Art in Interior Design: Top 5 Things to Consider
Oct 31, 2018
When designing interior spaces, right out of the gate, designers face a plethora of challenges. They are expected to deliver brilliant vision and creativity on strict timelines and budgets. They’re often alone in the process, relying on their industry contacts and vendor relationships for support. Also, they must be intuitive to their clients’ needs, desires, and tastes while managing their expectations. Now, throw a task like sourcing art into the mix, and the daunting where-to-begin feelings surface.
But they don’t have to. By approaching art as your secret weapon, you’ll deliver a wow factor that exceeds client dreams and unleashes your artist within. When sourcing artists and selecting art for your interior design planning, consider these five things.
TOP 5 THINGS TO CONSIDER
1. Let art take the lead in design projects, not be left for last. Spaces without artwork present a clean, minimal style. Areas with exceptional art jump to life, causing an unforgettable, emotional reaction. Art can inspire elements of the design, which is often the case, and by sourcing an artist and their work at the beginning of a project, the result will be far different than if you hadn’t. Why? Because art brings soul to spaces, outshining other selections. Think of art as the commander of the room, and the rest as the harmonizing elements.
“Each time in 30 years when I hang a painting, the reaction is always the same: ‘Wow, I love it. This is it,’” says fine abstract expressionist painter Patou. “For interior designers, this is where their clients find fulfillment, and themselves, too.”
Patou’s artwork (pictured right) brings the wow factor to this restaurant space.
2. Find artists who believe art creates the soul of a space. Choosing an artist to collaborate with goes beyond the art itself; it’s about the entire design project. Developing a relationship where the interior designer and the artist understand the needs of the project, each other, and can collaborate synchronously is vital. Besides, it’s critical that designers seek artists who are gifted with interior design because not all are. Designers can begin the sourcing process by homing in on what stirs them art-wise, researching online for exceptional talent, and tapping into the expertise of knowledgeable art resources.
“The interior designer needs to have an open mind when deciding on artists to team up with on their designs,” explains Patou. “It’s important they both feel they’re on the same page and equally open to enhancing the work of one another. When interior designers work openly with an artist, they’re going to bring so much more to the design’s result. The designer and artist must have a connection.”
Patou collaborated with CallisonRTKL Miami (Instagram: @crtkl_miami), creating these original oil paintings for a private banking interior in Bal Harbour, Florida.
3. Give the client a room with a view – of art that is. Interior designers understand the personalities of their clients and will propose the style of art they prefer. By sourcing art early in the design process, designers can get steps ahead by presenting their client with a before-and-after rendering of the room including the recommended artwork. The team at Patou Artist does this and right away can get a sense of whether or not the client likes the art proposed. Doing this for clients saves time and money down the road. Also, it allows interior designers to move clients out of their comfort zone, for they can suggest art styles the client usually wouldn’t prefer.
4. Know what you’re looking for. To become educated in artistic excellence, return to your aesthetic sense, refine your art preferences, and further your talent, you need to feed your art appetite continuously. As often as possible, visit the best museums in the world, such as The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and the Louvre in Paris. By heightening your artistic knowledge and paying closer attention to the art you pick for your designs, you’ll find that you do a stellar – and striking – job at all times.
A regular museum patron, Patou recently took a trip to New York City to view MoMA’s exhibition, “The Long Run.” Pictured is Gallery 24, Fourth Floor, featuring the work of Joan Mitchell, one of Patou’s biggest inspirations. “The Long Run” is on exhibit until November 4, 2018.
“You have many chances to find excellence in museums all over the world,” adds Patou, and you want excellence to get inspired. “When choosing art for your designs, it’s not a question of size or money; it’s a question of doing what you do with all of your attention. It’s about your love of work and being an artist in your own right.”
5. Create your own style. Start to think about how you want to create your own style. Enjoy the ride.
Art isn’t something you buy at a big box store, frame, and place over the sofa. It reflects a person’s spirit and individuality. When designers and artists come together with a shared vision, genuinely artistic results present themselves. The outcome is a distinctly high design full of personal character. Those stepping into a room where art has steered the plan may not always know how to describe their feelings, but you can be confident they love it. This feeling of intrigue and surprise is what you want to achieve as a talented interior designer, and you can reach it through art. Let it take the lead.
For ideas and inspiration, join the Patou Artist Email List.