Why “Rules” Make Normal People Freeze
“Rules” rule all in the age of information. Influencers and experts are indistinguishable, and everyone online has an opinion on how you should decorate your home. When all of these “rules” pile up it can seem like you’re not allowed to do anything at all! The most important rule to follow when deciding how to style your walls is to remember one thing: they’re your walls! Forget all the viral trends, advice from online strangers, and wall decor anxiety by decorating the way that speaks to you the most. If you’re feeling stuck, here are seven “rules” you can break free from and find your own flow when it comes to wall decor.
The Matchy-Matchy Palette Problem
Color matching seems like a pretty basic rule of thumb that everyone has to follow, right? Not exactly. This thought has gone on to the extreme in social media trends like “color drenching” – where one will “drench” an entire space in one singular color. If this is for you, then great! However, do not feel like you have to adhere to a single color or a primary + complimentary palette. When used properly, contrasting colors can actually accentuate certain parts of your space. Try starting with a single color that you like best and then experiment with a second, and even third, color until you find a palette that not only works together, but works for you.
Gallery Wall… or Visual Clutter?
Another raging trend on social media has been the use of “gallery walls” – where a large amount of smaller art, photos, or signage fills a space instead of a larger piece. While Gallery walls have their place in specific situations, the online trend has exploded into a level of popularity that carries gallery walls to spaces that don’t need them. Unless executed the proper way in the proper place, gallery walls are a quick way to make a space feel cluttered and tacky. In popular spaces for wall decor like over living room couches or office backdrops, a single oversized piece lends itself better to the composition of the room. This way, the eye is drawn to wherever the focal point of your space is without having to bounce around from small frame to small frame. Simplifying and oversizing is a quick trick to calm down the mood in a room that feels cluttered.
Black Frames Everywhere
Black frames are great for almost any room and almost any artwork. However, why play everything so safe? If you want to make your space feel more personal and lived-in, swapping out those plain black frames is one easy way to do just that. Consider the artwork or photograph you want to frame, then decide if plain black actually is the best option, or if you’re just playing it safe. Consider choosing a white frame for a classier but equally timeless look – or a frame with a wood finish for a more rustic, cozy and lived-in vibe.
Neutrals Are Not a Personality
While neutral tones are often a great choice to bring balance and comfort to a space, people often get lost in their obsession over taupes, grays, and beiges. Too many neutral tones can whither away the personality of both the room and those inside of it. Neutral tones bring balance to a space, but are actually a great backbone for building a more complex color palette. Instead of drenching your space in neutrals, try choosing just one and adding pops of color throughout the space. This strategy, if done correctly, can bring a room to life while still allowing the neutral tone to anchor the space.
Hanging Art at Eye Level and its Consequences
It makes sense to feel obligated to hang everything on your wall at your eye level – it’s anyone’s first impulse when putting anything on the wall. However, it isn’t always best practice. That piece of art you want to hang, or those floating shelves you got to go with it may not be feeling right simply because eye-level may not be the optimal height to hang them. In a room with high ceilings, eye-level art may leave an awkward space between itself and the ceiling. Tall lamps or shelves on the same wall may create a similar effect if your art is hung too low. Take into account your space, the walls, and the rest of your furniture and decor. Feel out where the space on the wall feels emptiest and hang there – this way you avoid those awkward gaps and uncomfortable spacing. Eye-level is a good place to start when thinking about where to hang something on the wall, but it shouldn’t be a hard and fast rule.
Fear of Changing Your Mind
Sometimes everything about your decor feels just right – until the seasons start to change. Seasonal changes can spark the impulse to redecorate your entire space, which can be extremely overwhelming and can leave you feeling stuck. However, the truth is that if your space feels right in one season, a few small tweaks will get that perfect vibe to stick around all year long. Small changes like pillowcases, throw blankets, and candles are easy ways to transition a space with the seasons instead of conducting a complete overhaul. Small seasonal touches on shelves and swappable artwork also make it easy for your walls to change with the seasons. BIG Wall Decor’s swappable ArtFab prints make the transition seamless. With thousands of interchangeable fabric prints to choose from, you can have the perfect oversized piece for any season, holiday, or occasion.
The New Way: No Rules
Breaking away from social media trends and the pressure to do what others are doing will free your mind and let creativity flow. Art and interior design is often gatekept by professionals or influencers online who claim that there’s a right and a wrong way to express yourself. Choosing art and decor should be a fun and easy process. Free your mind from “rules” and see where your creativity takes you when it comes to decorating your walls and your space.
