Remodeling or redecorating? Don’t forget your own artwork

Remodeling or redecorating, raise your hand. Who has done one, the other or both of these in the last few years?

This is me, raising my hand right along with what I’m guessing are many of you. Right?

Kitchen, floors, painting — oh, and art

I thought I’d share my own experience with this.

When the pandemic began and we were all hanging out at home, it seems like everyone decided it was a good time to remodel and redecorate their spaces. Considering we would be spending more time looking at and living in these spaces, it was a good idea.

Ours started with our front room. It’s not a room that is used much but it’s the first room you see when you enter our house. It was long overdue for new carpet and paint.

A little back story. I’ve lived in this house for 11 years and never hung any of my own work until a few years ago. Why? That’s a whole other story I’ll tell you someday.

A few of these images had already been framed for an exhibit at a gallery. I figured they’d be better suited on the wall than sitting on a shelf in my basement.

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Decorating note

See how the wall color looks different when I took photos from different angles? Be aware of your light and how it changes things throughout the day. What looks good in the morning may not work quite right in the evening. Just something to keep an eye on.

Hang your artwork for a few days and live with it to make sure it looks good and feels right for what you had in mind.

Remodeling or redecorating the kitchen

This was the last project (hopefully for a long time). We never had anything hanging on the walls in the kitchen. For one, there really isn’t much extra wall space and secondly, well — see my note above about not hanging my art. Not only my art, no art.

This time, we decided that since the kitchen is gray with a bit of blue, we needed to add a bit of color. Something to cheer up the space and make it homier.

Funny, the frames I ordered were listed as gray and the photos looked gray. When I received them, well you can see, they’re a bit browner. But, I like them. They work with these images pretty well, in my opinion. It’s a nice offset to the gray cabinets.

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Art is personal

We all love art for different reasons and different types of art. It’s very personal. I used to have images all over the walls of my travels. My office includes a huge acrylic image of the best day ever from a trip to The Arctic. It calms me, makes me breathe and I remember exactly the fresh air, sounds and moments of that day.

Take your time when choosing art for your home or office. I’m currently working with a massage therapist to hang art in her massage room. When her initial choices didn’t quite fit with her vision and after seeing the space, I knew they wouldn’t work. We also chatted about why she chose those images in the first place.

I got a bit of her story. That helped me know better what other images I can send her to choose from. They’ll be much more in line with the feelings she would like the images to evoke for her clients.

What’s your vision for the space?

So, whether you are remodeling or redecorating your personal space or business space, choose images that are in line with your vision for that space.

And, as always, if you’re looking for photographic art, why not support your local artist and/or friends who are artists?

Who else is remodeling or redecorating? I’d love to hear how it’s gone or going for you. What art are you choosing to add to the décor? Comment below or share in the Photofocus Community.