Inspiration
How to find the perfect artwork for your space
Like music, art is a very personal thing. Finding a style or piece that speaks to you directly and inspires feelings and emotions is the reason that art is a popular pastime for many people, so if you’re just getting into art and thinking of starting your own collection, then this guide to finding the perfect artwork for your space is a must-read. Here are our expert tips on how to get started. Set your budget The cost of art ranges from just a few pounds to millions, so before you start on that search for a piece of art that you simply have to have, set yourself a limit and stick to it. Art doesn’t need to be original or expensive, and wall art prints are a great place to start if your budget is limited right now, so don’t feel that you need to spend hundreds of pounds to find the piece that will suit your space perfectly. Uncover art styles and subjects Getting a better idea of the art styles and subjects that you enjoy is one of the most enjoyable parts of finding a new piece of art, so take your time to browse through our website. Shortlist pieces you feel would best suit your décor and that you know you will enjoy looking at for the foreseeable future. From abstract original artwork to wall art prints featuring themes such as travel, botanicals and animals, there’s a subject or style to suit everyone. Think about your space You might have seen the perfect piece of art that suits your own sense of style or home décor, but if it's the wrong size, then it's pretty pointless in owning it unless you've got a safe space to store it until you decide to move house. Before you order anything, it’s essential that you measure the wall you’re hoping to hang your artwork on, and a good rule of thumb is to leave 3/8 of the width of your art on each side of your wall to ensure that it looks perfect once hung. If you’re thinking of doing something a little different, then you can also combine smaller framed pieces of artwork into one stand-out feature to add interest to your wall and catch the attention of visitors to your home – it really is up to you, so just choose the pieces you like best and don’t be afraid to experiment.
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How to hang contemporary art for maximum impact
How to hang contemporary art for maximum impact A piece of stunning contemporary art has the power to transform the appearance, feel, and atmosphere of a room. But how you hang it is just as important and shouldn’t be an undervalued step if you want to achieve maximum impact for your artistic investment. In fact, the process of hanging contemporary art can be akin to painting a picture itself – a process of considering and balancing space, proportion, style, and colours. Modern, original art that’s displayed with awareness for how to showcase it to the best of its ability can become a contemporary focal point of a space for all the right reasons. From avoiding the common pitfalls of hanging art to trying something different, these tips can help you hang art to achieve the greatest impression: Think about the height. A common mistake is to hang art too high on the wall. Ideally you want the centre of the picture to be at eye level. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, such as if furniture is below the picture or if you want to draw the eye upwards to another feature. Make sure you have two hanging points. Hanging your picture from a single point might seem like a quicker option but after investing in a beautiful piece you don’t want to risk it falling. Not only that but it’ll make sure that it doesn’t shift and throw off the whole look over time. Be aware of how your room slopes. You might be tempted to hang your picture perfectly straight but this can sometimes highlight how your room slopes. Take a careful look at your room to see if your ceilings and other features are level. It might be a better option to hang your art to reflect these rather than opting to get the spirit level out. Consider the frame. A frame can take your contemporary art to the next level. Some pieces of art and photographs look great unframed but others need a frame to give extra definition, plus it’ll provide protection for your original art. A high-quality frame that matches the style of your art is a must if you choose to frame. Draw attention to contemporary art. Art is made to be viewed and appreciated so draw attention to it. Creating a minimal look around the hanging, using accent lighting, and designing a contrast with the rest of the room, are great ways to achieve maximum impact for your purchase. Remember that rules are made to be broken. While you’ll find plenty of rules, sometimes breaking them can be the best option. After all, contemporary art often aims to be different, why shouldn’t it be displayed in a new way? You might be surprised at what works in your space.
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A complete guide to framing art
A complete guide to framing art Whether you are a seasoned collector or just have one or two pieces in your home, you will know that framing art, and framing it right, can add a stunning new dimension. Everything from the type, size, and colour of the frame to the way it’s mounted can change the look and feel of a piece entirely, thus altering the mood of the room in which it is hung. If you’ve just ordered your next piece of original art from our hand-picked gallery, here is our complete guide to framing it to ensure that you showcase it perfectly. Choosing your frame The frame you choose is incredibly important, and it can define the mood of the picture. Choosing a contemporary frame in a matt, block colour can add drama to a piece. Going for an elegant, thin frame in metallic gold or silver gives a much more delicate look. There are many fantastic frames available to buy online in our picture frame collection in standard sizes. If your original art is in an unusual size, you can also use our bespoke framing service and get a custom frame handmade by us to fit its dimensions exactly. Matting Beyond simply framing your piece of original art, matting can provide an additional border. The mat is a piece of board which acts as a ‘window’ to display your artwork. The mat board can be cut to any thickness, and can be any colour you choose. This is particularly useful for highlighting a certain tone in a piece of artwork, helping it to suit the room where it is going to be placed. At Abstract House, we use a classic white mount which we have sourced to perfectly compliment our artworks and showcase the true colours of the picture. If you want to add matting to your new piece of contemporary art, you will need: Mat board in your chosen colour A box cutter or similar blade A ruler A protective cutting surface or mat A pencil A specialist mat cutter Your chosen frame First, cut your mat board so that it is the same size as the frame you want to use. Most shop bought frames come with a backing – use this as a template to help you cut the correct dimensions. You then must measure the window or opening that your artwork will show through. How big or small this window should be depends on the look you are wanting to achieve. Be careful, this requires a steady hand and good use of a ruler! Once you have marked, in pencil, the lines where you want to cut, use the mat cutter to carefully cut the mat board. After cutting four straight lines, push the rest of the mat board through to create a gap. Place the newly cut mat board on top of your art, print or fine art photograph and secure in place using your frame. Trusted framing experts Of course, if a piece is particularly valuable or if you simply would rather leave the framing process down to the experts, here at Abstract House our professional framers can make your new piece of art look stunning, and perfect for its environment. Discover our ready made wooden picture frames or get in touch to find out about our bespoke framing service. Check out our award winning custom made frames.
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