I find myself getting worse at home decorating. Great way to start this post, yeah? We’ve been in our home going on 10 years, saw it through an entire renovation (that never seems to stop, I might add) and now we’re within a couple years of moving. Which we find daunting. Anyway, maybe that’s why I feel a little uninspired with it all. But if there’s anything that will pull me out of a design funk and into feeling refreshed, it’s curating art throughout our space.
Collecting art has become a hobby. T and I are both picky about the pieces we hang on our walls and we’re proud of the progress we’ve made over the years. In our opinion, nothing deserves a nail unless it’s meaningful or makes us feel something. Good art makes you feel something. Whether it’s happy, sad, nostalgic or simply amazed. Walking around your home should feel like walking around a personalized museum. That’s the goal anyway. It takes years to put a home together, and the artwork can be ever-evolving. That’s why I wanted to talk about how to curate meaningful art in your home. It will always be a work in progress, but here are some things we’ve learned along the way.
How to curate meaningful art in your home
Use your own photography
How many photos do you have on your phone right now? Thousands? There are definitely captures worth framing and hanging! Whether you have family selfies or a quick snap of a sunset on vacation, consider these as art. I love a good gallery wall of in-the-moment photos. They always bring up the best memories. An easy tip – you don’t love the color scheme, consider editing them all to black and white for a more cohesive look.
Collect while traveling
In my opinion, there is no better souvenir than a piece of art. T and I love finding vintage maps of our destinations to frame. But we also look for local art shops or random prints from gift shops of places we visit or activities we do. You can also frame 3D items like shells or concert tickets. I’ve also seen a trend in framing bandanas and think this could be a really neat conversation piece!
Buy from independent artists
Probably my number one rule – try to buy as many pieces from independent artists as possible. Not only do they offer more unique photos, drawings, mixed media, etc (IMO), you support someone’s passion with your purchase. Just like you shop small and local for anything else, art should be the same! Thankfully, the internet has made this so easy. Minted.com sells limited runs of fine art prints. This means even though they are selling prints, it’s still limited and not mass-produced. Iamfy.com is another source I’m starting to become familiar with. The variety on their site is wonderful & someone does a little happy dance when you purchase their creation. Here are some amazing prints I found while browsing.
minted
iamfy
Things to keep in mind
Mass-produced art is NOT off limits
If you’re browsing Target or Homegoods and see a print, canvas, whatever that you absolutely love. Get it! Fill your space with items that make you feel good, no matter what.
Consider different “textures”
Whenever I’m filling a space with artwork, I pay attention to texture. Have a lot of framed prints in the living room already? Try a canvas or a sculpture-like wall hanging. Gallery walls are fun with different sizes and colors. Simply consider the entire room when picking out a frame or style of artwork.
You don’t have to spend a fortune
We’ve invested in artwork at all price points. My love for our biggest Ella Richards purchase and the $20 hand-painted street art we bought in Cabo are the same. Framing vintage postcards is brilliant (& typically under $5). Grandma’s recipe card framed in the kitchen is unexpected & personal. Thrifting frames always makes a fun diy project. It’s not about the money, it’s what a piece means to you in the end!
Where to start
Blank walls can be intimidating, trust me. There are areas of my house that still drive me crazy. Don’t overwhelm yourself with thinking you have to fill it all at once. Take it room by room, wall by wall. Browse lots of Pinterest boards and search relevant hashtags on Instagram. The algorithm will do the work for you eventually – I get spammed with art ads all the time & that’s how I discover almost everything. Start with one piece and build from there. It’s not a race!
Independent artists on my favorites list
Ben Schuh (cityscape paintings) – Jason Brueck (digital art) – Ella Richards (scissor drawings) – Jenny Beorkrem (Ork Posters) – Cali Hobgood (photography)
xoxo. B
