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Art
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20 Creative Alternatives to Fine Art
Create a Stunning Effect With Objects from Your Travels, Nature, the Fabric Store and More
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Art galleries are not the only places to find wonderful things to put on your walls. Displayed beautifully, some of the most surprising things can take the place of paintings or sculpture.
Do you have a huge vacant wall, but don't have $30,000 for a giant original painting to go on it? Then think outside the box. Use your imagination and you can fill that wall beautifully — and affordably. Do you have treasured items collected from your travels but aren't sure what to do with them? There are some great ideas here for displaying them just as beautifully as the finest art.
Do you have a huge vacant wall, but don't have $30,000 for a giant original painting to go on it? Then think outside the box. Use your imagination and you can fill that wall beautifully — and affordably. Do you have treasured items collected from your travels but aren't sure what to do with them? There are some great ideas here for displaying them just as beautifully as the finest art.
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This gorgeous kimono is displayed beautifully on a stand as if it were a sculpture. I've seen kimonos hung on on walls before, but this standing display allows you to get close enough to see all of the detail.
For this client in a live-work loft, we had a living area with 23-foot high ceilings. There wasn't money in the budget for a super large-scale work of art, so I found fabric that was orange with white wavy lines and suspended it on a rod from the ceiling. The panel itself is 14 feet tall.
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| A pair of large steel templates are perfect on this white wall and fit the industrial style of the space. |
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A pair of large antique door panels works in the same way, but fits an entirely different decor.
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| This pair of puppets look like they may be valuable collector's items. Their display on this custom stand shows them off as sculpture. |
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by Elias Kababie
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| Algues is a plastic, freeform object that can be linked together to create hangings of any shape or size. Here, it is shown in black and shaped around a television. |
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| This is Algues again, but this time in green. I've also seen this hung between areas of an open loft to create a room divider. |
| Wall decals are fun and inexpensive forms of wall art. I could write a whole ideabook just on those. I've seen thumb print decals as large as 3 1/2 feet wide and 6 feet tall. Fun! |
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If you're a traveler, you may have some great finds from around the world. Try displaying one under a spotlight and on a pedestal for dramatic effect.
by Craig Denis
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Or frame it and hang it on the wall.
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by Birdseye Design
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| Or hang it up all on its own. |
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| The beauty of these bronze bells is highlighted when placed in elaborate, custom stands and grouped together. |
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Dramatic lighting adds to their effect.
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Nature is the most prolific artist, in my opinion. Find a beautiful natural object, place it on an appropriate pedestal and give it some space. Instant sculpture!
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I wouldn't want to see a sawtooth shark proboscis coming my direction while scuba diving, but on pedestals and side by side on this chest, they look great!
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by Amy Lau Design
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| The twisting shapes of Lianas vines are beautiful in this mass grouping .... |
| ... or as a stand-alone sculpture with an accent light below to highlight its curves. |
How about this idea from nature? A beautiful aquarium recessed into the wall is a living work of art. I love how the aquarium and the fireplace surround are exactly the same size. Very nice.
| A bicycle may be an unlikely candidate when it comes to wall art, but this pink vintage bike is fun and decorative. |
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| Adding a textural element to your wall with accent lighting can be a good solution for one of those giant walls. |
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A vintage map — or lots of vintage maps — can be a good alternative to fine art. For an upscale look, ditch the push pins and frame your maps.
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Other vintage items can make an interesting alternative to paintings. I love the campy feel of this neon sign.
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Yes, I know, this is a television projecting onto a wall. Our televisions hold great potential to be art elements in our homes. I own some DVDs that are strictly moving art. One of my favorites is "77 Million Paintings" by Brian Eno. It features endlessly shifting colors and forms. Ambiance Visuals offers DVDs that are art for your television. You can even custom create your own two-hour DVD that loops continuously.
Really, you could put anything on your TV that isn't a TV show, turn off the sound and enjoy it as art. So much better than looking at that big black hole.
I'd love to see some innovative things you've put up in your homes as alternatives to paintings or sculpture. Please share your photos in the comments.
More: 10 Design Strategies for Art Lovers
Really, you could put anything on your TV that isn't a TV show, turn off the sound and enjoy it as art. So much better than looking at that big black hole.
I'd love to see some innovative things you've put up in your homes as alternatives to paintings or sculpture. Please share your photos in the comments.
More: 10 Design Strategies for Art Lovers
Ideabook updated on June 21, 2011.
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austincsue -- Well that makes sense now. The designer is in Texas, so I bet the reminder of the state fair holds fond memories for the home owner.
ettajacques -- I think there's nothing better than pieces in your decor that give you an instant and happy emotional connection. Funnel cakes and corn dogs, huh? My "guilty-pleasure" at a fair is cotton candy.
Thank you so much!
amandaa -- Well, thank you!
nancypeterson10 -- It's all these imaginative designers on Houzz that really did the proving. I can't take too much credit. ;0) But yes, with imagination, your decor can hold its own against the very expensive interiors. I do have to say that not all of these examples are inexpensive -- but all of them are imaginative.
jessa -- What a fun idea! I don't know that rubber bands would have popped into my head, but they clearly worked.
danceerb -- Ha! I wondered how long it was going to be until someone brought that up. I'm actually on your side of the fence when it comes to what constitutes "fine art". I used the title because when "most people" think of fine art, they automatically think of paintings and sculpture. I wanted people to begin thinking about all of the wonderful objects that can provide beauty, stir emotion, and provoke thought no matter what they call it.