4 Ways to Use Script Wall Art in Your Home

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Using script in your wall art is a wonderful way to express yourself in your home. You can incorporate your favorite inspirational quotes, excerpts from beloved books or even a more abstract design. You can also use word art as boldly as you want – or as subtly as possible. And depending on how you design the script wall art, it can fit in with everything from the boldest of artsy styles to the most neutral and transitional of spaces.

There are two ways to go about script wall art. Many styles use stencils or decals placed right on the walls themselves. These have a more country look to them so, below, we’ll focus on some of the more modern applications of script wall art.

Script-based wall art can often focus on different words to evoke a certain image, as you can see in the ‘Kitchen Words I’ Textual Art. Image courtesy of Wayfair.

Word Themes

You can choose word art for your wall that focuses on a certain theme. The photo above shows how you can even combine different words with an image to evoke that theme. An item like this would be good for a dining area or a kitchen space. Its neutral colors also mean that it would work in a wide variety of home styles, though the slightly distressed style could place it well in rustic chic spaces.

The photo above also shows how choosing a larger print can help create a certain focal point. It’s big enough to act as a theme-setting piece to a room’s style.

Script wall art doesn’t just have to be about the words, as in the Leonard Cohen Quote Sheet Music Print. Image courtesy of Etsy.

Repurposed Sheet Music

One way to work with script wall art is to find a creative take on another item. An example is the sheet music with a song lyric over it in the photo above. An item like this would hang well by itself.

Another idea for script wall art is to use it as part of a larger art collage or gallery wall style. This allows you to work with many different quotes. Finding smaller script art can also be more affordable. If you need to cover a whole wall, this is a good idea for making maximum use of the space. And a high-contrast collage can also spice up more understated script wall art pieces.

Set the tone in any room’s theme with a letter collage. Image: Di Studio/Shutterstock

Individual Words

The word art in the photo above is a classy take on script art. Many styles just put stencils or decals on the walls, but using letters on a shelf against a wall adds some depth and dimension. It’s not technically wall art, but it’s a way to pull off a wall art cheat if you can’t hang heavy things due to renter restrictions.

This is also a great idea for theme rooms. It’s a neat way to evoke the images of any theme. For instance, words related to the beach and swimming could go a long way in creating a beachside, oceanic theme in a room. For some other ideas, a boho space could have words related to artistic styles or a purely nautical theme could have words related to sailing.

You can use subtle script wall art to accent a space, like with this ‘Words to Live by’ Textual Art on Canvas. Image courtesy of Wayfair.

Understated Script Wall Art Hangings

You can also go for an understated wall hanging, like in the photo above. A basic, neutral-colored hanging with a black print style can fit in any room. It especially goes well in a space dominated by crisp, neutral colors.

The photo above shows how a piece like this can also fit anywhere as a classy accent to the space. For instance, this piece went right over a side table where the keys are placed. It shows how you can put inspirational messages in places that people stop at often. You could also hang an item like this above a coatrack, in front of a desk or by an eating area.

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All About the Moroccan Chic Style

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Chic is one of those words you often see thrown around in the design world. It’s especially common to see it added to certain design styles to update an older look for modern sensibilities, as is the case with rustic chic and even boho chic. And one style that’s easy to fall in love with is the Moroccan chic style.

Like other styles that make use of the word chic, Moroccan chic is about taking the classic Moroccan design style and updating it for a more modern appeal. The Moroccan style has very distinctive architectural, color and pattern traits. However, it can also look dated on its own since it has so many classical elements to it. Moroccan chic takes some of those Moroccan features and combines them with modern sensibilities, like a judicious use of color and choosing one pattern as a focal point. Below we’ll cover in detail how to get the very on-trend Moroccan chic style.

If you want to get a Moroccan chic style, first focus on the furniture, like this Carnuel Moroccan Leather Pouf. Image courtesy of Wayfair.

Moroccan Chic Furniture Details

One hallmark of the Moroccan style is its distinctive furniture and high use of textured patterns. So you’ll first want to focus on the furniture. To start off, it just isn’t a Moroccan style unless you have a pouf somewhere, like the tan one in the photo above. This is a good element that instantly sets the Moroccan tone thanks to its patterns.

In general, you’ll want to focus on pieces with a high degree of geometric pattern. For instance, you might choose a room divider with a patterned and geometric tone. Furniture featuring arches and diamond patterns are also common.

