A guide to choosing art for your home
Text : Will Haskins
| Photo : www.thinkstockphotos.com |
Everybody has one of those friends whose apartment looks immaculate. Some can remember how impressed we were by their ability to hand-pick and co-ordinate art. The reason we are impressed is because art lends character and dignity to spaces that are all too often merely useful. While choosing art for your home can be intimidating, the process can be made simple by following a few key pointers.
Your first consideration when choosing art for your home is to understand that home and how you use it. Whether you live alone, entertain often, have children or share space with others makes a big difference. Moreover, you should also consider whether the space is public or private. Rashida Hashim, interior designer at Yaali Designs, says one mistake people often make is to place deeply personal items such as photographs and other mementos in public areas, simply because they feel a strong emotional attachment to them. Hashim recommends placing personal items in areas where you can enjoy them without feeling obliged to explain their importance to visitors.
One of the other big problems people run into when decorating their home is where to shop. Many of us have, at one time or another, looked around our home and realised that too many of our decorations are really just souvenirs from our travels. Tourist destinations do make shopping convenient, but you can broaden your home décor by looking in a few new places. Similarly, Hashim cautions against relying too heavily on magazines. “It’s very easy to pick up a magazine in Hong Kong and copy it, but if it doesn’t suit your lifestyle and if it doesn’t fit your taste, you’re not going to be comfortable.”
One new place to look for original work is close to your home or office. The Hong Kong Commercial Art Galleries Association provides a helpful map of art galleries in Hong Kong. A number of top contemporary artists have relocated to China because materials and workspace are cheap, which means high- quality art can be found in Shenzhen and Shanghai, with many shops shipping to Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s plentiful antique shops can also be a great place to find a conversation piece or a one-of-a-kind. For starters, check out Hollywood Road staple Wonder Dragon, in operation since 1985.
The most important thing, says Hashim, is “you have to feel and appreciate a particular piece to buy it and show it in your house.” Too many people pick an object because it is the same colour as everything else in that part of the home and end up with something they don’t really like. To escape the confines of your colour scheme, look for art that tells a story. Art that captures your imagination and inspires can make the difference between a home that looks like a catalogue and a home that truly reflects your lifestyle.
THE DO’s and DON’TS OF BUYING ART
Do
● buy art based on the theme of the room
● buy art if you know why you like it
● buy art you can afford
● buy art from a reputable dealer
● ask an interior designer to help
Don’t
● Buy art on the color of the room
● Buy art because someone else likes it
● Buy art as an investment
● Buy art on eBay
● Ask an interior designer to choose art for you
FIND IT
Hong Kong Art Galleries Association
http://www.hongkonggalleries.org/galleries.html
Hong Kong Interior Design Association
+852 2866 2039
www.hkida.com
Wonder Dragon Limited
+852 2526 8863
30 Hollywood Rd, Central
Yaali Design
+852 3482 5785
www.yaalidesigns.com
Related Links on Squarefoot.com.hk
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