Interesting & Original Art for your Home

I love art. I have a fine arts degree and majored in photography, so art really is my first passion. This is evident in the amount of art I have in my home – and (much to my husband’s dismay!) I would love more. I believe you should invest in art and objects that you love – and they don’t need to be expensive. Here are my top 5 tips for selecting and displaying art for your home.

Tip 1: Original limited edition prints.

Artists often make digital prints of their original painting. These are much cheaper to buy than the original, and mean the artist gets to sell their work to a different demographic. Look for signed prints and check the edition number. Artists often print 100 editions and note the edition number at the bottom of the print for example, ‘1/100’ means you have the first print in the run. Number one is worth the most, so try and pick the lowest number available.

2: Look out for school fundraising events selling art.

Many schools have started holding mini art exhibitions using local and up-coming artists. Or, try looking at online art galleries such as Seed Gallery or Endemic World.

3: Make your own artworks, or use your kids art.

If you travel, you probably have some photos from beautiful locations that you could consider framing to create a collection. Or, maybe you’ve collected maps from overseas – have them professionally framed and they’ll look great. We have a lot of art and artefacts from our travels up on our walls – from maps of Italy to wall hangers from Bali.

You’ll also find some cool ideas on how to use kids’ art online. One is to scan it and select small sections to create a grid format out of squares.

4. Family heirlooms and op-shopping

Display anything old and I can guarantee it’ll look cool! You might not think so, but as soon as you pull out the pieces your old Aunty Betty gave you and display them, people will start commenting. Perhaps your grandparents had photos taken – these were (and still are!) precious pieces of art, they may just need a new frame. And if you don’t have any old art of your own, find some pieces you love at your local op-shop. I have so many special things from op shops.

5. Plants, knick knacks and bits & bobs.

These little pieces could be anything from Christmas decorations to collections of ceramic items. I collect Crown Lynn ceramics, crystal (bowls, vases), swans and old cameras. I try not to go overboard, but really, I collect anything old!

A small collection of things of the same colour makes a real statement. Try to go with odd numbers – three or five objects. If you don’t have any collections, think about something you might like to start collecting and add it as a favourite search on Trade Me. Then, every time a relevant item comes up, you’ll get a notification. Also try hunting in op shops… it’s amazing what you’ll find.

No matter what you decide to go with, my main piece of advice would be to pick something you love. If it makes you feel happy, it’s worthy of going in your home!

Extra tips on hanging, framing and where to look for art…

HOW TO HANG ARTWORK

People often find hanging art a bit daunting. Start by thinking about the size of the wall and of the artwork – big walls suit big pieces, while smaller walls or corner spaces need small but eye-catching pieces. If you’re thinking about doing a gallery wall, try arranging the pieces on the floor before you hang them on the wall. If you only have three pieces, I suggest hanging them in a straight line – avoid diagonal hanging at all costs! If you’re afraid to put the holes in the wall yourself, you can always hire a professional to make sure things are hung at the right height and distance apart.

FRAMING

There are two options here. One, take it to a framers and have it professionally framed. Two, choose a ready-made, standard sized frame, have a backing mat cut to fit your image, and mount the artwork yourself. This can save you a lot of money – but make sure you never buy a frame with perspex or plastic instead of glass. If you’re framing something precious, try to get the best glass you can afford. I really regret not getting archival glass on one of my special prints, as it has now faded.