Try these art alternatives
Wallpaper, prints or framed art? These aren’t your only options. How about a rug, or a clever basket arrangement?
It’s time to think outside the square, or should we say frame, when it comes to what to put on your walls. Whilst wallpaper, prints and art are staples that will never really go out of fashion, it doesn’t mean an alternative arrangement shouldn’t be considered.
BASKETS
Op-shop queen and basket-arranging master Natasha Murray of Etsy store The Boho Thrifter thinks an artful display of baskets is a great alternative to art. ‘‘The natural elements and tones can work with most interiors, and it’s inexpensive,’’ she says.
She collects baskets and sells them in sets, ‘‘but you can also start with a few and continue to add more.’’
When putting together an arrangement, she ensures there is a variety of sizes and textures. She starts with a centre basket (normally a large one) and arranges the others around it. Be sure to vary the placement of baskets, with some overlapping and others with white space in between.
Murray likes to have odd numbers: she recommends seven, nine or 11 baskets for a statement arrangement. But a group of three or five can also look great in a smaller space.
Choose baskets that are relatively flat, so they don’t stick too far out from the wall, and choose irregular shapes that will give the arrangement an interesting look. Mix in a few patterned baskets for contrast.
To stick them to the wall, Murray says she simply uses Blutack for the smaller ones and nails in the larger ones. If hammer and nail isn’t an option, thread a thin piece of wire through the back of the basket to create a loop and use hooks to hang them on the wall.
RUGS
A handmade rug is a work of art, so why not try taking it from the floor to the wall? Not only will it create a statement mural piece, but it will also act as insulation and help with acoustics.
Hand-tufted rugs are the best to hang, because they have backing, which will help them hold their shape. Hand-knotted or handloomed rugs will stretch and droop over time, although this could make for a loose, organic look.
There are a few different ways to hang a rug on a wall. To ensure you don’t cause irreversible damage, mount the rug on a small section of wood with a line of rug tack, which will allow the rug to grip the wood. Nail the wood to the wall for a frameless finish.
Velcro can also be used to hang a rug without causing any rips, or alternatively, secure a curtain rod to the wall, sew a tube of fabric to the back of the rug and then feed through the curtain rod.
PLATES
Don’t think of the blue-and-white frilly plates collecting dust in your grandma’s china cabinet. Increasingly, brands are producing plates that are design features in themselves.
An arrangement of stylish plates looks whimsical and offers visual relief from the usual square frames. Ceramic plates also stand up to the fading effects of New Zealand’s harsh sunlight much better than many pieces of art.
Plates need to be securely fastened to the wall: look for adhesive plate hangers or extra-strong wall velcro.
DISPLAY YOUR COLLECTIONS
Don’t keep your collectables hidden away like a hoarder, display them proudly as a piece of art.
For heavy and bulky items like a collection of vintage cameras or stately tomes, use a picture ledge or two. Smaller items can be pinned or hung directly onto the wall. Got a collection of old instruments? These can look great hung up together. An item that is underwhelming by itself might look great with other objects.
Always try an arrangement on the floor first, to get an idea of how things look together and it always helps, visually, if they have some sort of uniting element.