Here at My Beautiful Abode we are currently working with a client who is in the depths of a major renovation. We began working with them a couple of years ago to select the finishes to the house (all the materials: paint, tiles, cabinetry, handles, floor etc). Originally, the house was filled with lots of internal nooks and crannies with every room featuring multiple furnishings and every surface decorated with photos, nicknacks etc. The renovated house is going to be quite minimalist. In the past, our client hasn’t really cared about art *gasp!* What they really mean is they don’t know what they really like, or really notice it around them. Our founder and lead designer Sophie suggested quite early on that the rooms will need some interest, and if all that finishes and furnishings are going to be neutral and minimalist, we will need the art to step forward and be special. In all honestly, the client didn’t really like this idea.
That was six months ago. Now that the house is coming to life and we can see the building envelope and how the space will feel, the clients are starting to see the role art will play in their home. Not only have we embraced needing feature art, but that these pieces will introduce colour and a story to the home, a seemingly outrageous idea months ago. The art will breathe life into this home.
Art is a way to express yourself.
At MBA we deeply believe that your home is a place to live in, to relax and not to be too precious. Which brings us to family art and kids art. We think being creative should be rewarded and that including homemade art adds an extra layer of you to your home. Whether it’s kinder art in a openable frame so pieces can be rotated through, or a special school project, or even art that has been gifted by a family member, we can find a place for this in your home. Here’s where we have to be a smidge brutal – you won’t always absolutely, positively love pieces that you feel compelled to keep! The good news is that we have design tricks that allow us to incorporate homemade art that might not be your favourite:
- Into a gallery wall, or arranged as a group, so the pieces are parts of a whole rather than a focal point. The art is able to tell a story.
- With kinder art, we suggest taking pictures and making a photo book at the end of the kinder year celebrating the evolution of style. This means not feeling obliged through the year to keep all of the ‘that’s so special!!’ pieces.
Other than looking pretty or evoking emotion, art can change how a space works.
- Art can have a function of being a focal point.
- It can help lead your eye around the room.
- Rather than turning your television into a focal point, we often like to ground a TV in a gallery wall, which in turn introduces texture, colour and personality.
Humans are hardwired to seek beauty, it’s a primitive need and this fun video explains why and while taste in art will also be subjective, you will be experiencing an aesthetic moment as studied by Anjan Chetterjee (read more here) in this fascinating article.
Art is also proven to improve mental health and wellbeing – but beyond that? As designers we wholeheartedly believe that it adds so much value to a space that we’d love to speak to you about, perhaps at one of our favourite art spaces? Why don’t you reach out to organise a meeting?
