Blanking Out
By Jessica Young GateHouse News Service

Squinting your eyes, you take a step back from the family room couch, envisioning a black-and-white photo print of ballerinas hung in the bare spot on the wall. But then again, an impressionistic seascape oil painting in blues and purples might work even better. Or maybe a bright abstract watercolor featuring red limbs intertwined with distorted shapes could create the right mood.

In theory, the thought of filling expanses of blank wall space in your home with amazing original artwork is exhilarating. Yet when it comes down to it, decorating can be overwhelming given the limitless options.

"The area over my mantle glares at me every time I walk by. I'm really itching to put something great right there - something with the wow factor," said Kelsey Fitzpatrick, who is redecorating her living room. "But I'm just not sure what the etiquette is. My room is shaping up to be French-chateau shabby-chic, so do I get a piece depicting a little bistro? Or can I get something unrelated, like a portrait of a flamenco dancer? I'm not sure how to proceed."

For many like Fitzpatrick, collecting art is overwhelming, and questions over sticking to color palettes and whether it's OK to mix mediums abound. Vertical or horizontal? A series or one main piece? People, landscape, floral or still?

Yet with the help of some experts, you'll know just how to shop for charming art and exactly how to blend it into your existing decor.

Q: Is it OK to feature different art forms (i.e. an etching, acrylic or photograph) in one room? Can the subject matter vary from piece to piece in a given area of the home?

A: "Everything right now is juxtaposed. It's absolutely intriguing to mix it up," said Kathleen Newhouse, chief executive officer of Park Place Interiors. "As long as there's a focal point that commands and centers interest - like a montage - and gives people a sense of order."

Maintaining a sense of harmony within a room is important, and Newhouse suggests finding a common denominator among furniture, accessories and art and visually highlighting that theme.

"You need a unifying agent, like color, that can play off of the art and the fabrics or print in the room to tie all of the elements together," she added. "The key is not about matching but developing enough repetition to integrate things while including enough contrast to avoid boredom or overkill."

If you have an affinity for Mediterranean art and hang a picturesque piece of whitewashed homes with cerulean roofs in Mykonos, don't feel obligated to repeat the medium and subject matter for the sake of consistency, but perhaps a Greek Key design in a lamp will be a great accent.

"You don't want to overdo it by hitting people over the head with your theme," said Newhouse, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers. "But if there are opportunities to incorporate it into the architecture or other surrounding elements, it makes for a nice aesthetic." Suburban Life