Art is most needed in times of adversity. Now as most of us are adjusting to spending most of our time at home, we are unsurprisingly turning to art, music, and moving image to satisfy our brain’s need for stimulation.
The arts make a very important yet varied contribution to our national economy and, in some ways more significantly, our social cohesion. Art and culture provides our thoughts, feelings, stories, images and moments which weave together to collectively define us and inspire us. Naturally, then, there have been many discussions about the benefits of art in the workplace as well as art in the home. However, our current situation has woven together these two discussions as both home and work spaces are now converging.
There have been multiple studies that demonstrate that workers who have control over the layout and appearance of their workspace are more productive, producing better and more efficient work. In light of the large number of individuals now grappling with working from home, this couldn’t be more relevant. Not only does the workspace have to be functional, but it should also inspire us, keep us focused, reflect our personality, and in the words of Marie Kondo “spark joy”.
So, as we all now look for new-at home projects, here are three starting tips for curating your home office:
1. Consider what mood you want to encourage in your workspace
This will largely depend on your natural working style and occupation. For instance, if you require a quiet clean space to work effectively it could be wise to look at one key art piece and a minimal aesthetic. The art should not be overpowering in the space, but rather should soothe and encourage a low level of stress.
2. Where and how you choose to display items are just as important as the items themselves. Experiment with how you want to lay out your space, perhaps having a painting leaning on a shelf rather than hanging. This is a great time to play the role of curator and stylist so try placing your art in different spaces, even different rooms, to see how it changes your response.
3. Colour! Consider how artists such as Mark Rothko explore colour theory and unlock its emotional power. Certain colours will encourage certain emotions and states of mind. For example, if you work in a creative role, yellow is said to be a good colour as it is linked to improving optimism as well as blue as it provokes brain activity and imagination.
4. No viewing? No problem! There is an emporium of wonderful art and objects to browse online so make sure you take the time to look at some options. If you’re having trouble visualising a work on your wall, send us a picture! We can simulate the work onto your wall to scale, to let you make your choices in comfort and with confidence. Just send us a clear, front-on photograph of the wall you are looking to curate and we’ll send you back some options that match your criteria!
