When faced with a brand new office, how do you begin to decorate? Art selection can be a daunting process for many, especially for business spaces, which represent your brand and often provide a first impression to your clients. When shopping for art, you’re faced with thousands of options, from sweeping landscapes to macro photography, and from stretched canvas to framed prints. Here are three simple ideas to get you started on choosing the perfect photographs for your business decor.
Incorporate Your Brand into the Decor
What colors are featured prominently in your branding? If your logo is based on greens and golds, consider finding a sunset forest landscape photograph that reflects those colors. If your brand uses a lot of minimalist graphic design, look for a similarly minimalist photograph, maybe a black and white landscape or a single flower. Remember that branding should be cohesive — find photographs that represent your brand and fit naturally in your space.
Beyond brand colors and styles, you can decorate your office with photographs that hold meaning for you or your clients. To emphasize that you’re a local business, you could decorate with photos of beloved local landmarks. If your business is focused on financial planning or life goals, choose aspirational photos of vacation destinations. If you want to infuse some of your own personality into your office space, choose photographs that hold personal meaning to you as the business owner.
Look for Lighting and Location
Having a wall location in mind can actually help you decide on what kind of photograph to choose. If you need to add interest to an empty lobby, consider a large intricate photo that will draw your clients’ interest while they wait. If your business space tends to be hectic or cluttered, try a photograph with a calming, open look, like a pristine beach or a simple sunset.
When choosing a location for your photograph, don’t forget lighting. Does your potential space have lots of natural light? Does sunlight cause a lot of glare on the wall? If so, a matte print will likely work better than a glossy one. Or are you hoping to use a photograph to brighten up a shadowy alcove? A dark corner or hallway could benefit from some strategic lighting to best display your art.
Whether you’re starting with completely blank walls or just adding the finishing touches to your office’s decor, you’ll want to carefully consider your art’s size. Use tape or a pencil to lightly mark the dimensions of the photograph you’re considering buying — you might need a larger print than you think so the art doesn’t look awkward by itself. If you’re creating a gallery wall, it’s even more important to mark out the dimensions of your art so you can ensure the pieces align the way you want.
Choose a Finish and Frame that Match the Photograph
Remember that art selection doesn’t end with the art. You’ll want to select a frame that complements the photograph and fits well in your space. To highlight the photograph itself, choose a simple thin frame. If your business space has traditional or classical decor, you could try a more ornate metallic frame. Just make sure the frame doesn’t clash with the photograph — don’t put a photo of a modern cityscape in a wood frame unless you want to make a bold statement about opposites.
Find Art that Fits Your Business Perfectly
With fine art photography, from the print itself to its finish and frame, you can communicate your brand and values, brighten up your space, and create focal points in your lobby or entryway. To browse Joe Miller’s fine art photography and explore print and frame options, visit the store.
