I think the thing about walls and what to hang on them is the most difficult part of interior design. So I don’t have any major problems with wallpaper and wall colors. But then when it comes to what to decorate the walls with, problems almost always arise. Partly because real art is usually expensive but also because it has to fit the room and your own taste.
If you are an art lover and have the means, this is of course not a problem. They buy because they either like it or because it is considered an investment object. But what do we ordinary mortals who are neither art connoisseurs nor have limited resources do? Well, the answer is of course to try to find our own solutions. Here are some suggestions.
Auctions are perhaps the first thing that comes to mind. Today there are a lot of online auctions and the companies will ship if you can’t pick it up yourself. Of course, it’s best if you have the opportunity to see the artwork live before buying.
Above are two portraits for sale at auction right now with a starting price of around 2000 SEK.
A warning flag in this context feels justified. Avoid paintings with flowers and landscape motifs. From my own experience, I know that it will not be good. It feels old-fashioned and outdated. There are exceptions, of course. Instead, look for paintings that have character. I want to give a shout-out to the portrait. The contrast between an old portrait and a modern interior gives character to the room.
Probably an old painting that will be a tough contrast to the modern velvet sofa.
Awesome! No purchased paintings, probably painted directly on the wall. But still gives a hint of how a portrait can enhance the interior
Lovely constellation. Newly made velvet sofa in old style perfectly matches a contemporary portrait.
Here they have made a joke about it. A royal portrait has had its face painted.
Then we have the black and white photos. Definitely easy to get and a safe bet because they fit pretty much everywhere. You can buy them on various sites or you can use your own photos, which is more personal. However, I don’t think you need to “wallpaper” entire walls with black and white photos. Sparse and correctly placed are the key words.
Here is a site that has a large selection. Art.co
If you have a pink sofa, it can be difficult to find art that fits. But with black and white photos it matches nicely. Here they have used picture frames and then it is easier to arrange and vary.
Our Swedish beauty Greta Garbo in an enlarged photo.
It has become a bit of a fashion to use famous people as motifs and it has become a bit too much that Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and even Kate Moss hang on many walls. Don’t follow the trend mafia but find something of your own is my advice. You may have a favorite in music, fashion – try to be a little unique.
Typically trendy with Kate Moss on the wall.
Another trending motif – Bob Dylan. As a rule, one large portrait is better than a bunch of smaller ones.
But if you hang the paintings correctly (an art in itself) close together, it works too.
Black/white graphic pages are also nice.
A workplace in a modern colonial spirit with a perfectly fitting black and white photo.
Here, a portrait of model Kate Moss has found a place in a bathroom.
A truly elegant guest toilet with a black lacquered commode and portraits of dance virtuoso Fred Astaire and Alfred Hitchcock.
Now I’m leaving black/white and reveling in color. The latest thing for fashionistas is to have (collect) Hermès scarves and decorate the wall with them. Cool idea. But it doesn’t have to be the real thing. It can be any scarf really. I’ve blogged about this before, see here: DIY
Concluding with a few more older portraits in modern interiors.
Leave a Reply