Photo Credit: Max Vakhtbovycn www.pexels.com
The quality of the wall art will have the biggest impact on how it’ll look once it’s in your home, but it’s not the only factor. Lighting also counts for a lot. You might love a work of art when it’s hanging in a store, but, if you don’t consider the lighting, it might be oddly underwhelming once it’s on your wall.
Happily, this is something that’s within your control. Armed with a bit of know-how and some handy wall art lighting tips, you can ensure that your chosen artwork makes as big of an impression as possible.
The Impact of Lighting on Artwork
Lighting can affect artwork in a number of ways. Indeed, as we’ll see below, in some cases it can even reduce the lifespan of the work. Mostly, it’ll impact the appearance of the artwork — if the lighting is too low, then it’ll be difficult to see the print. If the lighting is too bright, then reflected light can be an issue.
It’s best to find the sweet spot between the two. In many cases, you won’t need to do anything special; if the ambient lighting is good enough, then the wall art will look just fine. You probably won’t need to invest in specialist artwork lighting unless you’re hanging an original Picasso; instead, work on just gently increasing the amount of lighting in the area where you’re hanging the print.
Natural Light vs. Artificial Lighting
Natural light is generally perceived to be a better lighting source for wall art than artificial lighting. However, that comes with a few caveats. First, natural lighting shouldn’t come from direct sunlight. Even the highest quality wall art prints will show signs of fading if they’re exposed to too much direct sunlight. Second, there has to be enough natural light to see the artwork properly. In many cases, that’s not always an option. However, if it is an option, then it’ll complement your wall art well; nothing brings out the full range of colours and beauty of a piece of art quite like natural light.
If you live in a home that receives minimal natural light, then you’ll need to explore artificial lighting options. As we mentioned above, there’s specialist artwork lighting you can purchase, but unless you’re displaying the piece as if your home is an art gallery, it’s not really needed. The best solution is to add lighting fixtures around the work of art, and then play around with different light bulbs — which, we may remember, come in different tones — until you find the one that works best for your work of art.
Tips for Lighting Wall Art In Your Home
You’ve found the perfect wall art for your home. Now’s the time to ensure that it looks the part on your wall. Incorrect lighting can kill the impact of wall art, especially if it is intended to be the focal point of the room. Follow the below tips to ensure your wall art has the right level of shine.
Focus on Composition
You may need to match your lighting to the artwork, especially if the artwork is of a darker composition. Darker hues require more lighting than light-coloured works of art. If your work of art is darker, then be particularly mindful of shadows, which make it more difficult to see more subtle details.
If you’re buying original pieces, rather than prints, then read up on the ideal lighting solution for the medium of the piece. Oil paintings, for example, tend to show glare when artificially lit, so more subtle lighting is required.
Explore Lighting Options
In most cases, you’ll find that the room’s existing light serves the artwork just fine. But don’t panic if your wall art doesn’t pack a powerful punch due to lighting issues; there will be solutions available to you. If all else fails, you can invest in artwork lighting. However, you can probably avoid that slightly expensive option just by playing around with side lamps or changing bulb tones.
Balance the Artwork With the Room
Your home isn’t an art gallery. While you might hope that your wall art serves as the focal point of the room, you won’t want it to be the only interesting element in the space. If you need to artificially light the artwork with specialist lighting, make sure you balance things out by making other parts of the room bright, too.
Don’t view lighting your artwork as an unimportant afterthought; it will, after all, play a big role in the appearance of the art in your home. Remember: a great work of art deserves to be presented in all its glory!