At-Home Gallery

From finger paintings to prized possessions: How to make the most out of art.

Having great home art is a process. Getting it is the first step. Framing it and hanging it on a wall correctly is the second. Art consultant Mariela Ciccone offers some tips of the trade to maximize the beauty of your masterpiece.

Hire a professional installer. Their trained eye can help determine the perfect height and distance between pieces.
Pay attention to height. If the piece is installed too high or too low, it will lose importance.
If commissioning a painting on canvas (no frame), have the artist leave the sides unpainted. This allows you to see the build-up of paint and layers of a piece.
If the art is homogeneous (something like B&W photography), play with frames: Mix modern and traditional, different widths and mat sizes and frame colors. Warm silver leaf frames look terrific with white or black ones made of different moldings.
If the art on a wall has different styles and color palettes, use the same type of frame. It will bring the collection together.
Hunt for vintage oil paintings and place them on a mantel, leaning against the wall. Small ones are great for this, and you can use different sizes and styles—some framed and some not.
Check out local artists. I love Chase Langford’s work because it is very versatile. It is just as effective in a California bungalow or a mid-century house. Baret Boisson, another fave, does paintings that are more whimsical and commissions great family portraits. I also love the photographer Katina Desmond. I’m especially fond of her hand-colored tree photographs and her water series.

Art for Rent

Can’t afford great art just yet or interested in flirting with another aesthetic vibe? Art Dimensions offers leases with an option to buy hundreds of works, including paintings, print, sculpture and photography. artdimensionsonline.com