HOW TO DELINEATE SPACE WITH ART

PRIMER:

HOW TO DELINEATE SPACE WITH ART

Strategies, tips and ideas for creating multiple zones in any interior.

PLATFORM

How to go about divvying up a living space can feel so abstract and daunting. Are there any good strategies people should keep in mind when they go about setting up a room with furniture and design objects?

JESSICA

I like to create zones: seating or conversation areas, maybe an area with a breakfast table. Zones can be defined not only by the furniture but also by the use of rugs, color-blocking, drapes, screens, and even art or mirrors.

PLATFORM

How can art be a tool to help visually separate areas with different functions, even if they're technically all part of the same room?

JESSICA

I often like to play with the scale of art to create zones. For example, I might use a single large piece in a dining area but create a gallery wall in an adjacent living area that is part of the same space. Another option is using a series of art to create a zone in a specific space.

Atelier Davis | Emily Followill
PLATFORM

Speaking of art, what role can the style, color and theme of artwork play in helping define a space?

JESSICA

Switching up the style, color or even medium can help to define spaces. You might use a piece of sculpture over a fireplace seating area and then use a series of photographs in a dining area.

PLATFORM

Is it important for all of the art, objects and furnishings in each area to feel distinct from one another? How is it possible to balance wanting to make an interior feel holistic while having different areas serve different functions (like a reading nook vs a media area vs a work space, for example)? 

JESSICA

Yes and no. They should be distinct, but not so much so that they're speaking different languages. They have to be in dialogue with each other. This holds true with the furnishings, too. You want to have them delineate spatial separations while also being harmonious.