Decorating With Art

A Little Savvy with Framed Art Prints and Photographs Can Help Successfully Pull a Room Together

Maybe you're restricted by an older living space with existing furnishings, or overwhelmed by the possibilities a stark new space may offer. Maybe you're decorating with unlimited funds, or on a shoe string budget. What ever the circumstances, framed art and prints can offer numerous solutions to decorating dilemmas, and they are often key elements in bringing a room together.

To use framed art successfully, as wall décor, color, and grouping, proportions and hanging need to be given careful consideration. Begin by thinking about the feeling or mood you wish to convey. Consider the colors and styles of existing furnishings, you may wish to reinforce, contrast or complement especially those that would be difficult or costly to change, such as flooring or bathroom fixtures. Study the space itself. Is it large and expansive, with high ceilings, or small and intimate?

So, now that you've begun thinking about mood, space, color and placement, here are some thoughts about materials and tools. If conservation is an important concern, the matting material should be one hundred percent acid free rag board. This is what museums use. Double mats may work well in situations where you want to maximize an accent color. The accent colored mat is usually placed under the lighter mat so only about one sixteenth to one quarter inch (about three to five centimeters) of it shows. Mats are usually four ply, but thicker, eight ply mats can really draw in the eye. They work best with photos and very small prints. Silk mats may be used in more formal and classic situations. If a mat is not used there are spacers, called fillets that may be used to prevent the piece from touching the glass. This prevents condensation from forming. UV glass does not prevent, but will cut down the amount of fading, over time. Always make sure your mat and frame are not distract!

ing the viewer's eye away. They should compliment the piece, not compete for attention. And, finally, I suggest a level and a good sturdy hammer, if you're doing the hanging yourself.

Careful hanging, relationships, and grouping will help give a professional look. Unity is most important in bringing a display of pictures, prints and photographs together. Grouping frames for your walls are will give character to the setting. Frames in the same color and finishes unify a collection, even if pictures are of various shapes and sizes. Framing different subjects with the same color mount also helps unity.

Placing all the items you wish to group for a particular wall, on the floor in that room is an easy way to visualize a plan. You can rearrange the items until you are satisfied. Then, step back and check the arrangement, before going to the wall. Remember, a consistent spacing factor between each item is important. Picture cords and large hooks may be hidden under bell cords, ribbons and decorative rosettes. For formal settings, chains can hang pictures on traditional picture rods. Large, bold pictures can be further away, in more open rooms. Small detailed pictures should be hung in intimate halls and baths. The most common error made in hanging pictures is to hang them too high. Standing eye level of an average person is fine for halls and entryways. In living and dinning rooms, pictures should be at eye level when seated.

Celeste is a free lance designer and illustrator who earned her BFA degree, with a major in illustration and a minor in portraiture, from the Cleveland Institute of Art. Her works can be found in various corporate and private collections as well as online at The Northern Ohio Illustrator's Society where she serves on the board.

About The Author

Celeste is a free lance designer and illustrator who earned her BFA degree, with a major in illustration and a minor in portraiture, from the Cleveland Institute of Art. Her works can be found in various corporate and private collections as well as online at The Northern Ohio Illustrator's Society, www.nois.com, where she serves on the board.

For more works of art, please visit our Art Gallery of Fine Prints and Posters from www.crookedWall.com. Home to over 100,000 art prints and posters, easily sort able by artist and style.

---

A Guide to Decorative Picnic Baskets

Decorative picnic baskets come in many sizes, styles, and artistic... Read More

The Benefits of Wicker Picnic Baskets

Wicker picnic baskets are a lovely, traditional way to pack... Read More

Where to Buy Discount Down Comforters

Many people love the look and feel of down comforters,... Read More

The Benefits of Quartz Cuckoo Clocks

Unlike windup cuckoo clocks, which require rewinding every one, two... Read More

Craft Projects - A Home Decorating One Of A Kind Look

Have you been in a craft store or maybe gone... Read More

Choosing the Right Wallpaper

There is literally thousands of different colors, different patterns even... Read More

The Demand for Massage Therapy Chairs

Massage therapists are in high demand. Consumers recognize the physical... Read More

An Introduction to Picnic Baskets

Picnic baskets are the best way to eat outdoors, and... Read More

Candle Holders Add Flair To Your Home Decor!

Candle holders are an essential accessory for candles. The first... Read More

An Introduction to Chess Sets

Chess is a popular board game across the world. While... Read More

What is a Duvet Cover?

A Duvet Cover is actually just another name for a... Read More

Kitchen Island Design Ideas - The Look, Size, And Features

Kitchen island design ideas not only include choosing the right... Read More

The Advantages of Wooden Wine Racks

Wood wine racks provide the best storage system for a... Read More

Inuit Stone Sculptures From The Arctic North

When most people think about stone sculptures, it's probably giant... Read More

Beach Theme Bedroom

Using accessories is a fun way to accent your bedroom... Read More

The Benefits of Laminate Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo, a grass once conjuring up images of Pandas and... Read More

The Benefits of Wood Blinds

In interior design, the blinds found on windows and doors... Read More

Vintage Hearth Accessories Heat Up Your Fireplace

Curling up near a cozy fire is a wonderful winter... Read More

Tips on Budget Decorating

Home decorating on a budget is the ultimate adventure in... Read More

Caring for Your Wood Furniture

There is nothing like wood furniture to add elegance and... Read More

Five Simple Changes To Your Home Decorating

Home decorating, ever wanted to try it, but hesitated because... Read More

A Guide to Shower Curtains

Bathrooms do not always offer many opportunities to make style... Read More

Finding Cheap Hardwood Floors

A wide range of hardwood floorings are available in the... Read More

What to Look for in Bathroom Vanity Tops

Bathroom vanity tops offer many options to the discerning customer.... Read More

How to Clean Mini Blinds

Mini-blinds are very convenient and attractive window treatments. They typically... Read More

The Benefits of Owning an Ionic Air Purifier

Ionic air purifiers are not filter systems. Ionic air purifiers... Read More

A Look at Custom Roman Shades

Roman shades are a classic window treatment. They are simple,... Read More

How Do You Choose Art for Your Home?

You have just moved into a new home. Perhaps it's... Read More

Ambient Orb or Mathmos Color Bubble

The Mathmos Color Bubble is made by Mathmos - the... Read More

About Pine Needle Baskets and How to Use Them in Your Home Decor

Have you ever had the pleasure of strolling through a... Read More

Thomas Chippendale and His Legendary Chairs

Chairs crafted by Thomas Chippendale were dazzling examples of quality... Read More

Furniture Slipcovers ? The Cheap and Easy Way to Give Your Furniture a Makeover

Are you tired of the look of your furniture? Do... Read More

The Legend of the Bayberry Candle

When colonial families settled on the Eastern seaboard, they set... Read More