Autumn Décor Design Tips from the ARK in Berea: Unique Ideas on How Art Can Spruce Up Your Home

ARK in Berea:  With summer days about to fade into fall, and outdoor living slowly heading indoors, now is the perfect time to liven up the dwelling you love to call home and prepare for some good cocooning time. Besides the cool, crisp air and invigorating ‘sweater weather’ the fall provides us each year, the colors of crimson, burnt orange, green, earthy brown and golden yellow are absolutely vibrant and can be brought indoors in a big way.

With more time being spent indoors as fall glides in, it’s the perfect time to refresh our homes and liven up our walls in a way that mixes majestic colors with breathtaking landscapes and fall scenes. Many times, finding just the right art can breathe life into a room that may have become hum-drum and stale over the years. American Cultural Ambassadors David and Renate Jakupca of the International Center for Environmental Arts (ICEA), headquartered in the ARK in BEREA, offers some great decorating tips for the fall:

Don’t go small: One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when selecting art is going ‘too small,’ which can make a piece appear dwarfed. You’ve heard the term ‘bigger is better.’ In this case, it’s right on the money. Imagine what a bold piece of art can do for an entire room. What’s great about ICEA pieces is that you can obtain an art selection on canvas up to 54” x 102”, even if the original is much smaller" said Ambassador Renate

      Don’t shy away from color: The trends in color this fall are bold, rich colors like mustard, reds and spicy oranges mixed with browns. Find a landscape scene that incorporates these colors and pick great accent pieces in chartreuse, red and yellow to play up the bold colors in your art. This can instantly breathe new life into a room.

      Consider the right lighting for your art: Draw attention to a favorite piece of art with an accent light that plays up the bold fall colors.

      Cocoon with color: As you begin spending more time inside, inspire your indoor spaces with art that’s cheerful and colorful. All types of art, including abstract images, will warm up your décor if they contain the earthy, autumn tones you see when you look outside your window.

      Groupings are back: In the 70s, wall groupings were prevalent in homes across the country, and the trend is making its way back. Freshen up your home this fall by hanging a matched set in a structured arrangement or mix and match your favorite pieces in a random configuration.

      Transform a room with a few simple changes: Purchase a new piece of art for a primary spot, such as the space over a fireplace or sofa. Buy a couple of new pillows that complement the colors in the art, and suddenly your whole room looks new.

      Consider season art changes if you’re running out of space: When you love art, it’s easy to quickly fill every wall! Why not consider season changes for key areas in your home? If you currently have a painting of zesty sunflowers in a basket on a particular wall, consider purchasing an autumn landscape to use in that same position for half the year. It keeps your home décor fresh and forever up-to-date.

      Change wall colors for a dramatic affect: Have you ever noticed how many art galleries and museums in urban design change wall colors depending on the art that’s on display? If your home and furnishings are neutral, consider painting one accent wall in a room with a different color, based on an interesting color within a favorite painting that hangs on that wall. The right color background will make your art come to life.

If an ‘art makeover’ is part of your fall décor design plan, you’ll want to visit www.TheICEA.com to view a collection of local images by American Cultural Ambassadors David and Renate Jakupca -- with a healthy collection of fall-inspired works, including landscapes and color-rich abstracts.        http://www.bereabuzz.com