Layered fabrics give an instant Moroccan feel. Image: Pierivb/Getty Images

Fabric Textures Galore

Another hallmark of the Moroccan style is the use of plenty of textured fabrics. You can see in the photo above how this idea was updated for a more chic design. The fabrics have plenty of texture, but the space is still dominated by a neutral color scheme. That way, this room keeps a light, modern feel.

A common aspect of the Moroccan chic style is that it’s defined by different textures on top of and next to each other. You might even see multiple rugs placed on top of each other in some styles. In the photo above, you can see how the print on the wall sits above a textured pillow, which sits next to a textured bed accent.

Combine the high dose of color in traditional Moroccan styles with the neutrals of modern styles by using an accent color. Image: Pierre-Yves Babelon/Getty Images

Go Subtle with Color

Traditional Moroccan styles are all about color saturation. However, more modern styles tend to veer towards neutrals. To strike a chic balance between the two of them, you could focus on one accent color. The Moroccan chic style in the photo above uses a deep blue as its main accent color. You can see how that shade is reflected in the bedspread and bench. The space also uses red as a secondary accent color.

You could use small punches of multicolored elements, too. Examples include colorful stained-glass pieces in the windows, artwork or a rug. However, these items should not overpower the space. Ground out these elements with neutral-colored items to keep it modern, like in the photo above.

To keep things more minimal and modern, focus on one main pattern. Image: KUPRYNENKO ANDRII/Shutterstock

Choose One Pattern as a Focal Point

The Moroccan style is all about patterns and texture. However, to keep things more on the Moroccan chic and modern side, work with just one or two large-scale patterns as your focal point to keep the room looking more visually streamlined.

An example is the space in the photo above, where the defining pattern of the room is the design behind the TV. A secondary texture comes from the geometric design in the carpeting. Moroccan styles are also all about layering tons of pillows together, so feel free to do that, as well. You can use smaller, subtle designs on the pillows. Again, this photo shows how layering visual textures in neutral shades keeps the style looking more modern.

Arches are a major aspect of Moroccan styles, but you can incorporate them in subtle ways. Image: Richman21/Shutterstock

Architectural Details

Another huge trend in the Moroccan style is notable architectural details. For example, a recurring detail is that doorways tend to have arches for more of a cultural appeal. However, we can’t all completely remodel our doorways. A good compromise is the wall facade design in the photo above. It still gives that arched Moroccan architecture feel without having to get out the sledgehammer.

You can also incorporate similar geometry into other home accents like coffee tables, mirrors or even headboards. You’ll most commonly see the horseshoe arch in Moroccan architecture, which is a style you can find in all kinds of home goods.

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Art Studios: Ideas to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing

Whether you paint, sculpt, illustrate or specialize in another type of art, an art studio provides a place to work in solitude, store your supplies and display your work. While some artists may work in warehouses, lofts or office buildings, you can create an art studio in your home. Below are several art studios to provide inspiration, along with tips for creating the type of workspace that will stimulate your imagination and inspire you to create your best work.

Location

Location may be your most important choice. Image: LightFieldStudios./Getty Images

Your first and most important decision is determining where to place your art studio. An attic or an unused room in your home would be an excellent choice. A basement with sufficient sunlight is also a good option. If you don’t use your garage, consider transforming it into an art studio. Or you have enough space on your property to build or buy a small shed, this type of structure is ideal.

Color

White is a popular color, but yellow can stimulate creativity. Image: AlexD75/Getty Images

The color(s) of your studio will depend on your preferences. Art studios are often white, but Mary Kay Liston, president of Five Star Painting, recommends adding a pop of color.  “If your paint colors consist of white, white and more white, you’ll create a sterilized feeling,” she says.

Liston recommends the color yellow. “This is often considered the cheeriest of colors. Yellow denotes a fun-loving, happy vibe,” she says. But there’s another reason to consider this color.  “Yellow stimulates the logical side of the brain, creates mental clarity and helps inspire imaginative thinking,” Liston explains.

If you decide to go with a traditional white art studio, she says you can add pops of color through accessories.

Lighting

Art studios need natural light. Image: LightFieldStudios/Getty Images

Ideally, art studios will be designed so plenty of natural light is streaming in during the day. “Lighting is key to reading color correctly and anyone who has worked in art or design knows a piece can read completely differently in one space versus another because of lighting,” says Austin, Texas-based interior designer Stacy Murphy. “Your decorative ceiling fixtures or table lamps could turn the color medium you are working with either too warm or too cool, which is why natural daylight is truly your best friend in a creative working space. It’s also great for your wellbeing; you’ll be more creative if you’re connected to natural elements.”

