How to Find the Perfect Art Piece for Your Home
Choosing the right artwork for your home isn’t just about décor. It’s about creating a space that feels like yours, filled with meaning, energy, and style. Whether you’re redecorating a single room or filling a brand new home with personality, art is often the thing that ties everything together.
A local gallery like the Cherry Creek Art Gallery can offer insight you won’t get from scrolling online catalogs. The staff at these local shops often know what works in certain rooms and can help connect you with both emerging and established artists.
Start With the Feeling You Want
Ask yourself how you want the room to feel. Calm and meditative? Bold and energizing? Sophisticated? Playful? Art plays a big role in setting the emotional tone of a space. For example, large scale pieces with cool tones and soft brushstrokes are often used in bedrooms or reading nooks to promote calm. Meanwhile, graphic prints or abstract art with high contrast might better suit an office or hallway.
It doesn’t have to match the room, but it should speak to it.
Pay Attention to the Art’s Scale
One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is buying art that’s too small. A tiny 11-by-14 canvas floating on a big, blank wall will look lost, no matter how lovely the painting is. A good rule of thumb: artwork should take up about two-thirds to three-fourths of the wall space above a piece of furniture, like a sofa or a credenza.
For tall walls or open layouts, consider oversized pieces or gallery walls. It’s often better to go too big than too small. Or anchor a small piece with a dramatic frame.
Define Your Style, Then Break the Rules
You might already know your interior design style, whether it’s farmhouse, mid-century modern, traditional, or eclectic. Use that as a guide, but don’t let it limit you. Some of the most stunning interiors combine contrasting styles: vintage oil paintings in a minimalist home, pop art in a rustic space, or textile wall hangings in a sleek condo.
Art should create interest and, ideally, a little tension.
Look for Original Work (If You Can)
Original art doesn’t have to be expensive. Many artists sell affordable original pieces, especially smaller ones or those made on paper or board. You might also find great original work at student shows, cooperative galleries, or events like First Fridays.
When you buy an original piece, you’re not just decorating. You’re collecting. You’re investing in a story. There’s something special about knowing no one else has that exact piece.
If originals are out of budget, don’t sweat it. Limited edition prints or even high-quality reproductions can still elevate a space.
Places to Shop for Art
Here are a few great places to browse beyond your local galleries:
- Independent artist websites (look for Etsy, BigCartel, or Shopify links)
- Saatchi Art or UGallery (curated online collections)
- Art fairs and maker markets
- Instagram (yes, really, many artists sell directly through their DMs)
When buying online, check dimensions carefully and ask about return policies. Seeing art in person has no substitute, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find gems online.
Don’t Forget to Rotate
One way to keep your space feeling fresh without constantly spending money? Rotate your art. If you’ve got a few pieces you love but only wall space for one or two, switch them out seasonally. Keep extras stored safely in flat boxes or covered with protective sleeves.
This keeps you engaged with your collection and lets your home evolve with your mood or lifestyle.
Use Art to Tell a Story
Some homeowners try to match every piece perfectly, all one color scheme, all one genre. But that can feel too calculated. A better approach is to let your art tell a story, even if that story is messy or nonlinear.
Mixing media (paintings, prints, textiles, sculpture) and styles adds richness. Maybe a vintage poster sits next to a contemporary photo. Or a minimalist black and white drawing hangs near a colorful street scene from your travels. That contrast makes things interesting.
The Psychology of Art at Home
According to a study by the University of Cambridge, contemplating aesthetically pleasing art can promote abstract thinking and psychological distancing, helping individuals escape daily anxieties and attain a broader perspective.
Display Tips
Even great art can get lost if it’s poorly hung or framed. Here are a few display tips:
- Hang pieces at eye level, the center should be about 57 to 60 inches from the floor
- Use gallery-style frames for a clean, modern look
- Don’t be afraid to lean art on shelves, consoles, or mantels
- Group smaller pieces into a salon wall layout using similar spacing between them
Lighting also matters. Natural light is great, but be cautious with pieces that could fade. Spotlights or picture lights can add drama, especially in the evenings.
Trust Your Gut
You might get advice from designers, gallery owners, or well-meaning friends. But ultimately, your art collection should make you feel something. If a painting sticks with you after you’ve left the gallery, or if it makes you smile every time you walk by, that’s probably the one.
You don’t need to know why you love a piece. You just have to love it.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the perfect art piece for your home is part intuition, part design, and part experimentation. You’re not just filling a wall, you’re curating your environment. Take your time, trust your instincts, and don’t be afraid to go bold. Whether you discover a showstopper at the Cherry Creek Art Gallery or find a gem at a flea market, the right piece will transform your space and say something real about who you are.
Want help figuring out where to start? Try walking into a gallery with no plan, just a sense of curiosity. You might walk out with a new favorite artist, or at the very least, a better sense of what you don’t like, which is just as important.