Should the Art match the Sofa?

Yes and No. There are as many opinions as there are colors and it depends on multiple factors. The purpose of this article is not to arrive at a definitive answer but to consider the possibilities if one could modify the artwork hues to fit an interior design color scheme. We will have to think outside the box!

Artwork is normally assumed to have a fixed color palette and in some cases this is true. For example, an oil painting that is originally created with permanent pigments cannot itself be altered. But when that painting has been digitized by means of a digital scan or digital photography then the high resolution file can be altered. The colors and scale of digital art can be changed and the file can printed on a variety of materials. The availability of digital editing tools and graphic design software has made this possible. Today most two-dimensional art exists in a digital form so it can be used for print on demand or other purposes. If high resolution files are available then they can be edited and modified. I believe that digital editing software and AI are useful tools that extend the creativity of the artist. Why not use them to their full advantage?

Perhaps a better title for my article would be “Can the artwork match the sofa?” The answer to this question is YES and in this article I will show examples where I have altered the hues of original artwork in various ways.

In the first example I show a framed photograph of a white Magnolia blossom and a sofa that is a fixed shade of blue. The original photo has green foliage in the background. It looks OK in relation to the sofa but let’s see how it could be improved with digital editing.

This edit is a black and white conversion. You can’t go wrong with artwork that is monotone. It goes with everything! However in this case the contrast may be too strong. Perhaps a smaller artwork size would be a better option?

The next edit is a direct color match with the blue sofa. Hmm.. In this situation there may not be enough contrast. With everything so blue it may be a bit dull?

The next color edit of the artwork specifies a complementary color of blue. I’ll call it brown. Complementary color schemes consist of two colors that are opposite one another on the color wheel. Complementary colors combine a cool color (blue) with a warm color (brown) resulting in enhanced contrast. As you can see, this version really pops out and the brown color nicely complements the blue sofa.

The final edit of the art is more complex. In this example I choose a color palette that combines both colors: the original blue hue of the sofa and the complementary color of brown. This version enhances the sofa and adds some warmth to the artwork. Nice, I like this one.

Interior designers often select artwork after fabrics and furnishings have already been specified. Having the ability to modify the artwork at this stage of the design process gives designers more flexibility in achieving their overall design concept. Consider the usefulness of this to an interior designer or an art consultant who has a fixed color scheme or color palette.

How have you resolved situations where the artwork color was in conflict with the decor?

Would this technique be beneficial to your interior design projects?