Take a minute and think about all the places that you’ve visited. Now, think about those places minus the art. Would they be the same? Certainly not! Life would be depressingly boring without art.
Art has been used as a means to express oneself since ancient times. Do you remember reading about drawings and paintings that were discovered in caves?
Humans have been using art to express themselves ever since early man first learned that he could use different substances to mark trees and cave walls.
Art speaks for the person without using words. You can tell what a person likes just by looking at the type of art they have displayed in their home.
For example, if someone has sports-related art hanging on the walls of their home, they are most likely to be a lover of sports.
Similarly, if a person has a lot of scenic images displayed on the walls of their home, they are most likely nature lovers. Did they tell you that? No, their art display did! That’s the power of art in homes.
Apart from defining people, art plays a major role in the décor of a place. It can serve as a focal point for your home. By focal point, what we mean is a point that automatically draws your focus and attention when you enter a room. The power of art draws people to itself.
Another reason why you should incorporate art in your home is that it can add color to an otherwise boring décor. No matter how fancy your furniture is, as long as your walls are plain white, the décor will look dull.
Now, before you go out and buy the first piece of art that you see, there are some things you need to know about art. Firstly, there are different kinds of art, which we will discuss further down.
Secondly, it’s not just about buying art pieces that “look nice.” There are certain considerations that need to be made. Let’s look at some of them.
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How to Choose Different Art Forms for Your Home
The right piece of art can make your home come to life while the wrong choice can be a real turn-off. The tips mentioned below will be of great help when you are planning to get artwork for your home.
Consider Scale
The size of the artwork plays a significant role in either making or breaking the décor of the room. If you have a huge white wall that is standing plain, a tiny piece of artwork would not be suitable.
On the flip side, artwork that is too big can overtake everything else in the room. Always consider scale when you’re deciding to buy a piece of art for any room in your house. If you aren’t sure about the size, try getting paintings in a standard size.
Follow Your Instinct
Art is a personal choice, and any piece of art that you hang in your home is something that you will have to look at every day. Hence, you must like what you buy! Buy artwork that you have a strong connection with.
Buy Something in Black and White
The beauty of black and white artwork is that it can complement any room and any color scheme. No matter where in your house you place black and white artwork, it is bound to add a level of elegance and sophistication to that particular room.
Trace Your Favorite Artist
Your favorite artist doesn’t have to be someone as famous as Picasso or Vincent van Gogh. It could be anyone, even the artist who painted your favorite street art. Trace them down, buy their art, and hang their work in your home.
Try Mixing and Matching
You don’t have to hang modern art with a modern interior or traditional art with a traditional interior. Mixing and matching is a great way to spice up an interior. You can mix modern with antique, traditional with contemporary – the options are endless.
Going Bold
If you are opting for a bold piece of art, make sure that other pieces of décor in the room have a minimalist tone. Too much bold everywhere can make the interior look congested and suffocated.
The art you are planning to add to your living space should be aligned with the color palette so that it blends well with it. You should always try to maintain a balance to keep the interior warm and welcoming.
Different Types of Artwork
Before moving on to the types of art for your home, you need to know about the different categories that art falls into. Let’s have a look at them.
Fine Art Types
Fine art is a form of art that is known for its beauty and aesthetic value rather than its functional value, which distinguishes it from applied art and decorative art.
This type of art includes paintings, drawings, printmaking, and sculptures. Fine art is a wide umbrella that encompasses many different types of arts under its shadow.
Visual Art Types
Visual art includes all types of artwork that has a visual impact, including ceramics, sculptures, crafts, photography, painting, drawing, film-making, and architecture.
Applied arts such as graphic design, industrial design, interior design, fashion design, and decorative art can also be included in visual art.
Plastic Art Types
Plastic art includes three-dimensional art, including sculptures and ceramics. It consists of any art that involves sculpting, modeling, and carving.
Decorative Art Types
This is a type of art that involves the design and ornamentation of functional items and does not always have intrinsic aesthetic qualities. The term decorative art is often used synonymously with crafts. Moreover, it forms a major category of applied art.
Applied Art Types
Applied art involves applying artistic designs to everyday utility items. It is very much unlike fine art, that has no function but to provide aesthetically pleasing items.