Workspace

You can never have too much space. Image: ondatra-m/Getty Images

While a small studio is fine, don’t underestimate the value of plenty of space. This will allow you to transition from one area to the next without worrying about accidentally knocking over your easel or stepping on artwork or supplies. “Also, you should get a comfortable chair or stool that is height adjustable so you can alternate between standing or sitting heights, depending on what type of art you are creating,” advises Murphy.

Place for Materials  

Keep supplies organized and easily accessible. Image: Hero Images/Getty Images

“Make sure you have an appropriate storage system to keep your supplies neat and organized,” advises Murphy. “IKEA hacks are a great way to get a chic supply storage system for less.” Depending on your type of art, you need a place to store paint, paint brushes and other supplies. Being organized helps you work more efficiently – and hide clutter.

Ventilation  

Windows need to be easily opened for ventilation. Image: Tetra Images/Getty Images

Proper ventilation will ensure that you don’t pass out from the fumes in paint, ink, glue, cleaning fluids and other chemicals. The art studio pictured above has a folding glass wall/door system that can create a completely open space in one corner of the room.

Durable Materials

Assume everything could be subject to paint splatters. Image: Monkeybusinessimages/Getty Images

When choosing materials for art studios, make sure that everything is durable and easy to clean – or include well-used items and objects that you don’t mind soiling. The paint splatters on these floors can actually add character. However, if you would prefer not to add character to your floor, consider vinyl or laminate flooring, both of which are easy to clean. As a bonus, the cushion in the underlayment can help ease the pain in your feet or legs from standing all day.

Liston also recommends using paint with a satin finish in your art studio. “A satin finish reflects light for an elegant look,” she says. “Walls can be easily wiped clean and withstand exposure to moisture, making it a top choice for your craft room if things get messy.”

Cleanup Area   

Clean up before you leave the studio. Image: Inti St Clair/Getty Images

Because art studios can indeed get messy, consider installing a sink so you can clean your supplies and work area and wash the paint, chemicals, dust and other matter off of yourself before returning to your living area.

Inspiration

Display your artwork in the studio. Image: ADA_Photo/Getty Images

Your art studio should also provide the inspiration to create your best work. “You want your at-home art studio to make you feel transported,” Murphy says. “Dreaming of being a painter in Paris? Pin up some photos that make you feel like you’re there. This space is all about you and your craft, so make a place where you can do you and be you,” she says.

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New Orleans Artist Debbie Boyd Hageman Looks to Mother Nature

The balance of cool and bold work perfectly in artist Debbie Boyd Hageman’s work. All images courtesy of Debbie Boyd Hageman.

New Orleans-based artist Debbie Boyd Hageman has always looked to mother nature for inspiration, solace and refuge. From the time she was a little girl out in the garden with her mother, helping to grow their vegetables, to photographing and painting outdoors in her beloved New Orleans, Boyd Hageman finds her creativity flows best when outside.

“I look at the landscape and I see something new every time,” says Boyd Hageman. She paints big, bold, colorful abstract paintings for commercial and retail clients around the globe.

The Philly native spent a good chunk of her childhood in the state of Indiana. In her early 20s, she headed south to Florida, where she began her artistic career. Though she had always painted and briefly spent time in college art classes, it wasn’t until the then 20-something hit the Sunshine state that she was able to sell her paintings and confirm she could be successful as an artist.

Her use of both bright and muted colors, often together, is part of what makes her art so appealing. Though she does sell smaller pieces so that her art is accessible at all price points, Boyd Hageman mostly creates larger pieces that can stand on their own. “I tend to express myself best using large-scale canvases,” she says.

Deep, dark colors from artist Debbie Boyd Hageman work well in a monotone room.

Freedom of expression

For this busy artist and mom, it truly is all about expression.

“Sometimes I hate a piece, then I love it, then I hate it. Eventually, I come to a place where I can stop working on it, which is where I love it again,” she says with a laugh. Though she works to keep the artistic temperament to a minimum, Boyd Hageman jokes she’s been known to throw a piece outside on the ground when completely unsatisfied. “I usually go pick it up later and get back to work on it.”

The prolific painter is also a talented cook who makes most of her family meals daily – and from scratch. Working as an artist has allowed her to spend more time with her husband and two children. Her family also loves the outdoors. Often, they will walk the levee overlooking the Mississippi River. The scenic walk is just a few hundred feet from her front door in the Algiers Point neighborhood of New Orleans. It’s that kind of freedom she finds most appealing.

