A Room-by-Room Guide for Selecting Art

While selecting art is a personal process, knowing where to start can be challenging. You may be drawn to certain styles but don’t know where to display the art. Or, you may not be confident that your preferences will work in your home. While art can, and should, be interchangeable, some pieces are more natural fits in particular rooms. This guide will provide insight into the best types of art by room of your home.Entry SpaceYour home’s foyer or entry space is its first impression. In this spot, hang art that best represents your tastes, makes the most significant impact and can give a preview of what the rest of your home looks like. This might mean art that aligns with the style of your home, a statement-making piece or a piece of art that previews your home’s overall color scheme. Avoid displaying family photographs in this area so the space doesn’t feel too immediately personal.Powder BathroomLike an entryway, a powder bathroom is a space that many of your guests will see. Hang a large scale piece of art in this space to visually make the room feel larger. Showcase your favorite artist or photographer or select a conversational piece that will leave your guests intrigued.Main Living AreaAs the space where you gather and spend the most time in, filling this room with your favorite pieces will ensure that you can spend the most time enjoying them. You can also incorporate different art styles in this main living space to prevent it from feeling overly designed. For example, incorporating modern art in a traditional area will help it feel more casual and relaxed, while hanging classic art in a contemporary space will help the area feel more grounded and collected.Primary BathroomsBathroom design can generally be described as soothing, playful or moody. Botanicals and other nature-inspired prints evoke an organic and relaxed feeling, which can lend to an overall spa-like effect. Abstract prints are another excellent choice for a bathroom, as they are easy to look at and contain soothing lines. To help contribute to a serene space, landscapes or water-inspired scenes can help you transport to somewhere far away as you wind down for the evening. Finally, in a children’s bathroom, whimsical patterns, prints and signs can lend to an overall playful aesthetic.Primary BedroomThe primary bedroom is an excellent place to hang art with personal meaning. Whether it’s filling the walls with framed family photos, or displaying art you collected on memorable vacations, the personal art you want to keep just for you is perfect for a primary bedroom.Children’s RoomsWhen decorating children’s rooms, it’s essential to give them input for their space while helping to guide them and make sure they don’t grow out of it in several years as their interests change. It is a great complement to fill a classically designed child’s room with whimsical art that reflects their interests. For example, if your little girl loves unicorns and rainbows, hang framed prints of unicorns and rainbows on subtle blush pink walls instead of adorning the whole room with wallpaper in that same print.These loose guidelines can help you select artwork for your home in a stress-free, organized way.

Bali - Origami House, a haven of peace in the heart of the Indonesian tropical forest

Welcome to Bali, Indonesia, to the Origami House, a uniquely designed villa, designed by Alexis Dornier and Steffanie Strachwitz.   It was elected by elleDecor as one of “the 11 most beautiful luxury houses in the world”  

How to Create a Dream Home Library

Having a place to escape to get lost in a good book is a booklover’s dream. Creating a library at home can become a place that is your ultimate refuge and a getaway from your day-to-day responsibilities and obligations. If you dream of creating your own library, you can make this vision a reality. Read on for what you need to know about creating your own beautifully inviting home library.   Hang Your Favorite Artwork Hanging your favorite artwork adds personality and familiarity to the space. Your favorite art can make you feel instantly at home and make the room feel cozier.   Design a Hidden Library A hidden library is an ultimate escape. Building a library behind a wall or a shelf adds more intrigue and coziness to an already comfortable space. Plus, any hidden room will delight anyone who comes to visit.   Include a Bed If you love to curl up in bed with a good book, add a bed to your library. A comfortable bed will feel blissful on a rainy day when you can retreat to your library bed surrounded by all your favorite books.   Transform Unused Spaces If you don’t have any rooms available to transform into a library, assess your home’s unused nooks and corners. You can instantly create a library nook by adding built-in seating, vertical floating bookshelves and lighting.   Add a Ladder If you plan on continuing to grow your book collection, be sure your library has a ladder to accommodate your growing collection. Then, take advantage of the top shelves by having a ladder to access all your books.   Choose a Room With a View Select an area of the house with the best view. Curling up with a good book and views of a beautifully manicured lawn, a gorgeous lake view or awe-inspiring hills will help lend to the overall relaxing experience of a home library.   Build a Fireplace A fireplace in a library will accentuate the welcoming, restful atmosphere of a library. A warm fireplace begs for you to sit down, relax and crack open your favorite book.   Layer the Lighting Lighting is the best way to control the ambiance of a space. For example, a library requires enough lighting to be able to read comfortably but should also be dim enough, so it’s not too bright. Ambient lighting or general lighting, such as recessed lighting, should be able to be dimmed so you can control the level of brightness. Accent lighting, such as wall sconces or picture lighting, can give you the mood lighting you need. Task lighting, such as table lamps, is necessary if you want to curl up and read under the light from your end table.   Strategically Select the Location Ideally, you would avoid selecting a room in the basement or attic to build your library, as these spaces are prone to humidity, which can damage your book collection. The same goes for avoiding rooms with bright sunlight, as the light can damage your books. If you do select a room with bright sunlight, install heavy drapery or blackout shades so that you can protect the integrity of your books.

Small Decor That Makes a Big Difference

A house is not a home until you make it one. It’s always a challenge to make a space feel like it’s your own. Whether you’re moving into a new home or just itching to spruce up the place a little, these small additions to your decor will make a big difference in cozying up your house so it truly feels like home.   Plants Add a touch of green to your home with a variety of houseplants! Line your window sills with succulents. Hang Devil’s Ivy from the ceiling. Watch your Fiddle Leaf tree grow! Plants are a great addition to any living space. Not only are they appealing to the eye, science has also proven benefits such as lowered stress levels and boosted mood, creativity and concentration.   Don’t have a green thumb? Don’t fret! Fake plants are also a great, affordable alternative that add a lovely touch to any room.   Shelving Proudly display decor, books, awards and trinkets around your house. Whether they hang from the wall or are propped up in the corner, shelves are a fantastic way to add a unique touch to your home. Explore different shelving shapes and set ups to fully customize your space.   Books We often find bits of ourselves in the stories we read. Express yourself through the power of literature. Display books on shelves around your home to give guests a look into the worlds you’ve chosen to escape to. Arrange your books according to genre, author, or even cover color, to really give your room an unique touch.   Lighting The key to setting the mood is a good set of lights. Explore different lighting options besides fluorescent overheads. Lamps, string lights and wall fixtures are excellent ways to play with the lighting in your home.   Photos Make your house feel like home with pictures of your loved ones, places you’ve traveled and experiences you’ve enjoyed. Frame your photos, hang them from a clothesline or create a collage on your walls.