Applied art usually makes functional objects pretty by designing them creatively. Such items are made by keeping both the aesthetics and function in mind.
Types of Art for Your Home
When it comes to incorporating art in your home, it has to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The most common types of artwork that can be seen in homes include paintings and sculptures, with paintings being the most common type of artwork that you see in homes.
The art selection for each room is different. Artwork for living rooms should make the atmosphere welcoming and cozy, the artwork for bedrooms should express your personal interests, the artwork for dining areas should be somewhat sober and formal, and artwork for the kitchen area, bathroom, kids’ rooms, and hallways should be well-aligned with the purpose of the room.
You don’t want to display funky wall art in a room where you entertain formal guests, and neither would you want to display formal pieces of artwork in your bathroom.
Every part of the house should be decorated with equal attention and love because your home is your personal space that should be reflective of your style.
There are some types of art for your home that will always be popular. We have listed them down for you to make the selection of art for your home a tad bit easier.
Below you will find various art forms and categories of art.
1. Abstract Art Forms
Abstract art has been around for more than 100 years. You may either like it, hate it, or spend a lot of time trying to decipher what it is trying to tell you. In the literal meaning, abstract art means to distance an idea from any objective referents.
To help you get a better understanding of abstract art, let’s look at it in another way. In visual art, art involves visual representations of ideas using references that can be easily understood.
However, in abstract art, visualization does not involve objective reference points that can be understood instantly.
The reason why abstract art is so popular in homes is because of its ability to inspire curiosity and stimulate the imagination.
With abstract art, you can express various moods. Different abstract art pieces have a different impact – they may fade into the surroundings or become a focal point with bold colors.
Whether you have styled your home in a rustic, modern, traditional, or any style in between, abstract art blends in beautifully, making abstract art one of the most popular types of art for your home.
2. Modern Art Forms
Modern art can be traced back to the mid 18th century when there were rapid changes and developments in technology, manufacturing, and transportation.
With different technological developments, art went through a revolution and strayed from the traditional styles and techniques, giving birth to a new type of art – modern art.
Modern art is one of the most commonly used types of art in homes today, as it is extremely captivating. Modern art is quite tricky to define as it is not exactly an art style but rather a period of time (the 1860s to 1970s).
Modern art embraces a wide array of strong colors, forms, and lines, and applies a fresh perspective to almost all aspects of existence. It brings life to any interior with its bold designs and colors.
If you have a simple interior with blank walls, incorporating modern art is the best thing you can do. Modern art catches the attention and lifts the mood of the entire room!
3. Pop Art Forms
Pop art uses imagery of mass media such as movie stars, advertising, news, comic books, and popular culture. It emerged after World War I. With paintings and sculptures of media stars and culture objects, pop art blurred the line between high art and low culture.
It follows the concept that there is no hierarchy in culture. It also goes by the idea that art can be borrowed from any source, which is one of the most prominent characteristics of this art form.
People of all age groups enjoy pop art. It makes the décor of any room pop out, whether it is your child’s bedroom, a man cave, a woman’s retreat, or a living room.
Pop art has the ability to speak a language which all generations can understand. With its blend of bold colors and realistic visualization, pop art is sure to become the highlight of any room.
Pop art is highly versatile, making it suitable to be incorporated in any room of the house. Its versatility, attraction, and its impact make it one of the most favorite types of art that people add to their homes.
Pop art looks great in living rooms and bedrooms, where you want the atmosphere to be welcoming, cozy, and comfortable. It adds life to any room, which makes it an ideal type of art for any living space where the family gathers to share some good laughs.
4. Cubism Art Forms
Cubism was an art movement that emerged in the early 20th century. It is one of the most influential art movements of all times and continues to be a source of inspiration for artists even today.
It was a turning point in the evolution of modern art. It paved the way for pure abstract art. Future movements like Dada (Dadaism), Futurism, Surrealism, and Constructivism were all inspired by Cubism.
In the Cubism form of art, the subject of the picture is usually discernible. It does not include a connection with nature.