“I love that I make my own schedule, set my own rules and can truly be myself,” she says.

New Orleans-based contemporary artist Debbie Boyd Hageman in her studio.

The creative process

The artist has set up a studio in her home and posts pictures of her process almost daily. Many collectors buy their pieces directly from Boyd Hageman through her social media channels. She says those channels are like a virtual art gallery and she has a huge appreciation for them. Some artists she follows and admires on Instagram are Adam Handler, Eileen Noonan and Joseph Conrad-Ferm, as well as many others.

The busy artist also sells her pieces at various art galleries and artistic spaces such as the Broad Theater. Plus, she sells at local hotels like the Old 77 Hotel through the curated collection from Where Y’Art. She also has pieces in the permanent collections of The Jung Hotel, Pigeon and Price and The Brent House Transplant Institute.

On days when her schedule and mother nature align, the natural beauty will pack up her paintings and her gear and head to the famous French Quarter. There, she often sets up shop in Jackson Square with a multitude of other talented artists.

“It’s a real community of people who take care of one another,” she says. She adds that she learns a great deal from her contemporaries on everything from the location of the best parking spaces to easy ways to haul canvases and equipment through the busy streets.

For more information on Debbie Boyd Hageman, visit her website or follow her on Instagram or Facebook.

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4 Ways to Get a Creative and Fun Boho Style

Have you always wanted a more artsy and free-spirited space, but you never quite had the courage to try it? Then 2019 might be your year for getting an exciting boho style, since it’s showing back up in home trends this year. Short for bohemian, boho style is all about finding what’s unique, fun, interesting, artsy and relaxed for a home.

For instance, boho style tends to emphasize bright colors, complex prints, unique furniture and anything that make a space unusual. Because of these elements, every boho style has its own unique look. So take a look below for some inspiration on how to incorporate this look into your home.

Don’t be afraid to make fabrics your wall art. Image: Photographee.eu / Shutterstock

Colorful Fabrics on the Wall

One key hallmark of the boho style is bold and colorful patterns in fabrics. Because they look so cultural, they also help give your space a globe-trotting, free-spirited vibe common in the boho style, even if you don’t travel as much as you’d like to.

The photo above shows how using these prints and textures in unusual ways helps add to the artsy feel. For instance, you might hang one of these fabrics on the wall as unconventional, free-flowing artwork. The boho style is also one of high contrast, so feel free to mix and match patterns that normally wouldn’t go together, like in the photo above.

Go with rustic brick and funky furniture choices for a classic bohemian feel. Image: New Africa / Shutterstock

Rustic Brick and Funky Furniture for a Boho Style

Not many people think to combine a boho look with rustic interiors. However, it makes sense. The boho look arose out of the bohemian lifestyle of the 19^th Century and onward. It was once marked by unconventional lifestyles for the times, frugality and a life devoted to artistic pursuits. As such, many bohemians lived in the then affordable artistic districts of large cities, one of the most popular examples being Greenwich Village.

So by choosing either a purposefully rustic or industrial interior, you could effectively create a feeling of those early days art district apartments. You can see in the photo above how rustic brick also combines with a funky hammock to form a free-spirited boho vibe.

Set the casual and free-flowing feel with non-matching furniture. Image: Photographee.eu / Shutterstock

Purposefully Mismatched Furniture

One of the ways to get a boho look with the biggest impact is to go for uncommon furniture pieces. This instantly packs a feeling of free-spirited unconventionality. You can see in the photo above how such a free-spirited look was achieved by combing a rustic wood loveseat with a minimalist metal chair and coffee table.

Additional elements in the room add to the boho look, too. Textured elements like the frayed wall hangings and pouf in the bottom right corner add texture. Different patterns like the wall hanging to the left create a cultured feel. And there are plenty of artistic elements on the shelves.

A bright fabric makes a great focal point for more subtle, chic spaces. Image: NatalyP / Shutterstock

Go Chic with a Single Bright Fabric

One way to go for a boho look that’s on the easier side is to choose a single bright fabric as the room’s focal point. A good example is the cover on the bed in the photo above. The neutral colors in the rest of the room help the cover easily become the focal point.

Once you have your focal point fabric, you can add subtle boho elements around the room. For instance, cultural elements like the dream catchers above the bed help create a boho feel. The surfboards are a unique twist that adds a further care-free feel.

As you can see, it’s hard to prescribe exactly what a boho space should be. Boho spaces are as unique as possible. So you might combine some of the ideas above or find your own pieces. The true fun with the boho style is to make it uniquely you.

 

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