Monday, May 26, 2014

The Best Rooms Have Art!

I have several home decorating blogs that I read regularly so that I can keep up with decorating trends, (and also so that I can criticize those that I don't like!). I've noticed a distressing trend lately.  People don't seem to be hanging art on their walls.  
Now I know that many young people just starting out in life think that they cannot afford art, and sometimes they really can't.  But I've even noticed that people who are established in their jobs and their lives seem to have rooms that are distinctly lacking in art, especially paintings.  Look at the room below.  I love it! The room that is.  And the furniture.  The chandelier, the curtains, the mirror over the fireplace and the rug. 
But just imagine how much more beautiful this room would be with a painting next to the fireplace (over the bench) or a print or two on the wall to the left. For those going for the no color look, art still has a place in this room. Wonderful drawings, black and white prints, subtle paintings would all work here.
french style decor
.The same goes with the dining room below.  Now, I do hate the chairs and love the mirror, but this dining room is screaming for art on its walls.

french style decor
Look at this wonderful room below.  It has color, which I applaud, but this wouldn't be the same room without that wonderful painting over the fireplace.
decorating with art
Below, a very subtly colored room, but it would look like an empty rental without those wonderful paintings on the wall.
decorating with art\
There is no excuse for not having art.  Here the watercolors are hung on the shelves, very English country.
decorating with paintings
A fantastic wall of art. If that wall were blank, all the personality would be sucked from the room.
gallery wall
In a Parisian room, art runs up the walls and even over the doorways.
gallery wall
I love having gallery walls over sofas.  It's also a perfect focal point when a room does not have a view or a fireplace.
gallery wall
Below, just one painting would make a beautiful difference in this dining room. 
french style decor
Corners can be used for art, too.  The space does not have to be huge.
gallery wall
The three framed drawings below are quite fitting in this formal room.
decorating with paintings
The all-grey room below needs a painting between the windows.
french style door
Another gallery wall of great interest.
gallery wall
This formal room has formal portraits to match.
decorating with paintings
I really don't understand the lack of art when there are so many artists out there dying to sell their wares.  You can even find original paintings in thrift stores. Watercolors and drawings are usually much less expensive than oil or acrylic paintings and can look just as good on the wall.  Even museum posters framed would be good for those who have a limited income.
But please, hang some pictures!!!!