Cubism does not make use of traditional techniques and emphasizes two-dimensional designs. The objects painted in this style are usually reduced to geometric forms and are then realigned within a shallow space.
Cubism paintings are a quest for understanding and involve pointing out the fact that the world is not what it seems.
This is evident by the fact that cubism paintings include one object that is shown from various angles. This is why this form of art has so much life and so much color and can become a very popular type of art for your home.
Cubism art goes well in formal spaces, which could be dining rooms or study areas. Since cubism art consists of sober and sophisticated shades of the same color (usually grays and browns), they give any living space a simplistic, minimalist, and highly sophisticated touch.
5. Contemporary Art Forms
Like we mentioned earlier, modern art is more of a time period than an art style. In the same way, contemporary art can be considered as the art of today. By today, what we mean to say is art that has been created during our lifetimes.
It is the style of the present that is forever changing, and it isn’t wrong to say that contemporary art is essential ‘the making of new art.’ Some artists say that art created in the last two to ten years can be considered as contemporary art.
The term contemporary art is used interchangeably with Modern art quite often. As much as we think that the term modern means ‘the in-thing,’ it actually refers to the time period from the 19th century to the 1960s.
Contemporary art includes innovative and fresh works that use cutting-edge media and new technology. This is the reason why contemporary art seems to challenge our intellect and senses.
What makes contemporary art so popular is the high likelihood that you’ll find something to your liking when searching for a piece of art for your home. The variety that this form of art encompasses is what makes it such a popular art type for homes today.
Hanging a piece of contemporary art in the living room is sure to provide a focal point. Even if the décor of your living space is simple, a single contemporary art piece on a plain wall can raise the level of décor of your home.
6. Impressionism Art Forms
Impressionism art was an entirely new concept. It developed as a formal practice of art in Paris in the 1860s and then spread throughout the US and Europe.
Most painters back in the time used to paint in studios, their work surrounding mythological, historical, and allegorical scenes. Impressionism, on the other hand, focused on capturing the impression of a particular instant.
Impressionism art was not produced in the studio but on the streets where the painters captured the transient and momentary effects of the sunlight on their subject.
The open-air settings that these painters worked in resulted in artwork that had greater effects of color and light. This art was produced in front of the subjects, capturing them in that very moment.
With the help of brush strokes, impressionism art is capable of conveying the true essence of the subject. It tells a story about the subject, relying on realistic depictions.
The touch of reality makes this type of art extremely popular. People can actually connect with the message that the painting is trying to convey, and that is the reason art lovers make sure to have this type of art in their homes.
Impressionism art looks great hanging on the walls of living rooms or more formal sitting spaces. It is sure to grab the attention of your guests because of the touch of reality and the flow of emotions that these paintings usually carry.
7. Surrealism Art Forms
Surrealism art is a form of expression that clearly surpasses realism. The goal of surrealism is to liberate language, thought, and human experience from the boundaries of rationalism.
Surrealism art is all about letting the imagination go wild. A lot of people call this type of art a weird form of art since it surpasses reality and creates art that is beyond practicality.
Surrealism art is not as common as other types of art, but it is still among the most loved types of art.
It makes great wall art for living rooms, owing to the bold colors and a depiction of unrealistic images in a fun way. Surrealism art can also be seen at office spaces as well, where the employees are encouraged to let their creativity flow!
8. Fantasy Art Forms
Fantasy art has its origins rooted in folklore, mythology, and religion from all over the world. It is a means of conveying the mysteries and unseen forces of life.
The history of this type of art goes back to Chinese folklore, Greek mythology, African voodoo, various cultural traditions, and magic. It became an accepted form of art in the 20th century.
Talking about the popularity of fantasy art today, who doesn’t like fantasies? Who doesn’t like stories that have wizards, fairies, superheroes, demons, and the like?
Because of our interest in fantasy and fiction, fantasy art continues to be a popular type of art that is seen in homes today. Fantasy art featuring different characters can be seen hanging on the walls of kids’ bedrooms quite often.
Moreover, fantasy art can be seen hanging in other rooms of the house as well.
Of course, fantasy art does not only have to be fairies and demons; anything that one can fantasize about can be included in fantasy art.
