If I had to rattle off a few of my favorite styling “moves” they’d be this: The open book on the coffee table (sculptural, yet horizontal), a footed bowl of pistachios (obviously), or maybe the casual throw breaking the line of the sofa base… but most of those are for photoshoots and don’t apply to life. But recently I was combing through the years of work (per my obsession with self-reflection), and I realized one thing I’ve always done that I do really think is worth pointing out – Stylists (including myself) put art in unexpected/weird places. It’s so easy, and it edges up a space instantly because there is something very irreverent about breaking the rules with your art placement. I’ve done it all over the houses I’ve styled and designed. And today I’m gonna show you how.
IN FRONT OF SHELVING
photo by bethany nauert | from: fdr chic – a dude’s mix of antique, mid-century and bohemian style
What I like about this, in particular, is the round shape breaking up the horizontal lines. It adds dimension, in a rebellious way. As I struggle with my own built-ins (which aren’t as cool, as they are so shallow) I recently threw up a painting on my shelving (for Christmas) and BOOM, I loved it.
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: our living room, dressed up for the holidays (with a ‘and how I feel about it’ running commentary)
There is just a “please don’t tell me where I’m supposed to be. I’m cool hanging right here, thank you!” thing about it.
IN THE BACK OF CABINETRY AND OPEN SHELVES
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: all the what’s, why’s, and how much’s of the portland kitchen
It can be little, and you can hang or lean, but what a nice secret surprise it is to open a cabinet and see a piece of art. This is best done in a glass cabinet so you don’t literally hide it, but you get it – a secret piece that just feels cool and unexpected.
photo by david tsay | from: my best friend’s home
But there is more good news. There is another great place for “kitchen art” to be displayed and it’s not just behind a cabinet door.
photo by tessa neustadt | from: spanish california home: kitchen
Nay, this art can also live on open shelving behind plates and bowls.
photo by tessa neustadt | from: spanish california home: kitchen
Now while this may seem obvious, people just don’t typically consider art for the kitchen and I think it’s a missed opportunity. Please try it, because it’s awesome and fun.
ON KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS
photo by tessa neustadt | from: emily’s kitchen and dining room reveal
It’s true that I have too much art and not a lot of wall space. It’s also true that I have a lot of small art that is easy to pick up at the flea market, but hard to style on walls unless you are doing a big ‘ole gallery wall. So where do you put this art? In the kitchen and bathrooms of course
photo by david tsay | from: rustic modern house tour
HOT TIP: Buy oranges, then commission a painter to paint a still life portrait of your oranges (like above), and then display said portrait on a kitchen counter so they can feel celebrated. (Another styling hack? Buy generic oranges then go outside and cut leaves that look like citrus leaves and gently place them in the most MASSIVE dough bowl so they look like you just picked them from your backyard orchard. True story.)
INSIDE BOOKSHELVES
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: in defense of the comfy sectional – a friend’s almost-finished family room
Bookshelves are often very hard to fill out, while not looking crazy busy. Corbett (my dear friend) was STUMPED on her selves (see above… and below). So my team came in and helped her by adding in art so that it didn’t look empty, nor busy. It’s graphic and takes up a lot of vertical space so you don’t have to fill it with tall books or sculptures.
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: in defense of the comfy sectional – a friend’s almost-finished family room
photo by david tsay | home of sally breer | from: styled: secrets for arranging rooms, from tabletops to bookshelves
Sally Breer (above), stylist and designer, put those large pieces in those large gaps and we all said YES, when we shot the first book (STYLED) there.
But art in shelving isn’t too controversial… you know what is? Art that is almost on the ground. Art is technically supposed to be at eye level, and these next pieces certainly are not.
“TOO LOW”
photo by david tsay | from: a spanish living room
WHY NOT? That lady had to go somewhere and while I realize that it’s weird and breaks so many rules, that is a lot of what styling is about – less perfect design, more creative expression. You aren’t perfect, neither should your house be.
photo by david tsay | design by ellen lacompte | from: styled: secrets for arranging rooms, from tabletops to bookshelves
The big art on the wall is expected, sure, but then we styled the little one by the sofa to shake it up.
photo by david tsay | home of sally breer | from: styled: secrets for arranging rooms, from tabletops to bookshelves
I don’t remember if I styled Sally’s art that way or if she did, but either way, you can see that the portrait is low to clear the light fixture, and there is another piece just sitting under the window.
Which brings me to…
THE “CASUAL LEAN”
photo by david tsay | from: my best friend’s los feliz home
I used to only lean art. I was an “exclusive leaner” you could say, mostly out of commitment issues. It’s kinda a stylist thing – too much art, not decisive enough. But I like a mix leaning and hung art as you can see in the above and below.
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: a modern and organic entry: shelf styling tips + shop the look
It obviously allows for flexibility as well as different heights and the ability to layer.
IN FRONT OF A WINDOW
photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: reveal: a budget and rental-friendly living and dining room (with 80% thrifted finds)
In Atlanta, we mixed both “the casual lean” and the “in front of a window” breaking TWO big art rules, but I personally think that it looks awesome. If your windows are big and you can sacrifice the light, then it’s absolutely ok to do (but keep it smaller and of course not super dark).
photo by david tsay | from: my best friend’s los feliz home
My stylist friend, Scott, hung a sculpture in front of his french doors on the latch, simply because he felt like it (and yes, before everyone in the comments asks, that’s a vintage wood piece). Use those types of feelings because if you don’t like it, you won’t get arrested and even better – you can simply take it down.
photo by david tsay | from styled: secrets for arranging rooms, from tabletops to bookshelves
He also hung a pretty flag to block the sun in his office/desk area and it’s so much less expected than a window shade.
photo by david tsay | from: my best friend’s los feliz home
The “art in front of the window” is bold, indeed. But it’s a move that allows your eye to move around more and gives another place for your art to be showcased – especially when it’s in front of a desk, or at a sink windowsill.
photo by david tsay | from: styling the perfect window shot
When I proposed this post I was met with a “do you have enough examples to make this a post?” and look at that. I did. Sometimes when I’m met with resistance on something and then I end up being right I like to yell, “WELL, WHO WON DESIGN STAR?” I’m OBVIOUSLY joking, my team is usually right. Plus, these moves wouldn’t have played out too well there, anyway…
Thoughts? Anywhere else you like to hang your art to prove how eccentric you are?
Opening Image Credits: Photo by Bethany Nauert | From: FDR Chic – A Dude’s Mix of Antique, Mid-Century and Bohemian Style
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