Choosing Original Artwork for Your Home - A Collector's Guide
- Gill Storr
- 35 minutes ago
- 4 min read
There is something very different about living with an original piece of art.
Unlike choosing a sofa, a rug or a new colour for the walls, choosing a painting is rarely just about whether it matches the room. The pieces we really fall in love with usually make us feel something.
Perhaps it reminds you of a city you love. A holiday you'll never forget. Somewhere you lived. A river you've walked beside for years. Or perhaps you simply saw it and couldn't stop thinking about it.
For me, that's usually where choosing original art begins.
Start with the painting, not the room
I'm often asked whether artwork should match an interior.
My answer is: not necessarily.
Of course, colour and scale matter, but I wouldn't choose an original painting simply because it matches the cushions.
Your interior may change. You may redecorate. You might even move house.
A painting you genuinely love will move with you.
Instead, look for something that catches your attention and makes you want to keep looking. If you find yourself returning to the same painting several times, there's probably a reason.
Think about how you want the room to feel
Art has an extraordinary ability to change the atmosphere of a room.
A large, expressive cityscape can give a quiet hallway drama and energy. A painting inspired by the water can introduce movement and a sense of escape. An artwork filled with Mediterranean light can bring warmth to a room even on the greyest British morning.
So rather than asking:
"Does this match my room?"
try asking:
"How do I want to feel when I walk into this room?"
That can lead you to a very different painting.
Don't be frightened of scale
One of the most common mistakes I see is choosing artwork that's too small.
If you have a large wall, give the painting room to make an impact.
A substantial original above a sofa, fireplace, console table or in an entrance hall can completely transform a space. One confident piece often works far better than several smaller artworks trying to fill the same wall.
If you're unsure, measure the space and mark the approximate dimensions of the painting on the wall with low-tack tape. It immediately gives you a much better idea of how the scale will feel.
Let your memories help you choose
Much of my own work begins with places.
London streets. New York. Mediterranean destinations. Boats on the water. Rowing. Sailing. Places I've visited and scenes that have stayed with me.
What I've discovered is that collectors often respond to them for exactly the same reason.
A painting can suddenly take someone back somewhere.
I've seen that moment when somebody recognises a place and immediately starts telling me their story about it. That's one of the things I love most about being an artist.
Original artwork becomes very personal when it connects with something from your own life.
See the artwork in your home if you can
A painting can look completely different once it's away from a gallery wall or computer screen and placed within a home.
That's why I offer private viewings.
For collectors within travelling distance, it's sometimes possible to bring selected paintings to the home and see them in the space before a final decision is made.
For those further away, a photograph of the room can also be used to visualise how an artwork might look in position.
It takes away much of the uncertainty, particularly when choosing a larger piece.
Consider where you'll see it every day
We often automatically think of the living room when buying art, but some of the most successful placements I've seen have been elsewhere.
A large painting at the end of a hallway.
An unexpected artwork in a kitchen.
A dramatic piece on a staircase.
Something wonderful opposite the bed.
An original painting doesn't need a formal setting. It needs somewhere you will enjoy seeing it.
Sometimes the perfect question is simply:
"Where would I most like to encounter this painting every day?"
Buy the artwork you keep coming back to
There are plenty of practical things to consider when purchasing original artwork, size, budget, framing, delivery and where it will hang.
But after all of those questions have been answered, I still think the best advice is remarkably simple.
Choose the one you love.
Original art isn't something you replace every season.
The right painting becomes familiar without becoming invisible. You notice different details as the light changes. Visitors ask about it. It moves homes with you. Eventually, it becomes part of the background to your own memories.
That's why I believe the best original artwork doesn't simply fill a space.
It becomes part of your home and part of your story.
If you've found a painting of mine that you keep returning to but you're unsure whether it will work in your home, please get in touch. I'm always happy to talk through the space, scale and options, or arrange a private viewing where possible.Thinking about purchasing an original? Discover everything you need to know about purchasing a Gill Storr original, including private viewings, authenticity, delivery and personal advice.
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