Decorating: Creative Ideas for Decorating With Portraits
Add intrigue and put your room head and shoulders above the rest with portraits styled in unexpected ways
Seaside scenes, landscapes and abstract works all have their place, but portraits have something that other forms of artwork simply don’t. When you look at a portrait, whether it is new or old, painted or photographed, you are seeing a person. A life. Portraits ignite the imagination and populate a room with hidden stories - you can’t help but wonder what the subjects were thinking, feeling and doing. From vintage paintings to blown-up family snapshots and commissioned work, here are some fresh ways to use portraits around the house.
Partially hidden
Peeking out from behind a woodpile is an unexpected (even a bit cheeky) treatment for a formal portrait. Or try tucking a portrait behind stacked books or plates on a kitchen shelf.
Peeking out from behind a woodpile is an unexpected (even a bit cheeky) treatment for a formal portrait. Or try tucking a portrait behind stacked books or plates on a kitchen shelf.
Silhouettes
Whether modern and colourful or vintage Victorian, silhouette portraits have an undeniable graphic appeal. Search sites like Etsy for artists who make custom silhouette portraits - why not have one made of each family member (including the dog) and hang them together?
Whether modern and colourful or vintage Victorian, silhouette portraits have an undeniable graphic appeal. Search sites like Etsy for artists who make custom silhouette portraits - why not have one made of each family member (including the dog) and hang them together?
Supersize photo
Have a great formal wedding portrait of yourself or a family member? Have it blown up to nearly life-size proportions for a bold, personal piece that will fill a wall.
Discover 8 ways to supersize in style
Have a great formal wedding portrait of yourself or a family member? Have it blown up to nearly life-size proportions for a bold, personal piece that will fill a wall.
Discover 8 ways to supersize in style
Children’s self-portraits
Have your little one’s self-portrait framed beautifully and hang it just as you would a fine piece of art … because it is! Create a gallery wall with self-portraits from each of your children or from one child at different ages.
Have your little one’s self-portrait framed beautifully and hang it just as you would a fine piece of art … because it is! Create a gallery wall with self-portraits from each of your children or from one child at different ages.
Casually propped
Can’t decide where to hang that portrait? Forget the hammer and nails - a portrait leaning casually against the wall can be even more charming. Try it on the floor, or leaned atop the mantelpiece. Surrounding it with a few stacks of books or a vase of flowers will help it look intentional.
Can’t decide where to hang that portrait? Forget the hammer and nails - a portrait leaning casually against the wall can be even more charming. Try it on the floor, or leaned atop the mantelpiece. Surrounding it with a few stacks of books or a vase of flowers will help it look intentional.
All black and white
A mix of old and new family portraits looks striking in black and white. Keep the frames simple, with white mounts and narrow black frames.
A mix of old and new family portraits looks striking in black and white. Keep the frames simple, with white mounts and narrow black frames.
Color blocked
Shake up a grid of family portraits by mixing in a few solid colour blocks - an odd number looks the most natural. This works best with photos printed on boards or canvas rather than in frames. Choose the images you want to include first, then pick a colour that will complement your photos for the colour blocks.
Shake up a grid of family portraits by mixing in a few solid colour blocks - an odd number looks the most natural. This works best with photos printed on boards or canvas rather than in frames. Choose the images you want to include first, then pick a colour that will complement your photos for the colour blocks.
Iconic celebrity portraits
Arty photos of celebrities are available at all price points, from (very expensive) rare and limited-edition prints at private galleries to affordable art bought online. Think of someone you really admire and see if there is a portrait that speaks to you.
TELL US...
How do you incorporate portraits in your home? Share your tips in the Comments below.
Arty photos of celebrities are available at all price points, from (very expensive) rare and limited-edition prints at private galleries to affordable art bought online. Think of someone you really admire and see if there is a portrait that speaks to you.
TELL US...
How do you incorporate portraits in your home? Share your tips in the Comments below.
Keep an eye out for portraits that share a trait - a similar colour palette or size, or works by the same artist - and hang them as a collection for maximum impact. The paintings shown here are self-portraits by the same artist; the neat grid allows you to focus on the subtle variations between the works.
Learn how to arrange a perfect vignette