9. Graffiti Art Forms
Graffiti art is more commonly known as street art. It is the form of free art that you often see in public areas like buildings and public transport.
It was after the 1960s that the craze developed for decorating the environment by using markers and spray paints. It emerged in Philadelphia and New York, and it is strongly linked to hip hop culture.
It was first used as a means to express frustration with life. Common materials used were spray paints, markers, stencils, and acrylics. All types of surfaces were used as canvases, including billboards, the walls of public properties, subways, and anywhere a blank space was seen.
Today, graffiti art is considered vandalism in most countries. However, you can always let your emotions flow on a canvas, no matter how intense they are.
Graffiti art is usually very colorful and attractive. It has an attraction that pulls the viewer closer. For this very reason, Graffiti art is seen hanging on canvases in many homes.
Having this art in your home is a great way to brighten up the interior of your living space. The colors present in graffiti art contribute towards making any interior look full of life and also makes the rooms look cheerful and welcoming.
10. Calligraphy Art Forms
Calligraphy is a type of art in which beautiful symbols are made and arranged by hand. It is a set of techniques and skills that are needed to position and inscribe words in such a way that they show integrity, rhythm, harmony, and some sort of ancestry.
It was first seen in Chinese art. It is a type of fine art that is characterized by styled writing. The words are styled into expressive images so beautifully that it almost looks like a drawing.
Calligraphy is not just beautiful handwriting. In fact, it is a lot more than that. It requires decades of study and practice to become a primary at it.
Calligraphy art is more commonly practiced in the Far East by Islamic artists. In China, it is considered as the highest form of art. Calligraphy art is intricate, delicate, and extremely elegant. It adds beauty to an otherwise plain wall.
Calligraphy art does not have any bold blend of colors. It is rather subtle and simple and goes extremely well with interiors that are to be kept sophisticated. They are a more formal type of art form and therefore, are not very common in homes.
11. Mosaic Art Forms
Mosaic art is an incredible type of art that is a very popular choice for homeowners. Mosaic art involves arranging numerous tiny pieces of colored tiles. The results that you get from mosaic art are breathtakingly beautiful.
There are numerous ways in which you can incorporate mosaic art in your home. You can make a mosaic wall or you can make mosaic decorative pieces.
Incorporating art in homes does not only mean wall art. Art can take any form, whether it’s on the walls, the furniture, or other accessories that you have in your home.
You could place mosaic pots on your staircase, or you could even make a mosaic nameplate. Mosaic art is highly versatile, and there is no limit to what you can make when you’re dealing with this art form. You can use it whatever way you like!
Mosaic art adds beautiful colors to any interior. If you have a rather dull interior, the addition of mosaic art will instantly transform the entire look, and we can assure you of one thing – you will love it!
12. Sculpture Art Forms
As mentioned earlier, the art that you choose for your home doesn’t have to be limited to paintings or wall art.
Art is a very personal choice, and you can take up any form that you like. You can opt for any type of wall art from an endless variety, or you could opt to have three-dimensional art that takes up some of the floor space.
It all comes down to your personal choice and the available space that you have.
Sculpture art is a rather fancy type of art that is not seen commonly in most homes. Since it falls on the expensive side, not everyone can afford it. However, sculpture art is one of the strongest and the most powerful types of art that you can add to your home.
With sculpture art, the interior looks lavish. If you are looking to decorate your home to make it look fancy, sophisticated, and classy, we recommend that you incorporate some form of sculpture art. A sculpture in your home is sure to grab the attention of your visitors!
13. Stained Glass Art Forms
Stained glass is seen commonly in old buildings and churches, but these aren’t the only places where stained glass can be used. Stained glass art is an extremely versatile art form that can be used in any style and compliments any type of opening or window.
Whether it’s the window in your living room, kitchen, or bathroom, having stained glass panels installed instead of regular glass will automatically raise the aesthetic appeal of that room.
If you think windows are the only openings where stained glass can be used, you are wrong. You can even use stained glass for ceilings. When the sunlight falls on this glass, the look that stained glass gives is mesmerizing.
Stained glass art is one of the most beautiful and attractive types of art that you can add to your home. Stained glass panels are available in numerous designs and colors, so you are sure to find something that goes well with your interior.
