Choosing Art for Your Home

Adding art to your walls is a great way to tie your whole space together, but shopping for art can also be really difficult! So many questions arise — questions like, “What type of art piece would look best in my room? How do I choose the right size? How can I contribute to my room’s existing design?”

If you’re feeling a bit stuck or nervous — or if you’re just looking for some expert advice about how to decide what kind of art will look good in your space — follow along and embrace our time-tested tips.

1. Start Simple

Okay, so maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed. This may be because you’ve already got some things on your walls, and you don’t know how to tie them together. Try taking everything down and think of your bare walls as a blank canvas. Often, a room will have a “statement piece” — maybe a funky sofa or an eye-catching headboard. Use this piece as a visual anchor, and make all of the art in the room be “in conversation” with that singular piece. This will ease your sense of overwhelm, as you’ll always have a home base “vibe” to return to.

However, if you don’t have a “statement piece,” that’s great too! The first piece of art you choose can act as your starting point. This could be a place, a print, a decor piece — anything really! Look for something bold, something that speaks to you and go from there.

2. Account for Space

Wall real estate is a real thing. You’ll want to understand the size of your wall’s available space from the very beginning. More real estate means you can look for a large-scale statement piece, something daring that can have a big impact on your space and make it feel balanced.

On the other hand, if you have a smaller wall or walls to fill, consider a gallery wall with lots of smaller art pieces. Mixing and matching art of different shapes, sizes, textures and frames will make good use of your wall’s space, and the hodgepodge of looks and feels can form a cohesive whole that is uniquely you. Which brings us to. . . .

3. Express Yourself

Think of this exercise as an opportunity to express yourself and your interior personality. More than just “decoration,” art provides a way to make a room all your own. After all, it’s you who’s going to be spending the most time here, so make sure the art echoes your true nature! When you feel like there are too many options to choose from, go with what feels natural — the thing that gives you a good feeling in your belly.

4. Consider Existing Decor

We mentioned the idea of the furniture “statement piece” earlier, but you’ll also want to make sure that your wall’s art can tie in to the room’s larger aesthetic. Be sure to consider how your art pieces will complement existing decor and furniture pieces for continuity.

For example, if you have a room full of neutrals and beiges, art pieces with similar color hues will connect the walls and the room, enriching your interior design style. Likewise, employing similar color schemes can really make a room feel welcoming. Suppose you have dark hardwood floors and a bright blue bedspread. A couple of canvases with splashes of similar blues will do wonders, letting the eye travel on a fun adventure through the room.

5. View Art as an Investment

If possible, you’ll want to have some original art in your home’s interior arsenal. For now, it might be worth hanging some more inexpensive placeholder art. However, you might also consider saving up for some long-term, unique pieces, a few paintings, photographs or collages that will serve as a sort of personal-style trademark as you continue to grow in life.

And because investments shouldn’t be taken lightly, don’t rush the search for the right art piece. Take your time, research different artists, and shop around until you’re certain you’ve found the ideal work of art. And be strategic about how the piece will help elevate your home — and any future homes. You’ll want to avoid choosing any art that is too “location specific” or “room specific,” so that you can bring your treasures along with you as you make your way through life.

6. Shop with Acima Retailers

This process is all about patience and persistence, about rolling up your sleeves and seeing what’s out there. Lucky for you, Acima partners with thousands of fantastic name-brand home furnishing online retailers. And, our lease-to-own* solution makes shopping for art for your home simple and affordable! With Acima’s Instant Shopping Power, you can get an instant decision for a lease line of up to $4,000 in merchandise.  We’ll purchase qualifying merchandise up to your approval amount and lease it to you.