Should you match your artwork to the wall colors and decor or vice versa? That's an age-old, chicken and egg type of question...
Most people and especially color professionals have a very strong opinion about whether or not your artwork, wall color and the rest of your home decorating color scheme should match.
The opinions usually divide into 2 categories: "yes you should" and "never!".
But what if the real answer to this decorating dilemma lies somewhere in between?
When designer Maria Killam asked her blog readers to share their opinions, here's what she got in the comments:
the right room color scheme can make your artwork look its best
wall colors that don't relate to the artwork really don't do it justice
by not giving your investment the very best showing, you de-value it
you should always plan your wall and decor color to play up/enhance your artwork
even the most beautiful artwork may not work in the room if the color of the walls does not support it
using complementing colors on the walls will ensure the artwork doesn't stick out like a sore thumb
artwork should relate to your decor and "belong" to the room
most people are drawn to art because of the colors in it, so artwork should be treated no different than other colors in your decor
artwork should serve the purpose of a "unifyer" in your decor
when the art blends with the room, it becomes part of the texture and character of that room
the space and the art should work together to create a cohesive whole
you should never buy artwork to match your sofa or any other element in your decor for that matter
the art must always rule, take the center stage and be the main focal point in the room
the art should enhance the room, not the other way around
matching the colors of your decor to artwork (or vice versa) reduces it to an ordinary decoration piece
good art is an investment, and it should stand on its own, even if you change wall color or move to another house
So what's the verdict? It depends.
You see, in decorating (like in many other things in life), beauty is really in the eye of the beholder. There is no one right way to go about it.
Besides, when you have a defined personal style, you will tend to like the same colors in art as the colors that you like to paint and decorate with. Chances are, you will be drawn to a certain piece of artwork that will contain the colors that are already present in your decor.
That way, it will be hard for things not to "go", and your investment will naturally fit in with the overall sense of your home's interior and wall colors.
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