by Brent Tan
Have you recently moved into the apartment or house that you have been dreaming of? In today's busy world, our houses are our sanctuaries and the place where we can feel the most comfortable and relaxed. Many people don't realize how much decor has to do with our ability to feel at ease in our own homes. If you come home to nothing but glaring white walls every day, it's no wonder that you've never felt at home in your new house. One of the best ways to bring your living room to life is with the addition of a nice oil painting.
A two-parent family based on love and commitment can be a wonderful thing, but historically speaking the “two-parent paradigm” has left an extraordinary amount of room for economic inequality, violence and male dominance.
—Stephanie Coontz (20th century)
If you've never really spent any time thinking about what kind of art would look best in your home, you might feel overwhelmed when you see how many suggestions or decorating tricks are out there. The truth is that although there are some techniques for how to decorate your home in a way that will make sense and calm your stressed mind, the things that work best in your home are the things that bring you joy when you look at them. So, take every bit of advice about choosing an oil painting with a grain of salt and remember that at the end of the day, you're the one that has to look at it!
The best way to start in choosing an oil painting is to examine the space where you are thinking that you will hang it. Many people choose to hang their paintings over the fireplace, over the couch, or on other focal walls in the living room. Some homes have large living rooms and some have smaller living rooms, and you will need to choose a painting size that fits your space well.
He’s in the other room getting stiffer than the bodies he demonstrates.
—Philip MacDonald, and Robert Wise. Landlord, The Body Snatcher, directing Gray to the drunken Dr. MacFarland (1945)
Another thing that you'll want to do when you are choosing an oil painting for your living room is choosing a piece that includes colors and techniques that you find pleasing. If you've already got living room furniture that you love, or a rug that you know will be placed in the room permanently, these can be used as starting points for choosing art that compliments them. Pick out the dominant colors in these things, and look for art that also incorporates them. You will also want to make sure that the painting uses a style that compliments your style and the style of your home. A Victorian landscape would be out of place in a room with post-modern furniture, so make sure you pay attention to that. For more home decorating ideas, visit our website for canvas art and wall art and decor.