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Art
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Make a Big Statement with Oversized Art
A Single Piece of Art Bridges Architecture and Decor
I'm a home makeover TV show producer, interior designer and the creator of Decor Demon, lifestyle editorial with an edge. http://www.decordemon.com
I'm a home makeover TV show producer, interior designer and the creator... More »
Have you ever fallen in love with a piece of art only to bring it home and find it's hard to appreciate from a distance? Both I and my wallet are quite familiar with this. Thanks to a $940 mistake involving a gorgeous piece of pop art my toilet got very lucky, as the colorful piece is now perched proudly right above it for everyone to see as they wash their hands. Not exactly what I had in mind back at the gallery.
Something I've learned to appreciate is the value of oversized art. From 5- by 9-foot black-and-white photos to 8-foot sculptures, rooms sporting large-scale art prove that bigger is often better. If you're on the fence about bringing home a particular piece but afraid it will chomp up your entire room and swallow it, take a look at these spaces and think again.
Something I've learned to appreciate is the value of oversized art. From 5- by 9-foot black-and-white photos to 8-foot sculptures, rooms sporting large-scale art prove that bigger is often better. If you're on the fence about bringing home a particular piece but afraid it will chomp up your entire room and swallow it, take a look at these spaces and think again.
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| First up, the most ideal place for a gigantic piece of fine art photography: an open, airy great room packed with architectural interest. A single piece of art can strike the perfect balance between the architectural assets and personal contents of a space. |
If a large image is too much for you to take in, a tone-on-tone pattern may be a great option. In this open, all-white space, the burst of red and its slight variation in tone really help break up what could otherwise become a sterile room. Ruby Baroque Tile from Art That Fits is an excellent option for anyone up for shopping online.
Now here's what I call color therapy. Sure, neutral spaces are a great idea if you wanna remain timeless and unattached to a specific color scheme. The downside is that no color at all can often becoming more boring than beautiful. Here's where a single burst of color, large in scale, hung on a cream wall comes in. Obviously, the art adds some energy to the space; however, this also works as a building block for slowly working color into the room.
If I were styling it for a photo shoot, I'd bring out the blue and the yellow by adding in 5-10 objects sporting those two colors: a small patterned pillow on the club chair, tabletop accessories and organizers on the desk, then maybe a few graphic objects on the bookshelves. Starting with art is always a safe bet for incorporating color. Just remember this quote: "Good art won't match your sofa."
If I were styling it for a photo shoot, I'd bring out the blue and the yellow by adding in 5-10 objects sporting those two colors: a small patterned pillow on the club chair, tabletop accessories and organizers on the desk, then maybe a few graphic objects on the bookshelves. Starting with art is always a safe bet for incorporating color. Just remember this quote: "Good art won't match your sofa."
Simple framing brings supersized works on paper to new heights. Opting for "conservation glass" is a brilliant investment. Papers, photographs, paintings, and other forms of art often lose their original colors due to ultraviolet radiation. The paper also will begin to yellow, become brittle and crack. This also applies to paintings on canvas, especially those using oil.
| If you really want to make a statement with non-representational art, go gigantic. Not only will it be much easier to take notice of the piece but it will also help you define an area, or in this case, draw people in from one space to another. |
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by Amoroso Design
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| Symmetrical groupings: a nifty way to bring in some big impact, even if your subjects are more small-to-medium than overscale. Intimidated by hanging 12 framed pieces perfectly? Don't be! Lay them out on the floor atop contractor paper. Once they're in place, trace each one directly onto the paper with a pencil or Sharpie. Next, mark exactly where the picture-hanging wire sits on the paper. Tape the contractor paper up on the wall, use a hammer to add picture nails into the marked area of the paper, tear down the paper, then hang your art. Trust me, it works. Trying to eyeball it can become a Swiss cheese drywall catastrophe. |
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If big statements on the wall aren't exactly your thing, sculpture is another road to travel. While they may not be the best choice for kid spaces or teency-weency apartments, they're a great way to introduce a new shape into an expansive room.
When I first got Kelly Wearstler's book, "Modern Glamour," I took notice of her use of organic shapes to break up rigid lines. If you're like me and like things to be linear, a horse or dog statue is an excellent way to break up straight-line monotony. Check out ZGallerie's white horse bust; it's a great way to introduce sculpture-like art on a wall at a low price point. If you have an extra $12K sitting underneath your sofa cushions, go all out and spend it on a 9 foot cast iron horse.
When I first got Kelly Wearstler's book, "Modern Glamour," I took notice of her use of organic shapes to break up rigid lines. If you're like me and like things to be linear, a horse or dog statue is an excellent way to break up straight-line monotony. Check out ZGallerie's white horse bust; it's a great way to introduce sculpture-like art on a wall at a low price point. If you have an extra $12K sitting underneath your sofa cushions, go all out and spend it on a 9 foot cast iron horse.
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| The parlor-style art grouping has become quite the trend over the past few years. What's so great about it, you ask? Bang for your buck, ladies and germs. Think about it: 18 pieces of art spread throughout 5 rooms makes much less of a impact than one great grouping in a 12X16 space. They key to keeping it all aesthetically correct is allowing the same distance between each piece. In small to medium spaces, two to three inches often works best. |
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| One huge statement through art doesn't always have to mean big bucks. Simply framing something inexpensive like a map or even blueprints can be just as artful as something from a gallery. For blueprints online, check out this Etsy shop. |
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by Charline Lancel
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| For those of you who really don't like a lot of stuff — and I stress the word "really" — oversized graphic art may be right up your alley. Many times the lines or pattern are quite busy which can make the overall space seem a kind of schizophrenic. By pairing it with just a few key items, the art truly gets to be the star. Have you seen Black Swan? If so, you'll understand that there's usually only room for one breakout sensation to shine.
Next: Browse more images of art in design Anyone else have success using large-scale art in their home? Or, on the other hand, ever encounter a problem with it? More: The Power of Art in Design |
Ideabook updated on March 5, 2011.
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Ettajacques, I found my piece, a 50"x50" original oil on canvas, at a yard sale that was advertised on Craigslist. Apparently, the artist was moving and just wanted to sell some extra stuff. At the time, I was looking for furniture and had searched on the words "midcentury modern".
I found a new big art web gallery yesterday called www.GreatBigPaintings.com that I really liked. The paintings are very large and the textured giclee concept sounds interesting. In any event, I'm glad that I came across your site and I really appreciate you sharing your ideas!
Best!
For the following photo: http://www.printedart.com/content/black-oak-lake-henshaw
On the back 2ndwall is is 9" by 5'
I thought If I hung something large it would definitely pull the space closer because we fool the eye.
I am a very tight budget for everything. $1500.00 maximum for all. So I have to be creative. This is a salon for men by the way. Thanks.