If walls could talk, they'd surely tell us the perfect place to hang a mirror or piece of art. But since they can't, we’re lucky enough to offer the next best thing: insights from home styling experts.
Art may be in the eye of the beholder, but the vision of these Anthropologie collaborators is pretty impeccable. Here, the Hommeboys (aka Austin Carrier and Alex Mutter-Rottmayer), photographer Gray Benko, and stylist Kendra Smoot reveal their tips for filling every wall, shelf, and nook.
The effect, if we may say so, is quite the masterpiece.
How To:
Decorate Your Walls
The Hommeboys
According to design duo Austin Carrier and Alex Mutter-Rottmayer, art should be in conversation with the space that it's in.
In the spa-like bathroom of their Sonoma, California home, that meant incorporating cool-and-light tones, warm finishes, and artwork in a spectrum of blues. "We chose these pieces because of their abstract style. It lets the imagination wander, which is exactly what we wanted in a room designed as a relaxing escape from reality," say Austin and Alex.
Make your way to the kitchen, and you’ll find another bold, impactful moment. “Dark walls make art pop,” say Austin and Alex. “If this piece had been on a light wall, it would’ve been less noticeable, but on a dark wall it draws you in and adds more visual interest.”
In the spa-like bathroom of their Sonoma, California home, that meant incorporating cool-and-light tones, warm finishes, and artwork in a spectrum of blues. "We chose these pieces because of their abstract style. It lets the imagination wander, which is exactly what we wanted in a room designed as a relaxing escape from reality," say Austin and Alex.
Make your way to the kitchen, and you’ll find another bold, impactful moment. “Dark walls make art pop,” say Austin and Alex. “If this piece had been on a light wall, it would’ve been less noticeable, but on a dark wall it draws you in and adds more visual interest.”
If you find yourself stuck on committing to a palette (we’ve all been there), Austin and Alex suggest looking to nature. Create a collage of complementary colors: Think of a sunset, or a field of flowers. Then, use this visual theme to create a narrative of vignettes throughout your home, featuring objects and scenes you love.
Gray Benko
Built in 1815, photographer Gray Benko’s Charleston, South Carolina home is a mix of the old, the new, and the whimsical. Bright colors and textures play a role in each room, with one of Gray's biggest design triumphs, a wall of floor-to-ceiling shelving, rising high in the living room.
"I wanted to fill the shelves without making them look too busy, so I decided to do the rainbow wall first. I added a bold black-and-white art piece in the center to ground it," says Gray.
"I wanted to fill the shelves without making them look too busy, so I decided to do the rainbow wall first. I added a bold black-and-white art piece in the center to ground it," says Gray.
For the opposing shelves, she used more neutral art and objects that wouldn’t compete with the rainbow book wall. Gray’s secret to perfectly stocked shelves? "Divide each vertical row into thirds,” she explains. “Then, style accordingly, while going from larger to smaller items within each 'unit.'”
As for what you should fill empty shelves or nooks with, reach for pieces that make you smile, regardless of what’s “in style.” For Gray, that’s everything from painted portraits to lemon-printed wallpaper to Anthro's Josephine Mirror (which hangs beautifully in her entryway).
As for what you should fill empty shelves or nooks with, reach for pieces that make you smile, regardless of what’s “in style.” For Gray, that’s everything from painted portraits to lemon-printed wallpaper to Anthro's Josephine Mirror (which hangs beautifully in her entryway).
“Due to their reflective quality, I think wall mirrors are great for making smaller spaces feel larger than they actually are,” says Gray. When choosing a place to hang a looking glass, she suggests asking yourself what room could benefit most from its volumizing effect.
Kendra Smoot
When faced with a blank canvas, stylist Kendra Smoot feels no fear. In fact, she knows just what to do: make it personal. "I think of the lighting in a room as its jewelry, and the wall art as its personality," says Kendra.
Her California-bungalow living room, while inspired by the tonal palettes of the European homes that Kendra loves, is a lovely bricolage of natural materials, interesting shapes, and treasured memories. “The print over the fireplace reminds me of my college summers in the Southwest,” she says. “The mirror reminds me of a trip to Bali with my husband."
If your goal is a room that feels similarly laid-back, Kendra suggests adding unexpected elements. Consider propping art on the floor for “an atelier vibe.” And don’t be afraid to leave things a little unfussy; immaculacy is highly overrated (especially in features like the fireplace!).
Her California-bungalow living room, while inspired by the tonal palettes of the European homes that Kendra loves, is a lovely bricolage of natural materials, interesting shapes, and treasured memories. “The print over the fireplace reminds me of my college summers in the Southwest,” she says. “The mirror reminds me of a trip to Bali with my husband."
If your goal is a room that feels similarly laid-back, Kendra suggests adding unexpected elements. Consider propping art on the floor for “an atelier vibe.” And don’t be afraid to leave things a little unfussy; immaculacy is highly overrated (especially in features like the fireplace!).
Perhaps most importantly, decorate with pieces that make you happy! In her little one's bedroom, Kendra used our top-rated Etched Arcadia Wallpaper Mural to create an ethereal, over-scaled accent wall. "Art should be something you love, so if you’re on the fence about a piece, don’t get it," says Kendra. Every time you see it, you should smile.
Not sure where to start? Visit salvage yards, vintage shops, garage sales, and flea markets for one-of-a-kind pieces. Curate new 'galleries' from your own family's collection of heirlooms and travel souvenirs. Or shop the experts’ picks below!