6 Ways to Display Art in Your Home That May Surprise You
We are back at it with our second-ever blog article! This week we’re sharing our favourite (and unique) ways of displaying art in your home. Our goal was to bundle these ideas together as inspiration and see them more so as loose guidelines to follow. There’s no right and no wrong way to do things when it comes to art. We see it as creative expression and encourage you to showcase the artwork in your home in a way that does just that. That being said, take what you want and leave what you don’t. The rules are, there are no rules. So have fun trying new places for your art and do what you want with it!
Tip One: Think layers and ledges
artwork and photo by Elissa Barber
If you’re an avid user of Pinterest like us, you have probably come across a hundred pictures that execute this perfectly. We’re talking about showcasing your art in layers and leaned. Whether you choose to display frames on your shelves, a bench, credenza, media stand or even on the floor (one of our favourites), layering art is a simple way to make a room feel unique, rich and textured. And, with the right pieces, it’s actually really simple to do. Here are some tips to get it perfect, every time:
Slightly overlap one object over the next to give your styling some depth and dimension.
To best achieve this look, aim for pieces with different heights, widths, or even shapes.
Put the largest objects in the back and stagger the sizes, ending with the smallest pieces in the front.
For a cohesive look, use pieces within the same colour palette, as seen above. For an eclectic look, mix in some bold among the cohesive pieces for some unexpected moments.
Tip Two: Stack the coffee table
photo and styling by Montana Labelle Lifestyle
Yep, you heard us right, but it’s likely not what you think. We’re not talking about placing a simple coffee table book in the centre of your table and styling it with a candle on top. We’re thinking bigger than that. They say, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover,” but when it comes to styling a coffee table, we encourage you to do just that. Choose books that you are drawn to for their undeniably interesting or beautiful cover art. Then, organize them on your tabletop surface and stack one or two of them to create different heights. We’re all for incorporating books in unexpected ways to tell the story of the space and the people living in it. Need some help getting started? We can help:
Always have the largest book as the base when stacking.
Place the books an equal distance apart from one another for a more refined look. Note: Spacing depends on how big your table is and how many stacks you want, but a good guide to start with is spacing them a few inches apart and leaving an equal amount of empty space around the entire edge of the table.
Play around with the colour. We always love a black and white theme or how a monochromatic palette can make the entire table look like one larger piece of art. Or bring in an unexpected pop of colour, like with this indigo Five Minute Journal. This is where you’re showing your guests that this masterpiece was curated!
Choose books that vary in size and don’t be afraid to play around with the angles in which they are laid out, as seen above.
Dividing your tabletop into three separate sections can help you decide where things look best.
As with everything in life: good things take time. Arrange. Step back. Adjust. Repeat until perfect.
Tip Three: Suspend art from the ceiling
Elevate your art by switching up the way you display it. Hanging pictures in creative ways - like suspending it from the ceiling - can make the art more of a statement piece and can be a real conversation starter. So make sure you use a truly unique piece with a good story behind it. With a quick search, you’ll find several different hanging rails or clip mechanisms that can help you accomplish this look. This technique will, without a doubt, take your art displaying skills to the next level and really make it stand out. Which is the end goal, isn’t it? The point is, you don't have to own an upscale Manhattan art gallery to showcase your artwork in a sophisticated way.
Pro tip: Find a great open wall to suspend your art in front of and add a spotlight on the ceiling and pointed toward the artwork to really give it that upscale gallery feel.
Tip Four: Spruce up the hallway
photo by Madu Interiors
sources: bench, throw, artwork
What can we say? We love art, and first and foremost it needs to be seen. So what better place to showcase it than in the hallway? It's a classic spot, but has been forgotten with the wave of clean, minimal, and open concepts that have been at the forefront of design the last few years. This is an example we love that takes a modern twist on the traditional way and allows your hallway to have a moment of its own.
Tip Five: The unexpected place
photo by Patrick Biller, design by Madu Interiors, styling by Me&Mo
For this trick, we thoughtfully put artwork tucked away in unexpected places, creating a unique and surprising experience for the viewer. Unconventional placements add character and interest to a space, all while creating thought-provoking conversation between guests. Which to us, is art in itself. Not-your-average-spots we love include:
artwork hung above the refrigerator or sink
artwork hung above a door frame
artwork hung along a stairwell
artwork hung on a drywalled vent hood
artwork hung above night stands
and artwork displayed in small awkward spaces
There’s something to be said about art in unpredictable places. Those spots where we just can’t help but keep looking when we see it!
Tip Six: Styled or hung in front of tile or a backsplash
photo and styling by Montana Labelle Lifestyle
Create a one-of-a-kind focal point in your home by displaying art in front of tile or the backsplash in your kitchen or bathroom. Hanging art and other decorative objects on your backsplash will break up the monotony and add visual interest to an otherwise underused space. The beautiful texture and movement in the backsplash of this kitchen pictured above shows how the art and backsplash are like an extension of one another. In other words, they actually make each other look better together.
This look is all about making a big artistic statement and adding dimension with relatively little effort. It just assumes a level of thought and intention behind the placement. It's super easy to do, requires no mess, and looks great! Check, check, and check. Pro Tip: If you want to really customize the look and hang the artwork in front, we recommend getting your contractor to install the hook to avoid damaging the backsplash or tile.
