5 Underrated Ways to Make a Statement with Art

There is a time and a place for subtlety and accent pieces, but we’re taking on a much bigger task this week — making a statement with art. Often, we associate a “statement piece” with size, meaning we want a really huge, wall-sized canvas. But, that’s not the only way. It’s totally natural and possible to bring a statement piece into your home without having a football-field sized wall to fill. Here are a few different ways to create that eye-catching moment with art y0u love.

1. Placement

Hanging art in unexpected places challenges the status-quo and brings a sense of the avant-garde into any space.

The kitchen may be the most underrated room in which to hang art. Don’t skimp on your most-used space, especially when tucking art in among your utensils looks this good.

The rule of thumb for hanging art is to hang it at eye level. Well, that’s great, but so is using those high-ceilings and empty space above a doorway.

Bookshelves? Not just for books. Hanging art on the exterior of built-in or large shelving units creates a cozy, quirky layered look.

2. Color Contrast

This one is pretty straight forward, with a few nuances. Main idea being: take a look at the color of the surface you’d like to hang art on, and go the opposite direction. You can, however, do that in a couple ways: complementary colors, light vs. dark, and pale vs. saturated.

Blue and orange is just one killer color combinations. Go here to find the compliment to any color.

We usually think of adding color to a white wall. But, what of the darker walls in our lives? Whether it’s black, midnight blue, brick red, or evergreen, adding a white (or very light) piece of art beautifully cuts through a sea of dark wall.

The pastel of a calming paint color benefits from a highly-saturated work of art. It can even be done in the same color, ie: a light, sky-blue wall and a rich royal blue piece.

3. Hanging (or not hanging) style

It’s not all hammer and nails when it comes to art. Sure, that is one way. But untraditional hanging methods keep things interesting (and can save you a few holes in your wall). Try leaning your art, for example.

Leaning enables layering, and layering always adds a sense of nesting or coziness to a space. Plus, you can easily play with the arrangement to keep it fresh.

Leaning, layering, AND a kitchen?! Blasphemous or ingenious? We say ingenious.

Nope, these aren’t waiting to go on the wall, they’re right where they’re meant to be.

4. Content

Here’s the good news: artists are risk-takers, byproducts of more creativity than you or I may ever know. Here’s the great news: we have the opportunity to collect single moments of their creativity in the form of artwork. So, when an artist paints a dramatic current events piece, or a surreal mind-bender, we should start dancing. Statement made.

A.I.P. BOWIE Arrest In Peace Bowie by Flavio Kampah Campagna. Watch the video here. Shop the piece here.

A mixed-media piece rife with socio-political commentary. Proverbs 22:6 by Mark Harris. Shop the piece here.

Buy Me Things That Shine by OG and FatKat. Shop the piece here.

5. Scale

Playing with scale can be just as much a statement as adding a huge piece to a wall. Try your favorite smaller pieces alone in a vast space.

Small scale, unique hanging (wire), and contrasting colors.

Small and monotone.

Bonus: Okay, okay…size makes a statement, too. An expansive piece can and will be a show-stopper, especially when paired with one of the unique tricks mentioned above. Take a look at some extra-large (we’re talking bigger than you) pieces in the Extra-Large Statement collection.

Douhle-up on size with two huge canvas pieces.

Throw a large pop of color against a white-washed wall.

Want even more ideas for hanging your art? Take a look at these 9 Gallery Walls with hand-picked pieces for each.

Originally published at State of the Art.