While it might seem counterintuitive, the best small-space art display consists of one large piece around which you organize the room. Conventional wisdom suggests that maximizing wall space for art means matching the size of the room to the art.
In other words, if you have a small space, you should find several small pieces and create a gallery. In this post, we will talk about why hanging large art in small spaces is a better way to go and give you some tips on how to do it.
The Case For Large Art In Small Spaces
We’ll use an analogy to understand why a large painting fits better in a small space. When writing short stories, the author must make every word count. What a novelist can express in a thousand words, the short story writer must express in maybe a few hundred at the most.
This requires the short story writer to choose the most descriptive words, concentrate on the main idea or theme, and cut out any elements that don’t support the main idea.
For the home decorator, each piece of art is as precious as words are to the short story writer. They must flow, they must highlight, and they must convey major emotions or themes.
Decorate Your Small Bathroom With Art
Your small room is the same way. Because it’s so small, it can only have one main idea and one focal point. If, like the short story writer, you add too many small pieces (words) to the mix, the impact of your message gets overwhelmed and hides behind all those details.
We’ll use bathroom art as an example of how hanging large art in small spaces would work. You will likely only have one wall that isn’t taken up with shelves of towels, mirrors, and other bathroom-related items. This becomes the focal point, the primary visual idea of the room.
If you’ve chosen a lighthouse theme for the bathroom and all your towels and the sconces around your mirror fit this theme, then visually, you’ll be pulled off track if you hang a cityscape in the space instead of a painting of a lighthouse.
How To Work With A Theme
Before buying the art for your small space art display, you will want to make a checklist. In it, you’ll work out all the details.
Here’s an example if you’re buying a large painting for a small French-themed kitchen.
- Artwork: Paris Cafe By Thomas Kinkade Studios
- Items To Fit The Theme: French café-style coffee cups; red, white, and blue French flags; table and chairs made of distressed wood (shabby chic style)
- Color Themes: Blue and burgundy to match the colors in the painting and the flags
Other Tricks To Fool The Eye
Here are some additional ideas to make your small space look bigger and help your art create a more significant impact.
- Create the appearance of light. This can be in sconces or lamps, but you can also try hanging a large mirror reflecting the light.
- Choose couches and chairs with no arms. This cuts down on the bulky look of the pieces and makes the room look larger.
- Take advantage of an existing focal point, like a fireplace. This solves the problem of figuring out art placement in small rooms. Just hang your large piece of art over the fireplace to strengthen the look.
Maximize Your Wall Space With Thomas Kinkade Studios
Talk to one of our art consultants today if you have a small space that needs a big statement. We’ll be happy to discuss options available for your space and your budget.
