Founder of gallery and design studio 8 Holland Street

Building a collection is about how pieces both juxtapose and work together. If you have a monochrome piece you then probably want something more colourful next to it; if you have something intricately detailed, try placing it next to a piece that has larger, softer swathes of colour; if you have something abstract, add something figurative. Mixing different mediums – paper, ceramics, sculpture, textiles – creates a vibrant display and having work by a known artist next to the anonymous or the unknown gives a nice dimension.

Think about the narrative of your collection as a whole – what’s the story behind it? What memories does it evoke? What does it say about your personality? It should be balanced, but idiosyncratic and driven from the heart.

Creating a collection isn’t just about going shopping; enjoy the process and the research. Be prepared not to find the perfect piece immediately; be patient.

Instagram is incredible for sourcing contemporary work. You’ll find me scrolling @waynepate, @hauserwirth, @mourloteditions and @stonemanfineart. If you see something you want to buy online, try printing it out and sticking it on the wall – it’s good to step back from it and look at it away from a screen.

There are lots of ways to discover affordable art. Prints, additions and preparatory studies are a good place to start. I buy lots of unsigned etchings and artist’s proofs on ebay and often pick up paintings from antiques markets. If you’re wavering over buying something, it’s probably not the right fit. Focus on how the art makes you feel. When you find the right piece, you’ll know.