Decorating With Pictures

Nothing personalises a home like pictures. Of all decorations, they are unique in their ability to express your personality and transform four walls into a home.

Here is your Art Folio guide to choosing and using pictures.

Locations
Pictures are best positioned after all your other furnishings are in place. This gives you a better feel for sizes, types and locations. Some artworks, like impressionist landscapes, are best viewed from a distance, while highly detailed works demand closer inspection. Where you sit, the lighting and the traffic pattern are all vital factors in deciding what to hang where.

Sizes
Generally, picture sizes should be proportionate to the available space, but breaking the rules can be fun. An informal scattering of small pictures, family portraits perhaps, can dramatically fill a large area. The same photos could be more compactly presented in a gallery frame to suit a smaller space.

Here's a useful gauge to sizes:
Cut and join sheets of newspaper to represent your pictures or mirrors and tape them in position on the walls. Check the effect and adjust the sizes and positions until you are satisfied. We call this the "T-LAR"* principal. (*that looks about right).

Choosing Pictures
Call on the Art Folio first. You can see a wide range of framed and unframed prints or posters, or choose from over 4000 items in our colour catalogues; everything from old masters to modern abstracts. Most are available locally and those which aren't usually take only a week or so to arrive!

For originals, you need to visit galleries or cut out the middleman and deal direct with the artists. It is best to buy originals unframed and have them framed your way, by your own framer. Sadly, some artists skimp on their framing and poor quality materials and shoddy techniques can cause the artwork to deteriorate.

At the Art Folio, you can get a free crash course in recognising the danger signs. We are also quite happy to examine, frame or re-frame anything you may buy elsewhere.

A final thought, how about framing your own photographs? Enlargements cost about the same as commercial prints, they are uniquely personal and can be produced to the size you need. You could also frame and display other personal items like old letters, needlework, medals, badges or certificates.

Mirrors
Mirrors can brighten or add depth to any room. Functional or ornamental, plain or bevelled glass, any size, any frame, just tell us what you want and we'll custom make it for you at prices which will come as a pleasant surprise.

Hanging
Drill, plug and screw is the only way to go in brick walls, or use special hollow wall anchors in gyprock or similar.

Avoid direct sunlight - only half an hour a day will ruin your pictures. Likewise avoid hot spots (over fireplaces) or steamy places like kitchens or bathrooms. If you want pictures in such locations choose inexpensive prints.

Cleaning
Clean glass with Windex or any similar product but keep all cleaners away from the frame. Most frame finishes aren't very durable and some, especially gilded ones, are downright delicate. Gentle sponging with a damp cloth is usually okay, or use a paintbrush to dust heavily ornamented frames. If sterner cleaning is necessary, test clean an inconspicuous spot first or phone me for advice. If the inside of the glass is dirty or milky, this is a job for a framer.

Need Help?
For free advice on any decorating or framing problem please contact us.

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