The Role of Art in the Home
Interior Design Trends | 30.04.2019
For artists and designers alike, the dividing line between form and function has proven to be a tricky distinction to pinpoint, and lead many to try their hand at interiors. From the famous Bloomsbury Group, that included Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant and Virginia Woolf, and their intricately hand-decorated home near Lewes in East Sussex, to the über-sexy, Pop art furniture of Allen Jones or the Minimalist, refined shapes of Donald Judd's chairs, tables and daybeds, many artists have forayed into the field of interiors with consummate ingenuity.
Taking formal cues from their own paintings and sculptures, many artists adapt their anti-utilitarian objects to fit the bill of a functional object. With the Bloomsbury Group, Judd and even Le Corbusier, the idea of a total work of art went so far as to include patterns over each and every surface, the furniture in the room and the shape of the building it was hung in. Doubtless, what all these artists have in common is a unique creative sense and unrelenting commitment to their own aesthetic that began, first and foremost, with their artistic style - proving that, when it comes to piecing together the complete environment, you should let your nose be led by your art, before your furniture.
Your Art will Set the Tone
Paintings and photographs are the best way to inject colour and character into a room. Statement pieces often contribute far more to the feel of a room than furniture. Whether it is a brightly coloured painting, a neon or a black and white photograph, the light reflected, produced or absorbed by its surface will impact the mood of a space. So think firstly about how to coordinate tonal values with art on the wall.
Create a statement with The Sixties or The Seventies Neon pieces in our new artwork collection or, pack a colourful punch with the Louis Vuitton series for a Pop Art effect. If you want to produce a more avant garde aura pieces like Flavours or The Last Supper work well with bright soft furnishings.
Art as a Centrepiece and Talking Point
Moods in environments are often dictated by the content of the art on the walls - bright colours and simple, more abstract shapes will make a room feel lively and energetic, whilst stranger or darker subject matter will set a more somber tone. Art will also trigger a response from people you invite into your home. Guests might ask 'why did you pick this?' or 'what does it mean?', providing interesting conversation starters.
Installing pieces like our Kiss Me neon box are bound to inject light humour into your interior design while other works like Stop Wars or The Purpose of Life will inspire deeper discussion and debate.
Take Inspiration from Collectors
It's not easy or quick working out what kind of art chimes with both you and your home, so do your research. When looking for design inspiration, what better way to find it than to look to those who have done the hard work of trying and testing endless combinations of styles, mediums, colours and shapes. There are many world-renowned collectors whose homes are frequently photographed and published across editorials.
Recreate the maximalist abundance of colour and pattern seen in Valentino's home by juxtaposing our Mythical Land or Wychwood Provencal Wallpapers with a structural sculpture such as the Klaus. Or take a more minimalist approach along the lines of Edythe and Eli Broad with simplistic pieces such as Whimsical Abstraction.
Take Inspiration from Artists
Many artists and designers leave plenty of hints in their work. Learn to read into certain forms and styles, understanding how paintings sit with different styles of furniture, how larger and smaller pieces will utilise space and how artists borrow colours and images from other periods - there is nothing wrong with a bit of mix and match, and you can be surprised how readily classically proportioned furniture can sit alongside very contemporary art. Artists provide great inspiration here: nothing is off-limits as long as you love it!
