Whatever your relationship with art, you can probably think of at least one moment when you stood in front of something that left an impression on you.
You probably even have a time when a single piece almost felt meant for you.
The art that belongs in your home is art that alters your internal pace. It changes the way you interact with the whole space around it. That’s when art becomes a piece of emotional architecture.
What you stand to gain:
The right piece of art in your home will slow your breath and make your shoulders drop. Your mind will settle for just a beat. And in that moment, something extraordinary happens: your home begins to nourish you.
Art isn’t décor or “just an accessory.” Intentional art becomes something much more powerful.
This article has one specific purpose: to guide you through the four core principles of bringing art into your home!!
Art as energy architecture
An intentionally chosen piece that feels powerful(to YOU) can pull you inward like a deep breath. Maybe its colors capture your attention, or the content influences you in a visceral way. Or maybe it’s imposing—unapologetically occupying a large or central space.
These kinds of pieces with scale, movement, color, or emotional depth carry the greatest emotional impact. Think large abstract paintings, sculptural forms, bold photography, or pieces rich in texture, for example…
And how to use this kind of artwork intentionally?! Start by looking around your home and taking note of what spaces feel “flat,” or emotionally neutral. Those are the spaces where the right piece will absolutely transform your daily environment…
Your home as a gallery of self-expression
Artwork is also one of the fewdesign elements that reflects who you are right now AND your evolution over time. For example, when you bring a new piece into your home, you’re brining in a piece of your identity at that moment. Then, the collective artwork you acquire over time becomes a gallery of your evolution—your growing values, shifting passions, new experiences…
How do you know what artwork really reflects you? The kind of art that expresses you best is the kind that you can’t stop thinking about!! Maybe that’s a local painter whose color language just “speaks” to you. Or maybe it’s a style of handcrafted figures that seem to represent every mood you’ve ever had. You’ll know what artwork fits this role!
Pieces like these are selected to match your personality, not to match a sofa.
To find this kind of artwork, explore outside of traditional retail. Scroll through a student art exhibition or artisan markets…even local galleries that feature emerging artists can hold that perfect piece!!
Read about gallery wall ideas for your photo and memorabilia collections, too!!
Emotional calibration through color (and form)
Color and form influence our nervous system looong before our conscious minds catch up. (That’s why certain interior designers are certified in color sciences.) Art is one of the most precise tools we have for calibrating those “emotional tones” inside the home.
For example, earthy palettes coupled with fluid forms support restfulness and decompression. And saturated colors or dynamic brushwork wake your senses up and lift creative energy. As for the emotional impact of materials? Natural selections like clay or raw wood are emotionally stabilizing, while metals are empowering.
To find your perfect “emotional tone,” ask yourself what you want to feel in each room. Don’t you want your bedroom to soothe you? Your kitchen to energize your mornings? Let the emotional goal guide you!!
Art as a legacy
Legacy through your home’s structure, architecture, and design is something we at Signature Home Services prioritize in every project. Legacy homes are actually our specialty.
Meaningful art can also become part of the legacy of your home. Kids remember that painting in the hallway long after the forget the furniture. Guests remember how a piece made them feel. And decades later, the artwork you choose—if you do so with intention—will be passed on because it carries memory, not because it matches décor.
Legacy-worthy pieces are artworks with stories: a piece collected on a trip, a sculpture made by an artist you met, a painting that held your attention the very first time you saw it. These become emotional landmarks in your home!!
How to begin to bring art into your home (the right way)
Start with one visceral “yes.”
Art doesn’t need to be analyzed to be meaningful. If a piece creates a shift in your breathing or your emotional pace, you know you’ve landed on something.
Let each space tell you what it needs.
Rooms communicate. A hallway might need vertical movement. A living room might crave softness. A bedroom might benefit from quiet color. Listen.
Explore beyond mainstream sources.
Some of the most compelling, emotionally resonant art lives in independent studios, local galleries, university exhibitions, and artisan markets.
Mix mediums to create dimension.
Paintings bring atmosphere; sculpture brings gravity; textiles bring warmth. Don’t rely on one medium to carry the entire emotional load.
Choose pieces that will matter to you later.
Not trendy. Not convenient. Not matchy. Meaningful.
Light your artwork intentionally.
A piece will NEVER reach its full emotional potential without proper lighting. This is where a professional interior designer is your ideal partner to get it right.
Let your collection evolve with you.
There is no rush! Art chosen slowly, from the heart, is the art that stays with you for a lifetime.
When art becomes part of the emotional architecture of your home, you experience your space—and your life—differently.
Continue the conversation with our design team!!
About the author:
Robin Burrill, RID, NCIDQ, ASID, IDS, CAPS, is an award-winning professional kitchen, bath, and interior designer. Robin and her husband, Robert Mathews, have owned Signature Home Services, Inc. for over three decades, establishing a superior in-house team with a widespread reputation for delivering meticulous design to their many repeat clients.
In 2022, the national publication, Kitchen and Bath Design News magazine, named Robin to their Top Innovator list in recognition of her achievements in the field of kitchen and bath design. In 2024, she was named one of the Fall 2024 Market Pros and “tastemakers” by ANDMORE at High Point Market. Also in 2024, Fixr identified her as one of the Top Professional Interior Designers for their nationwide audience. At the start of 2025, she then acted as one of Dallas Market’s “Style Eyes” at Lightovation and Total Home & Gift Market.
Over her extensive career, Robin has been quoted in Architectural Digest and Forbes multiple times; her design work has been featured in top national trade publications; and she has been interviewed for Designers Today magazine’s “Profiles in Design” video series, among others. Widely respected for the depth of her knowledge, Robin is a sought after speaker and judge for many design industry events.
In 2023, Robin designed a bench for Charleston Forge, making her foray into product design. Robin currently serves as a volunteer on the board of the Dallas/Ft. Worth chapter of the Interior Design Society.