How to Use Contemporary Art for a Minimalist and Modern Home Design

For many, minimalism in interior design means stark white walls, white floors, and maybe a smattering of black or grey accents. Someone who’s new to the minimalist aesthetic might even imagine a room that’s devoid of colour, beauty, and personality.

 

But minimalist design is not as cold or boring as it may initially seem, especially when it’s paired with contemporary art. Sometimes, even the addition of a couple of cool art prints or illustration art posters can make a minimalist space stand out and be extremely comfy to whoever’s in it.

 

Let's dive into how contemporary art can change up an otherwise bare-looking minimalist environment and make it look both interesting and welcoming.

 

What Exactly Is Contemporary Art?

 

 

In the simplest terms, contemporary art consists of paintings, sculptures, digital art, typography art, and other forms of art made by artists living today. As with most art movements, contemporary art reflects the artist’s experiences of the present. What’s noticeable about a lot of contemporary artworks is their experimental nature and their departure from the traditional classical, realistic, and formal art styles of past centuries.

 

Contemporary art that’s bold, vibrant, and creative in its use of materials typically suits spaces with minimalist and modern interior design. The clean lines, open space, and updated look and feel of a minimalist or modern home all create an ideal backdrop for contemporary art.

 

That said, if you want new contemporary art pieces like graphic design prints to really pop, you can do the following: 

 

1) Use Art to Create a Focal Point in the Space

 

 

In a minimalist space, you’ll want a focal point to draw the eye. It’s good to choose a piece that demands attention and that creates a noticeable and pleasing contrast with the rest of your surroundings. Consider choosing an artwork with bold colours or large proportions. Browse among the many high-quality contemporary art prints available on online art platform DROOL Art for a great focal point and conversation starter. 

 

2) Opt for Complementary Minimalist Art Pieces
 

 

On the flip side, if you’d rather use contemporary art to emphasise the minimalist aesthetic instead of clashing with it, it’s an option to decorate with works that show simplicity and restraint. Get typography or graphic design prints, for example, that favour clean lines, monochrome designs, neutral tones, and understated composition. 

 

3) Mind the Scale and Proportion

 

 

Don’t forget about the elements of scale and proportion, which can make all the difference in balancing out a minimalist or modern room. If you have a large blank wall to decorate, it may be enough to display one big piece that takes up most of the space. On the other hand, you also make a gallery wall consisting of smaller pieces of art that look cohesive as a group.

 

For smaller spaces like a bedroom or bathroom, choose pieces that are the appropriately sized and that wouldn’t look awkward or out of place there. Try to choose contemporary pieces that evoke the atmosphere you want to achieve in that room, such as a feeling of relaxation in the bedroom or bathroom or a creative vibe in your personal study. 

 

4) Group Your Art for Added Impact

 

 

Grouping art pieces together allows you to tell a story and create more visual interest within your minimalist or modern space. While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to grouping art pieces, some guidelines you can follow are the “rule of thirds” (or odds) and the “rule of evens.”

 

For a more interesting composition, you can group an odd number of art pieces together to form an asymmetrical vignette or gallery wall. While you can mix and match pieces, it would be good for all of them to have one consistent element in common. They can have the same subject but a different colour story, and vice versa. 

 

Meanwhile, the “rule of evens” is all about achieving symmetry. When grouping an even number of pieces together—such as a pair, a collection of four medium-sized prints, or an assortment of six miniature prints—try to make sure they’re symmetrical and evenly spaced. For this type of gallery wall, you’ll want to achieve a uniform look with prints of the same size, frame, and colour. Even a small adjustment like this one can really pull the room together and enhance the updated feel of a minimalist or modern room. 

 

5) Add Texture with Contemporary Art

  

  

Many minimalist spaces tend to lean towards monochromatic compositions and two-dimensional aesthetics. For a more interesting effect, you can introduce contemporary art in the same monochromatic colours, but with patterns and textures that add additional depth. Finish the room design with tactile decorations, like a shaggy rug or a table with a raw wood grain finish. 

 

Used thoughtfully, contemporary art can breathe new life into minimalist and modern spaces and make them a pleasure to live in. Try the tips listed above to perfectly combine your new art purchases with your current home design.