Fall in love with your home every day: start your own original art collection. Learn where to start and how to go about, researching, selecting and buying your own art collection.
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Art@Home
1. ART @ HOME
How to Start an Art Collection
For Your Home
by Fleur Allen
In the business of Bringing Art to You
2. If you have your own art collection or are about to begin one, there are some simple and effective steps to
consider:
DE-
1. DE-CLUTTER YOUR HOME
Before you begin you need to start with a ‘blank canvas’; I’m sure if you had booked an art consultant or interior
designer to make their recommendations you’d tidy up, so make this your starting point. It is also a fundamental
feng shui principle of de-cluttering your environment will de-clutter your mind. If you don’t have the time or the
job is too big call in an expert.
2. THINK LIKE A GUEST
Now walk through your home imagining you’re a visitor or guest so you can understand the logistics of entering
your home for the first time and what impression or atmosphere you wish to create. Important areas from a
guest’s point of view are: the entrance (this is their first impression) the path from the entrance to the main
living/entertaining area and an outdoor area if you have one. Look for what you think they would notice: as you
enter your home, is it obvious where the kitchen/living areas are from the entrance; are private rooms or areas
such as bedrooms ‘on show’ as guests walk through the house to the living area. Can any outdoor areas be seen
from the main living area?
3. DETERMINE ZONES
This time, when you walk through your home again, think from your own perspective and classify it the
following zones; entrance (front garden, path, front door, entry) traffic zones (hallways, gardens) formal
entertaining (dining room) informal entertaining (family room, games room) function-specific zones (home
theatre, kitchen) private zones (bathroom, toilet, bedrooms) business zone (home office, studio). This will assist
you to think about where to place art plus what purpose or mood you wish to create in each zone.
ARTWORK
4. MAP WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE ARTWORK
Use the following chart to assist you to plan where you would like to place artwork (a blank chart is provided at
the end of this report):
ZONE ROOM ATMOSPHERE NO. OF ARTWORK
Entrance Front garden Welcoming 1 Outdoor
Entrance Frontdoor/entrance Welcoming 1 Entrance wall
Traffic Hallway Calm/ Inviting 3 Hallway wall
Business Home Office Professional/Creative Various
Private 2 Bedrooms Personal/ Young/ 2
Calming
Function-specific Kitchen Homely None
Informal entertaining Living/Dining Relaxed 5
Private Toilet/Bathroom Personal None
5. DO SOME RESEARCH
Through your own research you will feel more confidence to make an informed decision when you discuss your
needs or view art with an art consultant, interior designer, gallery manager or artist. Plus as you regularly go back
to research you will gain an increased knowledge about art and therefore a deeper understanding which will
only enhance your appreciation of your collection. To begin: ‘Google it’ search online about art buying advice
and tips
Browse online art galleries
Look for articles in your local newspaper about local artists, exhibitions and galleries
Visit local Art Galleries
Talk to local gallery managers and artists as you meet them
3. 6. LIST YOUR PREFERENCES (STYLE, SIZE, MEDIUM)
Return to your planning chart again after your research to put in your preferences of style, size and medium.
Style refers to if the artwork is classified within a broad category such as Abstract, Traditional (landscape) or
(figures), Surrealism, Pop Art, Impressionism, Digital Art, Still Life, Realism and many more.
Size mainly described as dimensions in centimetres. Also be aware if the dimensions include framing or not. For
an average home artwork around 60 x 80 cm would be considered a medium size and 80 x 130 considered a
large size. Obviously this is completely subjective and the best thing to do is get the measuring tape out.
Medium is what the artist used to create the artwork. For example, oil means oil paint, acrylic means acrylic paint,
watercolours, ink, pencil, charcoal and many more. Mixed Media is simply when an artist mixes mediums
together. For example, some artists bind Acrylic paint and a texture medium (sand) together.
7. SET YOUR BUDGET
A fundamentally important step, however also be sure you’re expectations are realistic, your earlier research
should assist you in this area. This is important because if you ‘blow your budget’ then you are not going to view
the artwork with a positive frame of mind but rather a resentful one. Also, ask if flexible payment options are
available. Most galleries and art consultants offer payment plans over a 3 to 6 month period or an art rental
service so you can ‘try before you buy’.
8. RAISE YOUR OWN AWARENESS OF INVESTMENT POTENTIAL OF ART AND ARTISTS
When beginning a home art collection it is good to remember you need to live with the artwork therefore it
needs to be appealing to you. However you can also begin to consider the future investment potential of the
artwork you’re purchasing. At the most fundamental level, check the artist is active i.e. is regularly producing
new work for exhibitions and awards, have won any awards, received any reviews of note or are apart of art
investors collections. This is important if your art collection is later to be considered as part of your investment
portfolio and if you decide to on sell any of your collection in the future.
9. LESS IS MORE
Often when you’re in the middle of this process and you’ve found a style or artist you simply love you can
become quite excited and simply want more, more, more. While this is great, you also want don’t want to
‘overdo’ it. Simplicity in most things is always a good rule including art. Therefore if you are deciding on three
pieces for the one room and you simply can’t decide on the final third piece. Then, purchase the two you’re sure
about and either hire the third or just take some time to think.
10. PURCHASE YOUR ARTWORK
Now you have completed your planning and research which has built up your confidence to go purchase the art
that is right for you and your home. Remember you don’t have to do it all at once. It can be a gradual process of
building up your art collection – a journey you can enjoy. Or if you don’t have the time, simply rent a collection
and purchase the ones you love and continue to rent until you have all the pieces you want.
You will know when it is right because as you ‘live’ with a piece of artwork you become familiar with it and will
also learn when is the best time of day to view it and the mood you feel when you view it. If you feel the
atmosphere you intended to create has been achieved and your collection is a conversation point with your
visitors and guests then you know it is right for you and your home. Please note, all of us react very differently to
artwork often because of the emotion we are already carrying around in our heads, therefore a reason why art is
such a great conversation starter.
