The beautiful thing about Metricon homes is that they offer generous floorplans no matter your budget. Within these spacious layouts, you'll find ample wall space that presents the perfect canvas for showcasing captivating artwork. However, facing a vast, blank white wall can sometimes feel a little intimidating.
We spoke to Metricon’s interior design expert Kristina Orban about her top tips on maximising the potential of these free gallery spaces and adding a personal flair to your home. “Installing artwork on the walls is one of the final steps we take to complete our display homes,” she says. “That’s when it feels like the house is finished. And if you’re moving house, removing the artwork leaves a noticeable void.”
Size matters
It makes sense to look at the bigger picture when you want to work your artistic magic. “When choosing wall art, size and proportion are important,” Kristina says. “Think big. So, if you're eyeing art to hang above your sofa, aim for something that covers around two-thirds of the sofa's width to ensure it looks proportionate.”
But if you’re wary of the price of some larger works, you can add impact by taking the strength-in-numbers approach. “You can cluster a bunch of smaller, more affordable works together,” Kristina suggests. “We love the mix-and-match look.”
Find your place
Wrangling the proportions of your home isn’t just about choosing the right size of art for your wall space. It’s also about getting the positioning right. “The centre of the artwork should be approximately eye level on a blank wall, or if you are placing it above a sofa or bedhead, aim for the base of the artwork to be around 25cm from the top of the sofa or 15cm from the top of the bedhead."
Hang out
If measuring perfect hanging lines on your walls is all a bit too much for you, then don’t panic. There are easier ways around it. “We love to lean art against the wall, whether it’s on the top of sideboards and shelving, or for larger works that sit on the floor,” Kristina says. “We’ve been adding leaning artworks to kitchens and pantries and study nooks too, to add a bit of colour. It can be a great option if you’re renting and are wary of making holes in the walls.”
Keep it together
People who curate gallery spaces always think about how best to position artworks to complement one another and spark conversation. The same should be true of your walls at home.
“Particularly in your main living areas, it makes sense to group wall art thematically to help you to tell a story. And that’s not just the subject of the artworks, you can also team them up in colour themes with popular palettes like terracotta or olive green throughout.” Kristina Orban
Compare and contrast
When looking at how you frame your artwork, you can either choose to accentuate the key colours of your home or deliberately contrast them for effect. “You can choose frame colours that match the timbers throughout your home, or go with black frames which will suit most themes,” Kristina says. “You can also integrate a colour from your furniture, or work in with the palette featured in throws, cushions, decor or a rug.”
And if your home is mostly minimal and in a muted colour palette, you can use art to add little pops of excitement that bring out your individuality without going too wild. “That can add a dash of vibrancy to bring life to the room, counteracting an otherwise simple interior,” Kristina says.
Crafty ideas
You don’t have to stick to traditional canvases either, Kristina notes. “We love tapestry-style wall hangings and macramé as a way to mix it up and add interest to a home. Resort-style seagrass wall hangings are a great idea too, they add natural texture to the space..”
If you’re feeling inspired, here are five of the Metricon design team’s favourite places to pick up wall art:
There are loads of great options here at affordable prices and it’s really easy to search for ideas. You can even order cushions to match your artwork.
If you need a little help working out a theme, this site helps walk you through it and it’s beloved by a lot of the major design magazines.
If you’re a big fan of hand-painted canvases that hang out naked, with or without the frame, there are loads of great choices here.
If you love more minimalist, graphic wall art, we recommend taking a look at this brilliant website.
And if you are a big fan of the craftier end of the market, you can’t go past the favourite hangout of homegrown artists offering wall art at very affordable prices.
For even more artwork inspiration, head over to our Image Gallery and filter by Feature: Artwork.