Even if you don’t, you can get customized stained glass art prepared. There’s really no shortage of options when it comes to this type of art.
14. Aboriginal Art Forms
Aboriginal art originated in Australia and dates as far back as 40,000 to 60,000 years. It was initially done on rocks, ground, and bodies, but today, Aboriginal art is available on canvasses.
Aboriginal art was used to convey stories. The Aboriginal people did not have a language, and therefore, they used symbols and drawings to convey their messages, which today, have become a very popular type of art.
This art form usually uses colors of the earth and sea such as greens, blacks, oranges, browns, yellows, blues, and whites, but Aboriginal art is not limited to these colors only. Bright and fluorescent colors are also used quite often. The most famous type of Aboriginal art is dot-painting.
Aboriginal art is a fairly impactful type of art. If you have a simple and straightforward interior décor and you want to spice it up, adding Aboriginal art on one of the walls will do the job in the best way. It works great for living rooms and hallways.
15. African Art Forms
African art is practiced on a wide variety of materials, including everyday use items, textiles, and sculptures. It wasn’t until the 20th century that African art was actually considered as a type of art in Europe.
This primitive form of art is highly captivating. When you look at any piece of African art, be it a painting or an everyday use item, you will feel the art conveying a story. The aesthetics of African art are eye-catching, and one can’t help but admire the results of this art form.
If you are planning on reworking on the interior of your home and you wish to make an old room look fresh and new, African art can really make a difference.
African art gives a rich look with its unique essence. Whether it is your living room, kitchen, or bedroom, there are various ways in which you can use African art pieces to give your house a touch of uniqueness.
Not just paintings, but African art can also be found in the form of sculptures.
Sculptures make incredible corner pieces in the living room. African masks can be used in a variety of ways, too. You could either display them in a series or arrange them in a way that will give a very distinctive look to your interior.
Paintings depicting African art can be displayed in living rooms, bedrooms, and even hallways. As we said, there are numerous ways in which African art can be used in homes, and you are going to love every one of them.
16. Japanese Art Forms
In Japanese art, anything that is designed and crafted is considered a piece of art. No distinction is made between sculpture, fine arts of painting, and decorative arts.
The most common pieces of artwork in Japanese art include textiles, woodblock prints, lacquer, and ceramics. Japanese art gives rise to aesthetically pleasing interiors.
Japanese art on canvasses results in beautiful pieces that can leave you in awe. Women love the cherry blossom prints and the femininity of geisha while men love the ancient war prints and the strength of the warrior.
Japanese art is great for man cave décor or the design of a woman’s retreat. Japanese art is soft, serene, and simplistic, and adds elegance and uniqueness to any interior.
17. Chinese Art Forms
Chinese art includes numerous forms of visual art, including jade carvings, Chinese pottery, jewelry art, metalworking, terracotta sculptures, calligraphy, Chinese painting, and crafts like lacquer-ware.
If you love the uniqueness of Chinese art and you wish to incorporate Chinese art in your home décor, there are many ways in which you can do so. Chinese art reflects Chinese deco furniture, paintings, and sculptures.
The most prominent and the most popular type of Chinese art is the ink art which is done with a brush dipped in ink (black or colored). These paintings are done on silk or paper and are then mounted on walls in the form of a hanging scroll.
The stunning canvas prints of Chinese art are something people love to display in their homes. Chinese art does not include a lot of bold colors.
The softness and subtleness of this art form make it perfect for simplistic décor. If you want to keep the interior of your living room or the bedroom sweet and simple, Chinese art is the best available type of art for you!
With so many types of art for your home, it’s really easy to get confused when it comes to choosing the right piece of art that will really bring out the beauty of your living space. As we have mentioned repeatedly, art is a personal choice.
Only you know what you like, and you should go for artwork that speaks to you on a deeper level. We’ve also mentioned that art doesn’t just have to be limited to paintings and drawings. Sculptures, scrolls, and calligraphy can all increase the aesthetic appeal of any room that they are placed in.
Your home is your sanctuary, and you should decorate it with everything that you love. As a general rule of thumb, when it comes to art, if you love it, buy it!
