HOW TO USE ARTWORK TO MAKE BUYERS FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR HOME

Let’s be clear. This is not about choosing art for your personal, creative self-expression, or designing a unique space for you and your family to enjoy in the years to come. That is a completely different subject.

Instead, we are talking about the best way to present your home for sale. The best way to create a warm, inviting interior that appeals to your buyers. Bare, uninviting walls are not the best option (they make a home feel cold and unloved – it feels as though something is ‘missing’). And buyers won’t be wowed by walls that are jam-packed with your personal travel photos either! (They feel cluttered and are extremely distracting.)

It seems that many sellers often struggle with the best way to use artwork when selling, and are confused about what to use … and also where to put it. So I have 5 outlined guidelines to displaying artwork that will really make your buyers fall in love with your home. When they walk in it will just ‘feel right’.

Position, position, position

Before you hang anything, walk through your property and take note of its best features. What do you want your buyers to really focus on? Where will their eyes fall as they enter the home? Walk along the hallway or enter any room. These are the key areas you want to showcase and where you should be displaying art.

Size Counts

When hanging art, you obviously need to select the right size for the right room – they can be too large, too small or JUST Right. Let’s shoot for just right.

A common mistake I see is artwork that is too small for the room. Firstly, you need to consider the overall size of the room and choose pieces that create enough interest but don’t dominate the room. Also, avoid placing a small artwork on a massive wall or over a large piece of furniture. For example, if you’re hanging a picture above a couch, a good rule of thumb is that the length of the canvas is at least two-thirds the length of the couch.

BONUS TIP: Avoid using artwork that is wider than the furniture below it.

Create a strong first impression

Use a beautiful piece of artwork in your entry to immediately create an impact with buyers. Generally, one bold piece works well and, if there’s room, you can also add a console table and a few key accessories to really create a strong statement.

Position your artwork after your furniture

Another good rule of thumb is to strategically position all of your large pieces of furniture in the room first (so that they make the space feel as spacious as possible). Then position your art so that it’s centred above the furniture – rather than centring it on the wall itself. Artwork should be positioned in relation to the furniture so it creates one simple focal point, rather than ‘scattering’ attention. This also creates a place for the eye to ‘rest’ and gives the room that feel-good factor.

 Hang it at eye level

I often see artwork that has been hung way too high on the wall. This is a common mistake, and it’s a problem for two reasons: it draws attention up towards the ceiling (instead of in the main living part of the room), and it tends to make the art appear smaller and insignificant. Instead, position your artwork at eye level, which means you will look at the centre of it from either a sitting or standing position. This is especially true above sofas and dining tables – the artwork should be positioned about 30cm above the top of the chairs.

For help with all your styling needs, contact Deb at deb@minkhome.com.au.