Put Art To Work
Don't hide the beautiful things you may already own. Take out that pretty lemonade pitcher or serving tray and display it on the coffee table instead of hiding it away in a kitchen cabinet. Organize your books; your bookshelf can look more like a magazine photo and less like a mess if you arrange your reading material artistically and leave space to display a favorite vase or a few treasured photos. Pile colorful spools of thread in a crystal bowl instead of a desk drawer. Try rotating items in and out of storage to avoid spotlight-stealing clutter.
Need new glasses for the kitchen? A tea kettle? A serving dish? Don't just buy the standard white... choose something that reflects your individual sense of style, and you have a piece of artwork that is eye-catching AND functional. And incorporating practical solutions when decorating saves time--no dusting endless tchotchkes.
Remodeling is a great excuse to infuse art into the utilitarian needs of a home. If your kitchen counters need a new backsplash, pick out funky glass tile. If your budget is tight, try mixing some handpainted tiles in with standard ceramic ones. Building beauty into practical repairs and updates saves you money--because you're spending it on something you need to do anyway, and your bathroom (or kitchen, or whatever other room you're redoing) won't need lots of other ornamentation to stand out as a result.
Also, check out our Sewing and Crafts page for ideas on creating your own artwork for your home. Nothing is more personal than something you make yourself!
Art isn't limited to manmade objects, of course. Indoor plants clean the air of harmful pollutants while adding that natural touch to a room. Choose boldly sculptural rubber plants, feathery ferns, or whatever catches your eye in between, taking into account lighting and moisture requirements.
Look for opportunities to add beauty to your functional spaces, and enjoy your everyday chores just a little more.