WONDER WALLS!
Frame memories and personalised prints to add fun and colour to any space, reports EMMA J. PAGE
WHEN it comes to injecting your home with a large dose of character, nothing does the trick quite like an imaginative arrangement of art or photographs.
The walls of today’s art galleries are laden with pattern, colour and texture — and that ‘more-is-more’ approach is finding its way onto our walls at home, too.
Refreshing your artwork is an easy way to make a statement and plenty of us are at it — evidenced perhaps by sales of multi-pack picture frames at John Lewis increasing by 34 per cent in the past month.
Whether you opt for a considered, formal look with a grid-like configuration, or a loose arrangement for contemporary appeal, the key is to be adventurous, yet true to your tastes.
MIX IT UP
THE most interesting displays combine accessible pieces with a few special items, blending high- brow and low for an irreverent feel.
Prints by established and emerging artists, mixed with framed postcards, sketches and even children’s artwork, will add a unique touch.
Combining disparate styles and mediums to create a great picture wall can seem daunting, however.
‘The most authentic walls I’ve seen are those that showcase an eclectic mix,’ says Scarlett Colicci, founder of Projects On Walls ( projectsonwalls.com).
Remember that anything can be framed, from a poster purchased at your favourite exhibition, to a menu from a memorable meal. Even small sculptures can be hung up.
‘So be confident — and think outside the box.’
PREPARATION IS KEY
THE key to avoiding mistakes — not to mention multiple holes in the wall — is preparation.
‘Measure the area you would like to fill and make a template,’ says Kirstie Jackson, co-owner of the Pencil Tree gallery ( penciltree.
co.uk). ‘Lay out your pieces on the template first and play with the arrangement. Check there’s a colour balance and that the frames are spaced out.
‘ I like the overall effect to be within a block shape, so it’s a bit like creating a jigsaw.’
SPACED OUT
CONSIdER designing your art wall to complement your space. For example, bold artworks in black frames can look great in a formal sitting room with high ceilings and plenty of wall space. Smaller, cosier schemes are ideal for intimate pieces that you can connect with. If you’re going for a super-informal installation, take inspiration from Parisian ‘ salon’ style — art walls that embrace different art sizes, mediums and frames. For an off-thecuff look, start in the middle of the wall and work outwards, making your collection as personal as possible. Less obvious places, such as landings, corners, cloakrooms and alcoves, can help bring groupings alive. The technical details are also important. Use suitable fittings to secure your artwork, ensuring that heavy pieces are catered for.
Avoid using string or thin wire — strap hangers and batons will help to distribute the weight of the frame.
A common mistake is to hang artwork too high — try placing it at eye level.
OLD MEETS NEW
WHEN it comes to sourcing the right pieces of art, don’t be afraid to cast your net wide.
‘We like to mount vintage prints in contemporary frames, as the mix of old and new creates a timeless aesthetic,’ says interior designer duo Canham and Hart ( canhamandhart.
‘We love Print Club London ( printclublondon. com) for fantastic screen prints by upandcoming artists and The Poster Club ( theposterclub.com) for Scandinavian-inspired designs at affordable prices.
‘For something vintage, you can’t beat an antiques market, such as Kempton or Ardingly, and never dismiss a trusty car boot sale.’ Remember that a great gallery wall doesn’t have to cost the earth — the key is to personalise your look.
‘You can hang anything you love,’ says Sophie Coryton, founder of The Room Service ( theroomservice. ‘It needn’t be a masterpiece or an original artwork. Prints and postcards are a great way to start, as well as being inexpensive to frame.’
PICTURE PERFECT
TRY to introduce a note of unity, whether it be through the colours of each piece or the way that they are framed.
If the tones sit well together, then you can easily mix and match frames. If the art covers several different mediums, stick to uniform framing to tie the look together.
Pay attention to mounting, too — a hand-torn work on paper that gets covered with a mount takes something away from the work.
‘The shade of the backing paper is also important,’ says Scarlett Colicci. ‘don’t let it clash with the artwork. I regularly frame in exposed grain wooden frames that are hand- stained. They give a lovely feel to the piece.’
Hang what you love and you’ll have a picture-perfect look in no time.
MAKE IT YOUR OWN
A BRILLIANT way of adding a personal touch to a gallery wall is through prints that celebrate special dates and occasions.
Poster Haste ( posterhaste.com) specialises in personalised prints, posters and canvases.
Its Star Map (from £20) displays the night sky as it was on a chosen date, such as a first meeting, or the date you moved into your home, while its Coordinates Print (from £17) immortalises a special place. Blim & Blum ( blimandblum.
co.uk) has various options to remember a first dance, including framed music sheet notes (from £24) or lyrics that spiral around a centre label to depict a vinyl record (from £24).
Interiors stylist Lisa dawson ( lisadawsonstyling.com) explains: ‘Your home should be filled with things that make you happy and special items that have history.
‘Juxtaposing modern, vintage or photograph prints with ones that depict special memories enables you to create a display that is not only individual, but also interesting.’