A lot of online forum commenters ask, “What do I put on my walls?” While it might be interesting to talk about the different styles of art out there, it probably isn’t a very practical answer to this question. So let’s talk instead about the various places you might go to buy art and what you’re most likely to find there. (You can also have a look at my videos on what to do with empty walls both here and here!)
In this first article, let’s visit the home store. (In subsequent articles, we’ll visit several other places you can shop for art.) This may be a furniture store or a big box store with a furniture section.
I wouldn’t spend a lot of money on art from a home store. The pieces you find are mass produced and will show up in lots of homes, model homes, and your doctor’s waiting room. They’re intended to be pleasant and a bit bland to appeal to a big swath of the population. The main benefit of buying art in a home store is that you can cover a lot of wall space at an affordable price. So if any one piece of art costs more than $150 (in 2022 USD), buyer beware.
Here are several types of art you might find at a home store, with my recommendations of what to look for and what to avoid.
Realism
Home stores often carry art prints that are classified as realism—they are depicting a real thing in a realistic way. The classic American West landscape paintings of 19th century German American artist Albert Bierstadt fall under this category. Landscapes offer a window to somewhere else. Usually this will be a single piece of art rather than a set. I would most often use a realism piece by itself as a focal point for a wall, whether that’s over a fireplace, above a sofa, or centered in a dining room or bedroom wall.
For the purposes of decor, I’ll include traditional realism photography as well. These are photos focusing on a subject and telling a visual story. The 20th century American landscape photographer Ansel Adams is a favorite go-to example.
Realism is a great art style for traditional interiors, if you’re decorating your room with a craftsman, Victorian, or Federal theme. If you’re using modern furnishings in your home and want realism in your art, however, stick to photographs and black and whites if possible. Realism in paintings can look dated when set next to contemporary furnishings.
Abstract Photography
Photos that aren’t looking at a subject as much as they are looking at colors and shapes are abstract photography. I tried my hand at it a few years ago at a botanical garden. Here’s my example:
In a home store, these are some of the pieces that appeal to me most. They can provide an interesting backdrop in a room and say something subtle about your taste and aesthetic. Abstract photographs are often created in pairs or sets, so they can take up a large wall space. Often, they are black and white photos.
Abstract photography can work with most eclectic decor styles, from classic to comtemporary. Find something that has shapes and lines that appeal to you and makes you smile. Use it near natural materials like wood grain or a grass wall covering to complement the textures.
Abstract Art
Abstract art, in the purest sense, is art that has no material subject at all. It’s different from an abstraction, which does have a subject, but renders it in an abstract way. For example, Picasso portraits would be an abstraction, whole a Jackson Pollack splatter painting is a purely abstract piece.
Abstract pieces appeal to home stores because they can be pretty and complement the decor scheme without using material subjects that may can turn off shoppers. The average decor shopper can get distracted by subjects that disagree with them. A photo of a barn, for example, might turn off a prospective buyer because they don’t like a “country” room, when the rest of the store showroom may not be country at all. This is why home stores often display abstract pieces that avoid any particular material subject and extend the aesthetic statement of their showrooms.
Abstracts can work the same way in your home. They can blend with the decor without pushing any kind of material subject or theme.
The oft-quoted downside of abstract art is, “A two-year-old can make that.” Well, I’ll politely disagree. It actually takes talent to create an image that evokes emotion without being “about” something. That’s the magic of abstract art. You, the viewer, are the one who gives it meaning, based on your personal interpretation of what you see.
You’re not going to find high abstract art in your home store, so don’t expect to start a valuable art collection here. What you might find is an affordable piece that works with your decor color scheme, appeals to your aesthetic, and is a good enough size to fill some wall space.
Abstracts can be especially nice when paired with objects in the foreground. One idea is to hang an abstract piece of wall art above a console table in a hallway or living room and then accent the art by placing a vase, lamp, or candle holders on the console.
Mixed Media
Higher end home stores often display mixed media pieces on the walls with furniture groupings. Something I like about these kinds of pieces are that they can distract the viewer from the wall itself. They have depth to them and subtly create a greater sense of space by giving your wall more dimension.
What I often don’t like about these pieces, though, is that they can sometimes feel too corporate, like something you’d see in a conference room. Some of these pieces make such a bland statement that they don’t say anything or inspire any emotions. But there are certainly exceptions, and you might be lucky and find a piece that you really like.
I recommend using a mixed media piece in an entry or somewhere that feels very flat and empty. It will subtly distract from a flat wall, but it won’t demand the viewer to ponder the message.
Sentimental Signs
Home stores often display pieces incorporating words and phrases that name our feel-good values. These might be words like love, laughter, peace, or family. These are different from pop art signs that use words, but typically not in a sentimental way.
Let’s be clear, no one in the art world would refer to sentimental signs as Art with a capital A. They would fall into the craft art category, if anything. So can you have them in your home? Of course, it’s your home. If you’re taking a serious approach to decor, though, I suggest that you limit yourself to one sign piece per room. Too many of them start to look like billboards advertising the store that sells sentimental signs.
I recommend displaying a sentimental sign in a secondary place in the room. Either hang it on a secondary wall, or use one as a standing framed piece on a side table or console table. Avoid hanging it in a prominent place, such as above the fireplace or on the main dining room wall.
For more of my thoughts on this type of art, see my video Decor Signs and Symbols.
Try This at Home!
I hope this gave you some shopping ideas for your home store. Stay tuned for upcoming articles in this series! You can find more ideas for casual dining room wall decor here. Have more questions? Leave me a comment below and let’s talk about it!
