Not everyone wants to hang a Leonardo Da Vinci in their living rooms. By that, I don’t necessarily mean paintings by the artist himself (you‘d need squillions of dollars for that) but the more traditional masterpieces – the landscapes and portraits – once considered de rigueur in the dark ages past.
Unless you’re a collector, most of us are looking for something less formal, more “us.” Thankfully, there’s an absolute plethora of art to choose from, from the local artist down at the market to the mass-produced.
No longer is there a rule of thumb when it comes to adorning our inner sanctums. In fact, there’s a shift to buy (or make) quirky but arresting artworks. With our love affairs with smartphones and the know-how of printing photos onto canvas, the world of art and décor have united.
Interior design, as a whole, has been pushed to the forefront of our lives with the onset of “reno” shows on TV. Consequently, it’s common to see us lined up down the aisles of Bunnings having a go at DIY projects, snaffling tins of paint, and learning how to build frames, stretch canvases, and screenprint fabric.
Andy Warhol (among other things) was famous for blending popular culture with art. In many ways, his influence lives on. Modern society has become quite adept at turning common items into the latest must-haves. Letters of the alphabet (currently trending as re-invented lit-up objets d’art) and balsa-wood-jigsaw moose heads perched over fireplaces are doing their best to shake up the confines of art/décor. While some experts consider such things to be faddish and should perhaps be moved on from, the point remains – in this day and age, you are being asked to be you and not follow trends “just because”.
You are the one who must live in your home every day, so you need to reflect your personality in such a way that it makes you happy. Your home is your sanctuary – the place you come home to rest, to love in, to cry in, to feel safe in. It only stands to reason, therefore, your soul, your needs, your desires should rightfully be expressed. There is no point living in a house full of dark antique furniture, for example, if you have a penchant for French provincial or shabby chic! The art on your wall is no different. Everything in your house needs to harmonise in order for you to find restful peace, otherwise, it will “irk” you, and you’ll wonder why you’re constantly grumpy!
A friend and I were discussing only the other day how neither of us could live with a piece of art if it didn’t “fit” our décor, go with our lounge suite, or match our curtains. Having said that, I’ve been known to totally redecorate a room just to fit around a piece of art. Art and interior design are married these days and I, for one, love it. Blurred lines, indeed!