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Most of us have some form of art hanging in our homes. But there’s a difference between grabbing something off the shelf at Home Goods and selecting a piece that truly sparks joy. When chosen thoughtfully, art can help tell your story. It may sound dramatic, but it’s true: meaningful art speaks to your soul.
The good news? Curating an art collection doesn’t have to feel intimidating or overly serious. Whether it’s a sculpture purchased while traveling through Italy, a watercolor your aunt painted for you, or a bold painting that just makes you happy, art is personal—and that’s exactly the point.
When we hear the phrase “art collection,” most of our minds go straight to large, expensive paintings in gilded frames, but let’s be honest—we don’t live in museums or art galleries. Personally selected art doesn’t have to be a pretentious thing, and the art you choose doesn’t have to be a commissioned one-of-a-kind piece.
On the other hand, meaningful art typically doesn’t come from big box stores. No, we’re in search of something more personal: art that isn’t mass-produced and that won’t be on the walls of your neighbor’s house. Let’s discover how to find it.
There are SO many types of art. From the medium to the subject, the options seem endless, which can honestly feel overwhelming. My advice? Start looking for art everywhere.
When you’re at restaurants, in public, in shops—pay attention to what you notice and what mediums you gravitate towards. Do you like photography? Are you drawn towards scenery, nature, abstract, color, or black and white photos? What about paintings or prints? How do you feel about sculptures? Art absolutely exists beyond a frame. I love a good ceramic vase—I consider it art as much as the photos hanging on my walls.
There are no rules when it comes to the type of art you choose. I have a wide variety in my own home: a special tile from a trip to Portugal, iPhone photos I’ve printed and framed, an oil painting from my late grandmother, a tiny piece from an artist I love but can’t quite afford a larger piece from (yet!), and even a few I’ve made myself. Variety is the spice of life, right?
We all know that Chicago is a foodie city, but it’s also an art city. We have a rich and vibrant culture supporting local artists, including a range of events for art junkies to people just dipping their toes. If you’re in search of pieces to display in your home, some great local go-to places include Expo Chicago, One of a Kind Show, The Other Art Fair, Old Town Art Fair, summer street fests featuring local vendors, and local galleries like Alma Art. If you’re not a fellow Chicagoan, check your city for local art events.
So many of these events take place in the spring and summer, so if you’re searching “off season” or don’t have many options in your area, start looking online. There are many small vendors popping up online, even beyond Etsy (which is a great resource). I love Minted for affordable and unique options—you can filter by type and select “limited pieces” so you know you’re getting something a little more special. You can also ask an artist you found online to commission a piece for you, as I did below.
“What size art should I buy?” is such a common question—and it’s an important one! Finding the right proportions is key. Fortunately, when buying online, you often have a variety of size options to choose from. If you are buying art for a specific place in your house, use the following proportions guidelines:
Art size relative to furniture or wall width: Your artwork should span two-thirds to three-quarters the width of the furniture below. For example, over a 90″ sofa, aim for art around 60-67″ wide. If you’re hanging multiple pieces, treat them as one unit when measuring width and spacing.
What if you find a piece you just love but don’t know where it will fit? You never know where you’ll find inspiration or what size it will be! Go ahead and purchase it and find the right spot for it later. If necessary, you can balance the proportions with some other surrounding pieces.
If you’re wondering what color art will work in your space, you’re not alone. While the 60-30-10 rule (60% dominant, 30% secondary, 10% accent color) can help when designing a room, it doesn’t apply so strictly to art. Think of art as the wild card—it can reinforce your color palette or intentionally contrast it.
One of the most common mistakes I see is art that is hung too high. If you adjust your existing art and mirrors, I promise that you’ll notice an immediate positive difference. Like so many aspects of design, getting the right vertical placement is a mix of art and science. Here are some guidelines to follow:
When hanging art over furniture, these two guidelines can occasionally compete—especially if the furniture is tall. In those cases, prioritize anchoring the artwork to the furniture first. Then, if it works proportionally, apply the eye-level rule. For example, when hanging art above a low piece like a bench, the spacing above the furniture should take priority. When in doubt, go with what feels visually balanced—it’s more important for the artwork to feel intentionally connected to the furniture than to rigidly follow the 57–60 inch rule.
Unless you feel a deep connection to a word art piece, I urge you to look for alternative ways to convey the message. Incorporating word art can often feel trite and overdone, and there are a variety of other clever ways to make connections between the art and the space it’s in.
In our West Town Fun House project below, we used a retro laundromat photo in the laundry room and a neon light phrase in the dance studio. It’s a similar idea as “Wash. Fold. Repeat.” or “Dance!” word art signs, but more unique and meaningful, wouldn’t you agree?
Remember, like most aspects of interior design, there’s no need for your art to be matchy-matchy. You can mix materials, sizes, colors, and styles—or keep it cohesive with similar framing or by sticking to one medium. The most important thing is that it speaks to you.
The meaning behind the art you choose can be deeply personal or it can be completely aesthetic. Don’t overthink it, have fun with it, and buy the art that you love. Remember—there are no rules when it comes to art, except how high you hang it 😉
I sincerely hope that this guide has been helpful and has given you confidence that you can create a beautiful, meaningful art collection that you feel proud to display in your home. If you want guidance in curating art and spaces in your home that you’ll love, we’re here to help.
Reach out to us here, and let’s connect.
Warmly,
Kristen