What Is Abstract Art?
A versatile addition to modern interiors.
Elevate your aesthetic with abstract art. Like modern design, the abstract art style focuses on geometric patterns and curved forms to create something outside the norm. Refresh your knowledge on what abstract art is below, or skip ahead for decorating tips and ideas.
What Is Abstract Art?
Abstract Art Decorating Ideas
What Is Abstract Art?
Abstract art is an art style that focuses on using different shapes, textures, colors, and lines to convey emotion and evoke feeling. It gets its name from "abstraction," which is a widely used term across different art styles. Abstraction is the degree to which a piece of art depicts an object, person, or scene accurately (think: lifelike). A painting with low abstraction would attempt to copy a bowl of fruit down to the smallest details, whereas a painting with high abstraction might only show the basic forms and colors of the fruit for a more free-form interpretation.
Abstract Art History
The abstract art movement first came about in the early 20th century when Wassily Kandinsky (considered the father of abstract art) captivated artists with his abstract interpretation of shapes, colors, and lines. Abstract art really took off between the 1950s and 1970s, around the same time that modern design began to flourish. Abstract art was seen as a way to break free from the concept of realism in a post-WWII world.
What Is Abstract Art Today?
Modern abstract art takes most of its influence from abstract expressionism which is a type of abstract thinking shaped by spontaneous brushstrokes and other gestures to convey emotion (more on that below). A few well-known abstract artists of today are Michael Cheval, Cindy Sherman, and Sean Scully.
Abstract Art Decorating Ideas
There are a variety of ways to decorate your home with abstract art and patterns in ways that agree with your design aesthetic. Check out these ideas to infuse into your modern space.
1. Go Bold
Done right, an abstract art print can transform a room and help tie your color scheme together. Refresh your neutral living space with an abstract print that bursts with color. Make a bold statement with abstract prints that feature contrasting colors to your current palette. Contrast your orange sofa with a multicolored abstract print that has blue hues, or sage green kitchen cabinets with red hues.
Stick with neutral shades to add a subtle change while still making an impact in your living space. Opt for abstract artwork in shades of cream, beige, tan, or gray to keep things muted, or go black-and-white for a simple yet refined look. Smooth silhouettes and thin-lined portraits create a pop of interest while allowing your furniture and decor to stand out. You can also go with abstract artwork in neutral shades if the rest of your space has a variety of bold colors and patterns already. Bringing in neutral artwork can help you relax your space and make for a refreshing contrast.
Transform a blank wall into an abstract gallery wall to elevate your living space. Start with one abstract print that matches your aesthetic like an abstract portrait. Then use the same color palette to select other art prints. Keep the palette neutral with black, white, and gray along with subtle colorful hues to complement furnishings – peep the blue sofa and hints of blue in the abstract art featured above. Mix curved forms with angular lines and shapes to create visual dimension.
Create an abstract gallery wall for the blank space above your sofa, above the credenza in your dining room, or on the wall behind your breakfast nook.
Pro Tip:
Read our guides How to Create a Gallery Wall and Wall Art Size + Placement to find out how to create an eye-catching display with abstract art.
4. Mix Abstract Art With Wood Accents
Infuse your space with abstract art to complement wood furniture and decor. Abstract art reflects the modern movement, while wood elements have been a home staple for centuries. Put them together to create an intentional juxtaposition of design styles. Pair your dining room’s light oak floors and wood paneled ceilings with an abstract gallery wall. Add a decorative wood tray to your dining table to complete the look.
Pro Tip:
Don’t have a lot of wood items in your home? No problem. Frame your abstract prints in light oak, rich mahogany, or black dyed wood frames.
Aim for symmetry with matching abstract artwork. Hang matching prints side by side above your sofa in your living room, or place one above each nightstand in your bedroom for a cohesive look. You can also search for wall art sets that feature slightly different abstract shapes or patterns within the same color palette so each adds its own unique twist while staying uniform.
Mix things up by hanging other art styles with your abstract prints. Photography, landscapes, cityscapes, and portraits contrast well with abstract art of the same color scheme. Complement black-and-white abstract paintings with black-and-white photos. Look for professional photographs or transform your own photos for a personal touch. Break up the neutral scheme with an abstract watercolor painting in blue hues.
Color-field painting is a type of abstract art that focuses on solid blocks of color for a simplistic yet impactful look. Select a color field painting in sunny yellow to brighten a small home office or dark corner in your living room. Or choose a piece of abstract art in a relaxing shade like sage green or sky blue for above the headboard in a bedroom.
Get inspo from the abstract art movement and break free of traditional constraints – starting with where you put your art. We like seeing art above the fireplace, sofa, and headboard, but sometimes we crave something different. Lean an abstract print against a low-set windowsill to add color to a blank corner of your living room. Use your kitchen counter to prop up a small abstract print. Hang a matching set of three abstract prints in a vertical configuration on the wall next to your powder room vanity, or transform a hallway or stairway into the ultimate abstract gallery wall.
9. Opt for Abstract Furniture
Look for furniture with abstract patterns to enrich neutral spaces. Swap out your bed frame for an upholstered frame in a funky, abstract pattern. Grab a faux marble table lamp with a fun, speckled design for your nightstand. Carry abstract art into your living room with an abstract-print ottoman or throw pillows with geometric shapes and textures. This is a great way to ease into the idea of abstract forms or go all in.
Spice up your floors with an area rug in a cool abstract print. This way you can add abstract art to your space while taking a minimalist approach. You can also take the abstract shapes and color scheme of your area rug and use it as a base for abstract wall art. Match the zigzag pattern on your rug to abstract pieces with diagonal lines and triangular forms. Then tie the room together with solid-color throw pillows that mirror the same colors in the area rug.
Go one step further by choosing a wallpaper in an abstract print. Select an abstract pattern for your entryway, powder room, or accent wall in your living space. Complement intricate abstract details with solid-color furniture to keep the space well-balanced. Use smaller decor pieces (think: vases with abstract shapes, concrete planters, or sleek metal candlesticks) to carry the modern theme while letting the wallpaper stand out.
Pro Tip:
Discover more wallpaper textures, finishes, and patterns for your modern home in our guide Modern Wallpaper Designs.
Above all else, choose abstract pieces that evoke emotion and captivate you. The meaning of abstract art is to think outside the box and not be afraid to try new things, so go with your gut.
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