The New Year is a time for resolutions, and for making room at home for new memories. If new pictures are on your list, these tips will help you plan where your framed art should go.
The fireplace and mantel
The chimney breast is the natural focal point of a room, so what you hang there sets the tone. Make sure its colours sit well with the rest of the decor. Natural or neutral frames are a safe choice, and lighter tones make a room feel larger.
The hallway
The hall is often overlooked, yet it is the first thing visitors see. Make it personal with family photos, flower paintings or landscapes. Balance is the key. If the prints are colourful, set them off with greys, whites and neutrals so they do not fight one another.
The lounge
Do not fill every wall. Use pictures to create points of interest. One large piece can anchor an end of the room, with smaller pieces grouped on another wall. Let the size of the room guide the size of the art.
If you cannot decide what goes where, cut paper templates of your frames and tape them to the wall first. You will see what works before you make a hole.
Above the sofa
The wall above the sofa is a great place to add personality. A good rule is to choose a picture, or a group, about two-thirds the width of the sofa, starting a hand's breadth above its back. A group of different sizes can look just as balanced as a symmetrical one, provided it reads as a single arrangement and not as pictures dotted about at random.
The bedroom
A bedroom should be restful, so choose calm pictures, such as landscapes and seascapes. A mirror is worth considering too. It reflects light and makes the room feel bigger.
The bathroom
Bathrooms are usually small, so keep it simple: plain prints in plain frames, perhaps in a colour that picks up the walls. Bathrooms are damp, so do not hang anything precious or irreplaceable there, and make sure pictures are framed behind glass with the back well sealed.
The kitchen
Pictures on a theme of food, cooking or nature suit a kitchen. As in the bathroom, think about steam and grease. Hang pictures away from the hob and sink, and have them framed behind glass so they can be wiped clean.
Above the dining table
This wall is often left bare, but a single painting can lift the whole area. For something different, frame a map or a sample of antique wallpaper. It will get your guests talking.
Colours, frames and style
There are no hard and fast rules, so feel free to experiment. Wherever you hang your pictures, three things help: choose pieces that reflect your own taste, keep to a consistent colour scheme, and pick frames that suit both the picture and the room.
Conclusion
Every wall in your home is a blank canvas, and what goes on it is up to you. Think about how each choice affects the house as a whole, not just one room. Our made-to-measure picture frames will fit whatever you decide to hang.
Call EasyFrame on 01234 856 501 or email sales@easyframe.co.uk. We are happy to talk it through even if you do not want to buy.