Styling: How to Display Your Pictures for Maximum Impact
Paintings and prints add heart and soul to a home. Here’s how to show yours off to best effect
If you’ve ever walked into a newly renovated house and felt something was missing, chances are it was artwork. Paintings and prints can often be the missing piece of the jigsaw when it comes to finishing off your interior. And when it comes to artwork, it’s the highly personal nature of your choices that can transform a house into a home. So bite the bullet, dare to knock nails into that fresh plaster and take inspiration from these stunning rooms.
Prop it
Smaller pictures propped on a mantelpiece or shelf as part of a vignette are an essential part of every stylist’s box of tricks. So build up a display using a propped picture as your anchor before adding other components, such as vases, bottles, candles and flowers.
A frame in the same colour as the wall ensures the picture really stands out, yet still feels like part of a cohesive tableau.
Smaller pictures propped on a mantelpiece or shelf as part of a vignette are an essential part of every stylist’s box of tricks. So build up a display using a propped picture as your anchor before adding other components, such as vases, bottles, candles and flowers.
A frame in the same colour as the wall ensures the picture really stands out, yet still feels like part of a cohesive tableau.
Break the rules
Traditional paintings needn’t be displayed in a suitably furnished period interior, so forget any staid notions about not mixing up eras. Juxtaposing an old master (or at least a print of one) with contemporary furniture can look amazing – so experiment.
How mixing different styles can look fantastic
Traditional paintings needn’t be displayed in a suitably furnished period interior, so forget any staid notions about not mixing up eras. Juxtaposing an old master (or at least a print of one) with contemporary furniture can look amazing – so experiment.
How mixing different styles can look fantastic
Finish off a traditional bathroom…
Elegant Victorian and Art Deco bathroom fittings are all the rage, so add the perfect finishing touches with pictures on chains. Botanical prints or scientific diagrams of insects and butterflies – the Victorians were real collectors – will fit right in.
Elegant Victorian and Art Deco bathroom fittings are all the rage, so add the perfect finishing touches with pictures on chains. Botanical prints or scientific diagrams of insects and butterflies – the Victorians were real collectors – will fit right in.
…or a contemporary one
An all-white bathroom with funky geometric flooring looks fresh and minimalist, but you can take it to another level with a quirky pop art print. The stark surroundings will make the art even more of a talking point.
An all-white bathroom with funky geometric flooring looks fresh and minimalist, but you can take it to another level with a quirky pop art print. The stark surroundings will make the art even more of a talking point.
Consider sight lines
It’s something that’s often overlooked, but pendant lighting can sometimes impede the view of your artwork. If this is the case, turn it into a positive feature and make the two pieces work together. If your light is ornate and colourful, keep the print monochrome, and vice versa.
It’s something that’s often overlooked, but pendant lighting can sometimes impede the view of your artwork. If this is the case, turn it into a positive feature and make the two pieces work together. If your light is ornate and colourful, keep the print monochrome, and vice versa.
Create a calm bedroom
If it’s a restful environment you’re after, such as in a bedroom, go for a tonal theme reflecting nature. Pictures that blend seamlessly into their surroundings are sure to induce a good night’s sleep.
See sure-fire ways to get a good night’s sleep
If it’s a restful environment you’re after, such as in a bedroom, go for a tonal theme reflecting nature. Pictures that blend seamlessly into their surroundings are sure to induce a good night’s sleep.
See sure-fire ways to get a good night’s sleep
Make the most of your hall
Normally the biggest expanse of wall in the house will be the hall and landing, but it’s often overlooked when so much focus is given to the main reception rooms. While it may be tricky to fix your prints on such a high wall, the results will be well worth it.
Using the same frames will unite the two spaces, while a variety of different frames will give a more eclectic, relaxed feel.
Discover 10 ways to pep up a tired hallway
Normally the biggest expanse of wall in the house will be the hall and landing, but it’s often overlooked when so much focus is given to the main reception rooms. While it may be tricky to fix your prints on such a high wall, the results will be well worth it.
Using the same frames will unite the two spaces, while a variety of different frames will give a more eclectic, relaxed feel.
Discover 10 ways to pep up a tired hallway
Divide and conquer
For a big impact, a canvas split into two, three or four sections can look extremely dramatic. This is a great option to consider when shopping for artworks if you have a large expanse of wall to cover.
For a big impact, a canvas split into two, three or four sections can look extremely dramatic. This is a great option to consider when shopping for artworks if you have a large expanse of wall to cover.
Invest in a picture light
Whether you favour antique brass, sleek and contemporary chrome or a worn industrial metal, a picture light will ensure your artwork looks just as good in the evening as during the day. Designs with adjustable heads make it even easier to highlight your artwork exactly the way you like.
Whether you favour antique brass, sleek and contemporary chrome or a worn industrial metal, a picture light will ensure your artwork looks just as good in the evening as during the day. Designs with adjustable heads make it even easier to highlight your artwork exactly the way you like.
Choose display shelves
Ultra-narrow shelves designed for propping up pictures give so much scope and flexibility, and can be picked up fairly cheaply from many DIY stores. When you fancy a change, just move your pictures around.
Paint the shelves the same colour as your walls to let the artworks take centre stage, and choose wood rather than plastic if you think you’ll want to change the colour whenever you repaint your walls.
TELL US…
How do you display artwork? Please tell – or show – us in the Comments below.
Ultra-narrow shelves designed for propping up pictures give so much scope and flexibility, and can be picked up fairly cheaply from many DIY stores. When you fancy a change, just move your pictures around.
Paint the shelves the same colour as your walls to let the artworks take centre stage, and choose wood rather than plastic if you think you’ll want to change the colour whenever you repaint your walls.
TELL US…
How do you display artwork? Please tell – or show – us in the Comments below.
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If you’ve invested in a bright and vibrant piece of artwork, you’ll want it to be the star of the show. Use the colour to inform the rest of the room’s scheme, but work your way down the tonal scale with more subdued hues in soft furnishings so the pièce de résistance stands out rather than blending in.