Currently showcasing at the Royal Academy of Arts until 20 April 2016, Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse has got us thinking about artwork in the home and how to make the biggest impact.
From classic canvasses in traditional town houses, to modern mirrors in polished penthouses, we’ve got a range of impressive designs to show you.
Bold is Beautiful
Whether you’re wanting to add a splash of colour to white walls, or looking for a head turning piece as the centrepiece of a room, a large canvas can provide an interesting focal point to get people talking.
Hyde Park Place, Hyde Park Estate, W2
The bold, colourful artwork in this impressive three bedroom apartment heightens the playful personality of the interior. By sticking to a white decorative scheme throughout, including fixtures and fittings, the artwork defines each living space.
Northumberland Place, Artesian Village, W2
Oriental-style prints in this elegant three bedroom town house bring elements of the East to Notting Hill. Although dark colours can be imposing in the wrong setting, the gold and black tones in the canvasses complement the rich decorative scheme throughout the reception rooms.
Wellington Close, Notting Hill, W11
Blue hues in this beautiful four bedroom house’s reception room and pink prints in the kitchen create a particular atmosphere in each room. Establishing a theme in your artwork allows you to set the tone, whether it be relaxing, welcoming or maybe even romantic.
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Serving both a practical and decorative purpose, mirrors help to reflect light round a room, making a space look brighter and also bigger. Dependent on the style of mirror you choose, it can also be an artwork in itself and be used in place of a painting or photo above fireplaces, beds or in hallways.
Headcorn Road, Norbury, CR7
The owners of this stylish five bedroom house in Norbury have hung an eye-catching geometric mirror over the headboard in the master bedroom, creating a focal point for the room without distracting the eye too much from the other artworks.
Barnabas Road, Homerton, E9
Quirky patterned and textured frames make each mirror in this unique three bedroom house an individual piece of art, which stand out against pristine white walls.
De Vere Gardens, Kensington High Street, W8
The huge geometric mirror in this stunning two bedroom Kensington apartment’s open-plan reception room is a striking focal point, which accompanies the chic grey and white colour scheme perfectly.
Quirky Collages
Whether you're trying to achieve a charming rustic look or one reminiscent of a Victorian library, picture frame collages are a great way to liven up a room at a low cost. Horizontally, vertically, straight or skew-whiff, however you choose your arrangement, collages are a fantastically flexible way to display your artwork.
Hamilton Terrace, St John's Wood, NW8
A collage of traditional prints in this beautiful seven bedroom house are in keeping with the classic style throughout. Although large in size and prominent in the room, the graceful design adds a subtle elegance to the room.
West End Lane, West Hampstead, NW6
This bright and airy one bedroom flat in West Hampstead employs a simple decorative scheme that is complemented by a quirky collage of photographs and prints in the reception room.
Light it up!
We all install lighting in our homes, but not all of us think about doing it in quite as much style as some homeowners. Forget downlights, uplights and ceiling lights, neon signs, light-up letters and eccentric shapes are the order in these stylish properties.
Lower Terrace, Hampstead, NW3
As well as mood lighting throughout that adds to the sleek, ultra-modern aesthetic, a neon sign adds a playful touch to this stylish four bedroom house’s reception room. More of an attention-grabbing feature than a practical addition, it is striking alternative to a painting or print.
Allingham Street, Angel, N1
A large eye-catching light like the one in the conservatory of this chic three bedroom house is a fantastic way to illuminate a room, whilst creating an artistic focal point. Dark walls are also a great way to showcase your artwork, allowing you to experiment with bold, bright colours.
Leinster Square, Bayswater, W2
This charming two bedroom flat in Bayswater has a subtle white decorative scheme that is in keeping with the classic, elegant style of the building. Light-up letters are a fun, modern touch, helping to illuminate the lower ground floor without being too imposing in the cosy rooms.
Rural Reinvention
While mounting an animal on your wall is reserved for past generations, artists and designers have come up with quirky, modern takes on this British tradition.
Archway Road, Highgate, N6
From tropical prints in the bedroom, to an ultra-modern matte black kitchen, this super stylish one bedroom flat has lots of fashionable features, including this angular black deer head mounted in a gilt frame.
Tudor Road, High Barnet, EN5
The all-white design of this stunning five bedroom house’s open-plan kitchen is broken up by both a collage of brightly coloured paintings and a striking crocheted antelope head, which is certainly a talking point.
Feeling inspired?
Browse through more stunning properties in our Home Inspiration section.
