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The dual questions of how to pick art, and then how to frame a picture or painting, are popping up more and more lately. Make sense: As we spend more time in our homes, suddenly those blank, bare spots on our walls are increasingly irksome. Filling them is no longer just a stylish choice, but something that saves our sanity, if only briefly.
Yet picking exactly what pieces to hang in those vacant voids is tricky. Mainly because art, and photographs, are such objects of individual taste. There’s no one-size-fits-all guide to what you should buy: Are you more into contemporary or classic art? Would you rather have photos of landscapes, or your family? “The idea of 'art collecting' is one of the most intimidating things some people can imagine. But it doesn't have to be,” reassures Framebridge's Creative Director Tessa Wolf. Her primary advice? Pick something personal; that way, you’ll never tire of it. “Anything is art once it's in a frame,” she notes. “Every day, we frame hundreds and hundreds of pieces of original art, prints, and canvases, but we frame just as many receipts, tweet screenshots, scribbled mission statement drafts, and first generation iPods.”
But, if capital-A art is on your agenda, Wolff has some suggestions. One: go with that feeling in your gut. “For me, art is just about feeling. If looking at a piece makes you feel happy or nostalgic or optimistic, then it means something to you,” she says. “It doesn't have to be expensive—most of my favorite pieces are random things I made when I was little or picked up while traveling—but it's ok if it is.” Oftentimes Wolf scours Instagram for work, letting the algorithm act as a curator. Once you follow one artist you like, she says, the platform will suggest others that fit your taste.
Then, stop stressing about whether or not it’s an exact fit for your home’s color scheme or wallpaper. “It doesn't have to perfectly match your decor. In fact, many would argue the most sophisticated houses mix modern and classic whenever possible,” she says. “Mix art with your family photos and framed ephemera in gallery walls above couches, beds or dining tables, or even start a small collection in a nook or corner.”
Once you’ve finally chosen something, it’s time to move onto the next step: framing it. “One thing to keep in mind when choosing frames for art is that you want to choose one that doesn’t take away or compete with the art itself,” says interior designer Sarah Sherman Samuel. “I tend to gravitate towards natural wood frames or slim black or white frames as they tend to be the most versatile.”
Now, where, exactly, should you place the piece? “When choosing where to hang art, I think pushing the boundaries with scale can lead to more interesting applications,” suggests Sherman Samuel. For example going for one huge framed piece of art on a wall that is not much bigger or placing a small sized piece off center for an asymmetrical composition on a large expanse.”
And just like that, your living room can be as pretty as a picture.
