well, at MK Envision, we also believe ‘Home is where the Art is..’
As fellow art lovers and having run a Fine Art Photography Gallery for several years, we know how important first impressions are– what it’s like to walk into a gallery and become fascinated by how the artworks are displayed, leading us to feel even more eager to explore the building. In addition to the design of open spaces or multi-room exhibitions, seeing the variety of works being lit with a spotlight glow adds to the je nais se quois that leaves you in awe while observing. Thus, being an art admirer and/or collector can have you feeling inspired to recreate the look of an art gallery or museum in your home. To help you fashion those looks, we will be highlighting "Art Gallery Inspired Spaces" for our fellow art and design enthusiasts.
Photo by Thomas Loof (from Architectural Digest)
We’ll first delve into why art is important to surround yourself with and how it affects not just your home, but also your moods. Next, we will give a refresher on design and lighting principles from a gallerist’s perspective, offer guidance on how to find your true aesthetic(s), and finally give some extra pointers on how to build your "Gallery Inspired Space". Keep in mind that the intent of collecting art and buying art for the sake of interior design can differ, but ultimately bring us to the same goal– making your home feel like you.
How Art Uplifts the Home and the Mind
Pictured here: “Room with a View” by John Scanlan & our ‘Monochromatic Coast’ Gallery Wall Collection
"Creativity in and of itself is important for remaining healthy, remaining connected to yourself and connected to the world." – Christianne Strang, professor of neuroscience at the University of Alabama Birmingham and former president of the American Art Therapy Association.
That being said, staging art in your home also reflects and reminds us of our ‘humanity.’ In today’s society, it’s hard to avoid owning electronic devices that can make our home feel a bit cold or ‘robotic.’ As mentioned in this Artwork Archive Blog, “Amongst all of the machine-made items in our homes, it’s nice to have something that can effortlessly bring life back into a room.” Whether it’s a painting, a photographic print or manmade sculpture, just knowing it was produced by a human being indulges us to be connected not only to the artists themselves, but also grants us the opportunity to process the emotions conveyed by the works and the feelings we attach to them.
Photos of Jaya Tower (Designs by Raymond from The Happitat)
Furthermore, another benefit of displaying art in your spaces is that it has scientifically been proven to relieve stress and provide a relaxing atmosphere. According to MQ Mental Health, an organization with a vast network of scientists and researchers for mental health, “Art and décor can create a sense of warmth and comfort and studies have found it can help promote feelings of wellbeing. Carefully chosen artwork and décor can help create a sense of calm and promoting creativity can reduce stress levels.”
Pictured here: A variety of our Matted Art Prints
Design Like a Curator
Designed by Rodić Davidson Architects
Here are some questions you can ask yourself: How do the room's colors and textures accent the artwork? Does it make the art stand out, or do I want it to blend cohesively? Can I see the artwork from this angle? Is there enough spacing between other art pieces and furniture? Is this (natural or artificial) lighting too harsh? Can it damage the material? Does this make my space feel balanced?
It can be overwhelming to think about all these details, but these are the essentials that both gallerists and designers implement to achieve the perfect placements. We also know that figuring out all the technicalities of lighting and design can be a bit tedious, so feel free to use our Art Hanging Calculator to get the right formula or discover more ways you can choose to light artwork in your home.Letting Your Art Influence Your Aesthetics
It’s important to find that balance between visually appealing designs and aesthetics that emulate your persona. Sometimes when we think of art galleries in museums, we imagine white walls and stark spaces, but we also want to show that you can still bring the gallery home without it being solely neutral and modern (unless that’s your thing!)
Below are examples of various spaces that encourage you to take a non-traditional approach to decorating. With these diverse aesthetics and bold color palettes, we want you to feel inspired to play with color, texture and mix your styles.
Mid-Century & Contemporary
Transitional & Pop Art
Retro & Eclectic
Romantic & Cottagecore
Vintage & Boho
Modern & Coastal
Gallery Wall Design Tips
Designs and photos by Gaby (IG: @bibi____home)
On top of determining what your true aesthetics are, hanging your art and creating a gallery wall can be quite challenging. Sometimes it’s a struggle to find the right artwork or prints; or maybe you just have such an eclectic collection that the how and where to hang a piece is less straightforward. To assist you through these designing dilemmas, we created an extensive Gallery Wall Planning Guide to offer our expertise.
If you’re looking to find another #whitewallremedy, we have a solution for you! We curated an array of Gallery Wall Collections to inspire you to bring home the perfect ready-to-hang gallery wall sets. You can also explore our Lookbooks to view our diverse assortment of prints that align with your favorite interior styles.
There are so many options when it comes to designing and decorating. As you may have gathered from the many examples we’ve provided, it’s exhilarating to know you don’t have to limit yourself to only one or just traditional aesthetics. So, we hope you enjoyed learning about the benefits of creating an artful home, how to design and light artwork and now feel prepared to decorate your space like a gallerist!
Need more guidance? Email us at info@mkenvision.com to set up a free consultation.