Art & Decor Trends

Using Wall Art to Create and Eliminate Space

For most of us, colors tend to represent various emotions and different levels of energy in our world. Applying this concept to wall décor creates a similar atmospheric effect and can even create or eliminate special perception in rooms.

Adding art that combines certain colors to a room can achieve impressions of space and dimension, making things seem larger, or even smaller. Neutral colors like whites and yellows often make a room larger by reflecting light and giving gloss to an area.

For example, putting up Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” with its bright colors and hues can make a room seem inviting and larger. Conversely, putting up a dark and ominous Rothko can eliminate spatial perception, raising blood pressure and creating fatigue. Dimly lit restaurants and hotels often use darker wall decor for effect.

Colors like blues and greens create a sense of calm and cool. Hospitals and care centers often stick to these colors, as do homeowners in warm areas of the country. Shades of pink can be great comfort colors for baby rooms and grays help create a conservative corporate atmosphere.

For the average consumer, finding the right wall décor can be a challenge. There is a lot of bad wall art out there. So when you can’t find something to choose, stick to what works – the classics. All of the emotions created by color can be found in the elegant works of masters like Monet, Picasso and Degas. And often, like a good pair of khakis, they’re right for almost every occasion and every room.