Saturday, April 11, 2009

Arranging Art to Showcase Its Beauty

By Sue Krippner

Arranging art in a room can include many forms of artistic design, such as a painting, sculpture, a ceramic piece, or a photograph for a wall, mantel or table. Depending on the room, you could choose a combination of several art forms. Have fun experimenting with various placements of the art pieces throughout the room. Just be sure not to overdo it with too much art.

Before arranging art on a wall, consider the size of the artwork. If its too large for a particular room, it could overwhelm everything else and take away from the rooms focal point. If its too small, it could get lost on the wall and serve no purpose in enhancing your dcor.

Look at the size of the room and the projected location before you make your decision when arranging art. If you have a long wall to use, you might want to hang a group arrangement. For a short wall, think of a small but powerful piece.

When arranging art, lighting is a powerful consideration. Proper lighting will really highlight your work. Recessed spotlights are popular as is showcase lighting mounted directly above the painting, just like in a museum. Of course the windows can make a big difference when it comes to brightening the area near the piece. As watercolor, pastel and pencil may fade, make sure your painting is framed in UV protected acrylic or glass.

A key consideration when arranging art to accent a particular room is of course,color. Your piece must complement the room's color scheme or it will look out of place. It may not be necessary to have the exact colors reflected in the artwork but some of the main shades should certainly be seen. Look for an art piece that has contrasting colors to complement your space.

The style of your artwork is a major consideration when arranging art in a room. For example, an abstract piece will not work in a country themed room. Stay true to the design of your room by choosing appropriate art pieces.

When arranging art in a room, there are some basic guidelines. Artwork for a wall should be hung high enough so the center of the painting is at eye level. A sculpture or ceramic piece can be placed on a table, mantel, or even a pedestal. Depending on its design, certain art pieces can be displayed directly on the floor.

The design of furniture, window coverings, and accents must be kept simple and basic when arranging art to be the focal point of your room. In this way other elements do not detract from the focus required.

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