Art collections tend to evolve as our personal tastes change. We often select pieces based on their individuality, historical significance, and emotional resonance. However, as our styles adapt, our collection may start to include pieces from a broader range of styles and mediums.
These disparate styles may sometimes clash, but a gifted designer can make it work and figure out how to create a cohesive look with different art styles. Wonderwall Studio understands how a broad range of art options can work together while avoiding visual dissonance. Our goal is to help you organize your collection in a way that highlights each piece individually and creates a unified space that captures the narrative of your artistic journey. Learn everything you need to know ahead.
Start by Defining a Theme or Concept
Establish a concept or theme before you start curating a particular space. This doesn’t mean all your pieces must represent the same subject matter, but defining a unifying idea can act as a thread that ties disparate styles together.
You may choose to emphasize a particular emotion and find pieces in different styles to evoke happiness or emphasize nature and look for works that follow a certain color palette. Finding and defining a broader framework allows each piece to gain context thanks to the similarities and thematic aesthetics of the pieces around it.
Use Color as a Bridge Between Styles
Color provides an excellent tool for establishing harmony across diverse art styles. A cohesive color palette in the room's overall design—through wall paint, furniture, or accents—can mirror your chosen pieces. Selecting works that share complementary shades, even if their subjects and artistic movements differ, creates a seamless visual narrative.
You may choose to balance a piece that primarily uses dominant red tones with a more traditional piece with richer burgundy undertones. Similarly, bold black-and-white photographs can accentuate monochromatic pieces in other forms, such as charcoal sketches or inked calligraphy. Establishing a unified color scheme prevents aesthetic chaos and allows each piece to stand out while contributing to the general atmosphere.
Play With Scale and Proportion
An overlooked aspect of creating cohesion between different artistic styles is scale. You can decorate a space with variously sized pieces, but the goal should be to guide the viewer’s eyes through the collection. Large-scale statement pieces often serve as the focal point within a space to create a foundation upon which smaller works can complement the layout.
Vertical arrangements, such as galleries hung stair-step style, introduce rhythm when pieces share proportional correlations. Conversely, smaller standalone items like miniature sculptures or sketches can create respites for relaxation. Harnessing a sense of proportional harmony allows you to build a structured viewing experience.
Consider How Frames and Borders Impact Continuity
Frames and borders can do a lot to influence the general dynamics and feed of a collection, particularly one with blended styles. Consistent framing styles—whether sleek metallic, rustic wood, or minimalist white—visually unify pieces of wildly divergent techniques. Collectors may try to use complementary materials if uniform frames seem too restrictive. Similar matching colors, styles, or finishes can help strike a balance.
Some collectors or designers may forego frames entirely to create a more gallery-style approach. Various pieces without frames allow each style to remain visually distinct while still connecting to one another naturally in a more streamlined fashion.
Keep the Space Around the Artwork in Mind
You can create a cohesive look with different art styles by giving them room to breathe. Use blank spaces of subtly decorated furniture to create an organic gap between pieces. Sparse, modern interiors may benefit from bold or abstract works, whereas ornate works with intricate details may shine best in traditional, richly textured spaces.
It’s also a good idea to consider the spacing between these pieces. You don’t want to clutter your art together, as that negatively affects the coherence of your gallery. Try to spread works out, using the moments of blankness on the wall to punctuate each piece.
Leverage Lighting To Create Consistency
Lighting is one of the most effective ways to blend different art styles into a more cohesive vision. You can use spotlights to focus on specific pieces and draw attention to them. These lights create a focal point to unify the rest of the display. The use of warm-toned lights can introduce consistency regardless of the medium, whether illuminating oil paints, photographs, or sculptures.
You can also use natural lighting to play a specific role. Letting sunlight in through large windows or skylights lends complementary brightness to colorful works that can also highlight textures in a subtle way. Of course, with lighting, you should always strive to maintain balance so you’re not overly favoring some pieces while dulling others.
Curate Groupings Strategically
How you group pieces together can say a lot about showcasing different art styles. Small clusters of pieces curated around a specific commonality, either thematically or visually, create compelling vignettes within a larger collection. Vignettes also allow you to tell smaller stories within your larger room narrative. Certain pieces may clash within close proximity, but you can use pieces of similar themes or subject material.
Designing Spaces With Artistic Diversity in Mind
Blending different art styles together requires vision, intention, flexibility, and an eye for detail. One could argue that making a cohesive collection of various styles is an art form in and of itself. From using color palettes and thoughtful lighting to curating groupings and exploring contrasts, these techniques offer art collectors a starting point for transcending the boundaries between styles.
Artistic diversity not only creates visual intrigue but a multidimensional experience that reflects the collector’s unique tastes and creative ingenuity. Discover how Wonderwall Studio can bring your artistic vision to life by exploring our exclusive collection, including Slim Aarons’ photography. With a curated selection that seamlessly blends timeless elegance and bold creativity, Wonderwall Studio is your partner in creating spaces that inspire and captivate.
