How to Choose Original Art for Your Home.

Choosing art for your home is one of the most personal decisions you can make in a space. Unlike furniture or finishes, art isn’t functional — it exists purely to be felt. And yet, so many people approach it with hesitation, unsure where to start or afraid of getting it wrong.

At Studio Jacobson, we believe there are no rules — only considerations. Here’s how we think about choosing original art, drawn from our experience as both artists and designers.

Start With the Room, Not the Art

Before you start browsing, take a moment to understand the room you’re buying for. What is its function? How does light move through it during the day? What mood do you want it to hold?

A living room that hosts lively gatherings calls for something with energy and presence. A bedroom, by contrast, benefits from work that is quieter — something you can sit with at the start and end of each day without it demanding too much of you. A home office might suit something thought-provoking or abstract, something that sparks ideas rather than distracts from them.

Let the room speak first. The right artwork will answer it.

Scale and Proportion Matter More Than You Think

One of the most common mistakes people make is choosing art that is too small for the wall. A modest painting lost on a large wall can feel timid and unresolved — the space will feel incomplete no matter how beautiful the piece is.

As a general guide, a artwork should fill roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of the wall space it occupies. For a sofa wall, the artwork or art grouping should sit comfortably within the width of the furniture below it.

Don’t be afraid of scale. A large, confident piece can be transformative — it anchors a room and gives it intention. This is one of the reasons we work exclusively on deep 4cm canvases at Studio Jacobson; the added depth gives each piece a physical presence that flat-framed prints simply can’t replicate.

Colour: Follow Your Space, Then Break the Rules

Colour is where many buyers get stuck. The safest instinct is to match art to your existing palette — and while this can work, it often produces a result that feels coordinated rather than alive.

Instead, think about the tones already present in your space and look for artwork that responds to them rather than mirrors them. A warm neutral room can be elevated by a piece with a single unexpected note of cool blue or deep charcoal. An already colourful space might benefit from something more restrained.

Abstract art is particularly powerful here — it doesn’t need to match, it needs to belong. Look for works where at least one or two colours echo something already in the room, then let the rest surprise you.

Original Art vs. Prints: Why It Matters

There is a place for quality art prints in a home, but there is nothing quite like living with an original work. An original piece carries the hand of the artist — every brushstroke, every decision, every moment of uncertainty and resolution is embedded in the surface. You are not buying an image; you are buying an object with its own history.

Original works also hold their value in a way prints rarely do, and they bring an authenticity to a space that is difficult to manufacture. When people walk into a room and stop to look at something on the wall, it is almost always an original.

If you are ready to make the investment, start with one considered original piece rather than filling walls with prints. Let it earn its place.

Working With an Artist on a Commission

If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for — or if you have a specific space with particular requirements around size, colour, or mood — a custom commission is worth exploring.

A good commission process is a conversation. At Studio Jacobson, we begin by understanding your space, your taste, and what you want the work to do in the room. From there, we develop a piece that is entirely original and made with your environment in mind.

Commissioning art doesn’t mean dictating every detail — in fact, the best results come when you trust the artist’s instincts within a clear brief. Share your space, your palette, your references, and then give the work room to breathe.

The result is something no one else in the world will own — made for your home, and only yours.

A Final Thought

Choosing original art should feel like a discovery, not a transaction. Take your time. Live with an image on your phone screen for a week before you commit. Hold a paint swatch against your wall. Trust the piece that keeps drawing you back.

The right work won’t just fill a space — it will change how the room feels to be in, and how you feel when you’re in it.

Studio Jacobson creates original abstract art and offers bespoke design services for residential, commercial, and hospitality clients across Melbourne and Australia. View the collection or get in touch to discuss a commission.