Regardless of how beautiful the decor and furnishings are, it’s often the artwork that makes a house feel like a home. However, unless you’re an artist, gallery curator, or art collector, selecting art doesn’t come naturally for most. To make it easier to select the right art for your space, we’ve enlisted the help of interior designer Meryl Hare from renowned Australian interior design studio Hare + Klein and concept store HK Edit.
“It is sometimes helpful to see art in a furnished home environment rather than on stark white walls, as it can be difficult to imagine works in a space when in a gallery setting,” Meryl Hare says, adding that “we find displaying art in our HK Edit showroom makes it easier for people to get an idea of what it might look like in their own homes.”
Rather than selecting art based on what matches your home, Hare recommends selecting pieces that “stand alone and complement the space.”
“When selecting artwork [for HK Edit] we look for pieces that are original, inspiring and show a certain depth,” Hare tells us. “We also always aim to have a good variety of work to suit different tastes and environments. Working with both established as well as undiscovered artists leads us to an interesting and exciting array of artwork.”
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We tapped Hare for her top tips on selecting the art that’s right for your home.
1. Adding drama to a room
“Art has the ability to add a certain element of drama and interest to a room and can really complete the space,” says Hare. “We love the work of Melbourne artist Marise Maas for her stunningly classic work which reveals a sense of movement and drama in her use of scale and colour.”
2. Layering and creating depth
“Often three dimensional artwork can allow the addition of depth of both colour, shape and texture within a space,” says Hare. “The work of Ruth Levine is wholly original and always surprising; Levine works with found and upcycled objects to create her works, only buying the glue to hold it all together. Starting with pieces of fabric, coffee filters, concrete cores or even the shaving of a graphic artist’s pencil, she then creates the most surprising and intuitive works which never fail to create wonder.”
3. Adding texture
“Texture can be added in many ways, not only in a three dimensional, sculptural form but also in a two dimensional piece,” says Hare. “The multi layered paintings of Joanna Kitas reveal the story of their labour intensive process with the hardened layers of paint spilling over the edge of the canvas into an organic and exceptional shape. Kitas’ work changes with the time of day and angle of the sun, the layers appearing and disappearing as the light changes to create a fascinating depth.”
4. Colour
Hare recommends not shying away from a little colour, saying that “colour within artworks brings energy and vibrance to a room. From muted tones to brighter, more striking colours, all art adds another dimension to a space.”
Still need a little more guidance? HK Edit offers a remote personal consultation service to help clients place artwork in their homes. Plus, they can also facilitate artist commissions for clients who would like a bespoke piece made for a particular space.
In collaboration with HK Edit
