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First, make sure your art matches you
There are many different kinds of collectors; some want to decorate
their homes, and others buy art simply because they're inspired by it.
Collectors who become passionate about art will run out of wall space
long before they run out of enthusiasm for collecting. Knowing what
kind of collector you are is helpful in making decisions about buying
and hanging art — are you buying art for a room, or just for yourself?
There are no hard-and-fast rules about placement of art in your home,
but we can give you a few general guidelines.
But how will it look over the couch?
Artwork provides a focus for a room and inspiration for its occupants.
Although an entire room can be designed around a single painting, we
usually purchase art after the room is furnished. In fact, the old joke
about buying a painting "to match the sofa" is more accurate
than most art buyers admit.
A common strategy in the beginning is to purchase key works for
specific places in your home (above the fireplace, in a dramatic
alcove, over that red couch) then fill in around them. If you've
purchased your first piece without a particular space in mind for it,
try hanging it in a number of places before you settle on a spot for
it. As your collection grows, you may want to rotate pieces to keep
the collection lively. But don't forget that delicate works on
paper should be kept out of direct sunlight. See
Conservation.
You are the curator of your own art collection
Remember, original art makes a statement. The quality and nature of
the work is an important consideration in its placement in the home;
you may choose more intimate, smaller-scale work for the bedroom than
for the living room. Each piece also has a particular presence or
weight determined by its scale, color, composition, and content. Try
to be aware of this presence or weight as you hang the work. The
placement of a single piece can affect everything else, so hang the
whole room instead of individual walls. This is where installation of
a collection is more art than science. Take your time, and enjoy the
experience.
Next: Methods & materials
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