There is a reason your home design and decor does not look like those found in home decor magazines. In fact, there are quite a lot of reasons. Consider:
- You need a lot of money to acquire and maintain those houses
- You might not be an interior decorator
- You actually have to live in your house rather than just show it off
Another reason your home doesn’t look like something out of a magazine is that maybe you don’t want it to look that way. There is more than one right way to look. In fact, it is hard to say that there are any wrong ways to look.
Your home should be what you choose to make of it. Home decor is an expression of individuality. So part of what makes a design good is that it expresses something unique to you. Here are some ideas on how to infuse that uniqueness with items beyond what is traditionally considered art:
Maps
Companies such as Muir Way are committed to preserving wildernesses and other pristine spaces. One of the ways they do this is by selling artistic maps of places like national parks. When presented in this way, these maps make more sense on a wall than in a book.
If you are a history buff, a wall full of maps makes a lot of sense. The same is true if you are a traveler. Pictures of where you have been will gain a lot of context when paired with the maps of those places.
Beyond that, the art of cartography is beautiful in its own right. Mapping is a thing to be celebrated, never taken for granted. If you have a den for reading and quiet contemplation, fill it with maps to make it extra special and unique.
Ordinary Objects
The world is filled with ordinary objects that could be considered art in the right light, and with the right arrangement. There is nothing limiting the medium or artistic expression to oil and water.
You would be surprised at what can be done with bottle caps, guitar picks, and wine corks. They don’t even have to be arranged to look like something else. They can be arrayed as art in their own right.
Any meaningful collection can be art. How many iPhone cases have you collected over the years that are now resting in the bottom of a junk drawer? Try hanging them on a wall and discover the hidden art in ordinary objects.
Inspirational Sayings
Some people wake up every morning to an inspirational quote written on the ceiling or bedroom wall. Sometimes it is a large poster, or small stickers placed strategically throughout the house.
For many, there is nothing more artistic than the written word. History is punctuated by pithy sayings that have redirected the course of human events. Wars have been started and ended with the right words. Freedoms have been gained. Rights have been won. And old hatreds have been set aside because someone produced the right words at the right time.
The right words on a wall or placemat can make the difference in your outlook on the day. And that just might be the day that changes your life for the better. What could be finer art than that?
Music
Did you know that music can be visual as well as auditory? Playing the classics quietly throughout the house is one way to appreciate the art. But displaying the sheet music of your favorite symphony is another very effective way of doing it. You can also display your favorite CDs, records, and 8-track tapes if you still have any. Those objects make an artistic statement as well.
If you have the space, putting up a display of instruments is also a way of visually demonstrating music. You can rescue old instruments from garage sales, clean them up, and mount them on your walls. There is more than one way to enjoy the art of music.
Maps, ordinary objects, the written word, and music can all be a part of your home decor. Conveying the beauty of what you love is the essence of art. The decorative possibilities are endless.
