As a Gallery Director, I love curating art. In the gallery, I think about placing art in a way that tells a united narrative while letting each individual piece shine and highlighting the artistic voice of the creator. In my home, I have a different approach. I think about curating a space that feels good to me. For example, in my sitting room where we gather and play games, I want the space to feel cosy. Every design choice I made had this same goal in mind. I had an idea of the artwork I wanted to place in the room. This is how I curated the space so the room felt harmonious.
Grounding Through Wood
When I think of cosy interior design, I think of warm wood pieces. There is something so grounding about wood as a natural element. So I picked tables and chairs that embraced the earthy tone and texture of wood. This neutral color palette leaves you open to explore with your art choices.
Textural Wallpaper
One of the choices I deliberate over for the longest time is often wallpaper because it encompasses the room. With my sitting room, I found a wallpaper I liked pretty quickly and could use it as a starting point. You don’t need to stick with neutral or block colors in order to let art sing. Layering textures and patterns creates interest and can be just as calm and cosy.
Family Heirlooms
There is something so comforting about having familiar pieces around you. Embrace decor pieces you already love or have been passed down through your family, even if they aren’t on trend at the moment. It’s how you style them that really matters. I like how the rug in my sitting room looks very traditional while some of the artwork on the wall is more modern. It’s a soothing balance.
Light Streams
Understand how light moves through the room and work with it. There are two windows in my sitting room. One I have left as it is. The other I have placed stained glass windows in front of to direct and cast the light in a different way. It feels soft and inviting.
In this space, the art I placed included both modern photography and an old lithograph. Also, an honorable mention to my mahjong tiles which I chose specifically to color coordinate with this room. The result is a space where I feel at ease.
To inspire your own interior design choices, I’m hosting an evening in conversation with Erica McCain, a neurodesigner, to discuss Creating The Rooms You Come Home To. Join us at ALG Fine Art on Wednesday August 12 to hear about how Erica uses neuroscience to design rooms that help with stress, focus, and sleep. Book your complimentary ticket HERE.