Art can be a wonderful addition to any home or office space. It can be a point of conversation, something that cheers you on dreary days, or something that inspires you to keep working on that creative project even though you’re exhausted, and you’ve got to get up early tomorrow. Choosing art, however, can be a pain in the neck, to say the least. While it would be nice to say that you could just pick the one that speaks loudest to you, this isn’t always the case when it comes to art you plan on including in your home decor. The following will explore some of the things you need to keep in mind when shopping for works of art. We’ll pay special attention to elements of shopping for art online, as this is how most of us are getting our art at the moment.
Art Can Be an Investment
Given that so many luxury goods tend to be liabilities instead of assets, it might feel counterintuitive to view art as an investment. Of course, not all art increases in enough value over time to make it worth your while as an investment, but much of it does. Before making a purchase, for this reason, be sure to do your research on how to invest in art, and while you’re in the research stage, talk to your accountant as well. There can be some wonderful tax bonuses that can come from investing in art.
Understand Shipping
Some art is a reasonable size and so can be wrapped up and shipped the way anything you order online would be. Other art, however, like giant portraits or heavy sculptures, requires an understanding of shipping, especially if the art is traveling across state lines. You might need to look into a company to move the piece for you, and this means you’ll need to factor it into your price.
Expect the Process to Take a While
You might get lucky and find that perfect piece that comes with a frame you love that matches the odd-colored rug you inherited from your great Aunt right away. For most of us shopping for art, this isn’t the case. It can take a long time to find the right work for the space you have. Many places where you can buy cool artworks (especially the ones where artists post their own handmade works) have thousands upon thousands of options, and sifting through them all is going to take a bit of time. Not to mention, once you make a choice, you’re probably going to want to let the idea sit for a moment before your purchase because you’re going to be looking at the artwork multiple times a day, and you want to be sure you still love it a week from now.
Size Is Crucial
Be sure to measure your space before shopping so that you have a firm grasp on what you can fit in your space. This will help you narrow down your search but will also keep you from being swayed by a beautiful piece of art towards buying something that, as stunning as it is, will look awkward in your space.
Understand Color Theory
We’re not talking about color theory from an artistic point of view (though, of course, this is well worth your attention as well); we’re talking about the impact that colors can have on your mental state. Too many of us make purchases for our homes without understanding the psychological effect we’ll be feeling from having it in our line of vision all day. Just like when you’re choosing paint or wallpaper for the walls or choosing materials for larger items in your home like sofas, bedding, and window coverings, you need to think about how the art you choose is going to alter the mood of your space.
Take a second to learn about the effects each of the colors has—maybe you love that dreary, gray painting of the sea because it reminds you of your grandmother’s cottage you visited as a kid, but maybe you don’t want the feelings of sadness, depression, and lack of confidence that gray tends to generate in those surrounded by it (yes, that makes you rethink some of the current trends now, doesn’t it?).
Run the Choice Past Everyone Else
If you’re selecting art for a home that you share with people, it’s a good idea to get their input (even if they’re children). They’re going to be looking at it often as well, and therefore, they’re going to be influenced by it, same as you. And who knows? Maybe your twelve-year-old will point out something awkward in the abstract, geometric print you’ve selected; maybe it will be something that you can’t unsee once you’ve been shown.
Never Ignore Your Gut
When it comes to art, there is an ethereal, unexplainable aspect to it. If something speaks to you, it speaks to you. If something doesn’t, it doesn’t. While the above tips are excellent guidelines, you should never follow them to the degree that you ignore your instinctual feelings about a piece. Ideally, you want to be following the sensical suggestions above to narrow down the choices but use your heart to make the final choice between the options you have left.
Humans have been drawn to create and display art since the earliest records we have. It’s part of our culture and heritage; it’s part of our nature, something that children seek and make without ever being told to do. We still don’t fully understand why humans are so connected to art, but we know that it can bring daily joy into our lives to have it around.
The above tips should help you pick out the perfect piece of art for your home, office, or investment portfolio. Again, this is a process that shouldn’t be rushed. Yes, you might want to fill that big space on your wall, but you want to fill it with the right thing. Rushing is one of the easiest ways to end up with something that irks you.