Though we often are either looking at the products in the pages or the colors and trends that are popping out at us, our favorite furniture and design store catalogs are a never-ending gift of inspiration — you can sometimes find interesting art display ideas. After all, catalog designers have to keep things fresh, too! We looked through a few recent catalogs and gathered some ideas we'd like to try in our own home:
1) Over a bookshelf We actually personally spotted this at an Austin house tour (Ami and Sean's Colorful, Welcoming & Art-Filled Home) and just love how it breaks up a wall of books and creates a statement piece. As spotted in CB2's Catalog: The Space Issue
2) On a easel You don't have to have painted it to leave a piece of art on an easel. You can usually find affordable ones at art supply stores and we love how it uses the art piece and makes it sculptural. Perfect for a corner you didn't know what to do with in any room of the house. CB2's Catalog: The Space Issue
3) The not-quite-in-a-straight-line collage Art wall collages have had their day for quite a few years, as have perfectly-in-a-line-geometric arrangements of framed work, but we're just loving the simple effect of creating a line of art not perfectly in line. It really lends a modern, casual feel to an arrangement that could have easily been boring. CB2's Catalog: The Space Issue
4) High and leaning We love when homeowners use height as an element of interest in their space, and often spot plants and other accessories on top of tall bookshelves and armoires. While we normally wouldn't suggest placing art in a spot that folks couldn't easily see, there's something about the art in this photo that makes us want to investigate it! IKEA's 2012 Catalog
5) Measured to perfection Okay this definitely isn't a new idea, but when we usually see a more formal all-framed wall of art, it's either all the exact same sized frames or a hodge podge of sizes and frame styles. We just liked how this was kind of in between. Restoration Hardware's 2011 Home Catalog
Have you spotted some art collection display inspiration in a recent home catalog? Or have a favorite idea you spotted in a catalog from previous years? Noticed any interesting art display inspiration in an odd resource? Let us know!






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This makes me want to get my enormous easel out and put something on it.
Here's another idea. I have a metal music stand
-- red enamel -- that I use to display artwork. (It's similar to the easel idea, but red and shiny!)
I take it the books behind artwork no longer will be read? I would never cover up so many of my books....I re-read them and loan them out all the time. Perhaps you can lift it up but this is still not my favorite way to display large pieces of art (I have a few small photos on my bookshelves.). I'll admit it does look kind of cool. I just can't cover up that many of my books. Personal preference!
where did my comment go?
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I can't wait to try out the over a bookshelf look. I've been seeing it pop up everywhere, including in potterybarns catalogue..though I think they used a mirror. I don't own very many books, nor do I plan to..I hate the clutter of books and DVDs (although I understand their appeal) so this will be a perfect way of utilizing empty space!
Put a collection on it.
I absolutely NEED the sofa in the last photo! Off-topic, but still...
Hi...wonderful article. I have written something on these lines too..here is the link http://lively-wood.blogspot.com/2011/03/organizing-art-on-wallnot-big-deal.html
I can see why #5 was mocked, but it still looks like a fairy dreamland to me. LOVE!!