A few artists were asked to contribute to Redfin’s latest on how art can help decorate your home and space. Here’s my contribution and re-blog below:

A new year brings new beginnings, and maybe one of those new beginnings is a refresh on your home’s decor. Whether that’s adding a piece of art or pottery that speaks to your soul, or redesigning your space with functional and creative furniture, there are countless creative home decor ideas that can help you embrace a new style this year.

That’s why we’ve reached out to experts from Phoenix, AZ to Toronto, CA to help you figure out the right decor that will spruce up your space for the new year. Read on to find out what they had to say so you can refresh your home’s style!

Create a painting over your current wall

For my most creative interior design effort, I painted a grape mural border in the kitchen. We had just moved into a new home and did not like the wallpaper border. When we removed the border, the paint below the border was lighter than the rest of the walls and a bit distressed from the wallpaper glue. Rather than repaint the whole of the kitchen, I painted grapes with water-based acrylic paints. We then continued the effect by gathering paintings and furnishings with a wine and grape theme. - Colleen Reynolds

Imagine each watercolor painting as an amazing window 

Place paintings to create the atmosphere you want in each room, whether a fun party with lots of dancing color in the dining room or a serene forest glade in your bedroom. Paintings completely change the energy of a room. - Jennifer Branch

Make sure to visualize what art will look like in your home

Home is not only the place that you live, work, and play, the art you choose is reflective of your personality and lifestyle. When you fall in love with a piece of art, it can be hard to visualize what it might look like in your home. To make it really easy and help you with your decisions, apps are now available, “WallPicture2Lite” is a free app of selected walls where you can get an idea of what the art that you are interested in might look like on a wall, or you can upgrade to see what the art would look like on your own home. - Birgit O’Connor, Birgit O’Connor Watercolors

Include words of encouragement in your home decor

I’m a business coach for creative entrepreneurs and artists, so a lot of what I do is to show my clients that no matter the life circumstances, they are always moving toward their goal. I like to include meaningful words that encourage. Like this normal, weird piece that reminds me that weird/off/not normal… is actually normal. - Emily Ellen Anderson, Curious Lola

Bring art into your home without spending a fortune

Thrift stores often have inexpensive frames that include mats and hanging wires. Just remove the picture that is in the frame, use masking tape to place your art behind the mat, and replace the backing. - Sharon Wieland, Sharon Wieland Fine Art

Hang art in your home that makes you feel joyful, inspired, or evokes a happy memory

Hang the piece near the door where you enter or exit so that it is the last thing you see before you leave or the first thing you see when you return home. Let your artwork set the tone for the day as you leave or as you settle in upon your return. - SteveGriggsWatercolor

Keep things neutral with a pop of color

I love including subtle accents to my home with paper flowers along with other art pieces that are mostly neutral with a pop of color. These flowers are great to display as centerpieces to the dinner table, filling in empty space on bookshelves, embellishing the night stand, and even in my work from home office desk. They spark the same joy as fresh flowers but with low maintenance, they don't need watering and they don't wilt. - Sara Kim, Founder & Designer of Handmade by Sara Kim

Incorporate layers and color in each room

To display the menu cards, I design table settings to show how to design your table with layering and color. Staging a home to sell by staging your dining table is what the experts do. It will create a beautiful dining experience that buyers will notice. - Mysty & Bella Designs

Color coordinate with decorative paintings 

There are a couple of ways to style such as matching the color aesthetics of your home vs. contrast a stark painting against its elements. An example of this is a neutral color living room (black, white, grey, beige etc.) but complementary with a bright primary color infused painting (red, blue, yellow). - Susanna Lee

Use embroidered pieces as functional seating

Mission Hammock's macrame hanging chairs not only create a stunning art piece for your home, they're also a functional piece of furniture. From boho-chic to clean and modern, hanging chairs can easily be added to any room to create temporary or permanent seating. Adding a chair to a bedroom corner, reading nook, maternity room, living room, or patio can help to not only create additional seating, but create a comfy vibe. - Mission Hammock

Make art with fabric swatches and wooden embroidery hoops

One of my favorite ways to decorate for each season and holiday is to create wall art out of fabric swatches and wooden embroidery hoops. I find appropriate fabric prints, stretch them over the hoop, and hang them for pops of color and festive notes. It takes about 2 minutes to create and you can swap out the fabric swatch whenever you want a change. - Kendra Shedenhelm

Original artwork is a great way to express your personality on the walls of your home

Do you love the outdoors? Landscape paintings of mountains you've hiked, rivers you've rafted (or fished), or a beautiful oceanscape make beautiful statements. Are you a gardener? Bright, bold florals are eye-catching and mesmerizing. Consider an oil painting by a local artist and you'll help support a small business. And many artists can be commissioned to paint a special view, or place, or memory that means so much to you. No one else in the world will have one like it. - Marie Wise, Marie Wise Fine Art

Commissioned art makes your space truly special

A wonderful way to incorporate meaningful and unique art into your home is by commissioning a watercolor painting of a place that has special meaning to you. Imagine having a beautiful original painting of the spot you got engaged in or your favorite travel destination. I specialize in creating these one-of-a-kind watercolor paintings. - Kari Gale

Simply choose pieces that bring you joy

A piece doesn't have to be expensive in order to be considered valuable. Whether it's an antique French confit pot or a worn teacup that you found at Goodwill, the best pieces of pottery are the ones that warm your heart by evoking good memories. - The Hooga Shop

Handmade ceramics are one of a kind

Look for handmade ceramics which, unlike mass-produced, are made slowly and intentionally creating one-of-a-kind, functional wares that you can also display as art. Display them in plain sight – on your bookshelves, dresser, or kitchen counter – you’ll use them more often and enjoy looking at them when you’re not. Choose the pieces that tell a story or that you simply love and can elevate everyday rituals like your daily coffee, painting with watercolors, or removing your jewelry at night. - Sarah Jura, Sun To Sea Design

Pick a piece of handmade ceramics that work on multiple levels 

A visually strong piece that draws the eye, the story about its inspiration and making from the potter, and your story about how you found and met the potter, perhaps linked to a special occasion or vacation. These layered meanings will result in the piece being treasured by you, and also being a conversation piece when entertaining. Choose a piece that brings out these stories – it may have marks left by the potter’s hands or by the kiln in making, or the shape, surface texture or colours may be associated with its stories. - Tim Thornton, Tim Thornton Ceramics

Ceramic planters can bring life to the indoors and outdoors 

Enhance your indoor or outdoor style with unique handmade ceramic planters, bowls and containers. For a fun and whimsical look, pair brightly colored planters with unusually shaped succulents. Choosing a piece of ceramic art is very personal, consider the shape, texture or glaze color that makes you feel good and brings a smile to your face. - Susan Aach, Susan Aach Ceramics

Originally published by Redfin