Picture Perfect

Do you favor landscapes, still lifes or portraits? Oil paintings, watercolors, etchings and prints help define our living spaces. A single artwork can be centered above a fireplace, displayed on a windowsill or tabletop, or act as the focal point of a vignette. Alternately, a group of art pieces can work in tandem to create a gallery wall.

Buying art that suits your decor doesn’t have to be a costly venture. Reasonably priced, secondhand pieces abound at yard sales, flea markets and antiques malls. Oftentimes, vintage artwork suffers from outdated frames and damaged mats, but if you look past these distractions, you can acquire beautiful art for your home. When shopping, use your smartphone to snap a photo that focuses on the art rather than the framing. Study the image to determine whether the motif and colors reflect your style. Then follow these tips for rejuvenating vintage framed art:

PAINT TO THE RESCUE. If you don’t like the color of the frame, give it a new hue with spray paint or chalkyfinish paint.

LESS IS MORE. Consider removing the frame and showcasing only the canvas and stretcher set on an easel.

A NEW PERSPECTIVE. Bring the artwork to a crafts store or frame shop and buy a replacement frame.

MAT MAKEOVER. Water stains, mildew and mold wreak havoc on mats. Seek guidance from a framing professional to select a new archival mat that beautifies the artwork.