Art attack: home makeover ideas for art buffs

With the Hong Kong Arts Month coming up, events like Art Basel and Art Central are set to land in the city. Art lovers, are you inspired to add an aesthetic touch to your living space? Here are some quick tips on how to bring art into your home, whether you’re planning a major revamp with an art piece as a centrepiece or incorporating a few art works into your interior’s original design.

If you’re a fan of contemporary art works, we suggest a minimalist décor so you can let your art piece take centre stage and be the conversation starter.


This clean and simple design allows Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans, one of the most famous pop art pieces in history, to shine. Choosing which part of the house to put your art work is important too. Here, Clifton cheekily placed the ‘soup cans’ in the kitchen, so that not only are your olfactory and gustatory senses tantalised, you can also have a feast for the eyes. For a more cohesive design, pick a colour from the art piece and add it to a piece of furniture. Here, the bar table features a whimsical pinkish red shade inspired by the bright and lively reds and pinks in the art work.

Check out more about this project: http://www.cliftonleungdesignworkshop.com/project-residential/repulse-bay-garden-south-hk-island/

If your kitchen has dark tones and a minimalist design, liven it up with a colourful painting like this one. Despite having a traditional theme, the painting is modern and bright, with lots of colour, strokes and movement.
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If you have a complex art piece like this one—the Aboriginal painting by Gloria Petyarre, we recommend keeping the layout open and furniture simple. Here, the sophisticated lines and movements of the art work can come through and not become too overbearing.

Check out more about this project: http://www.cliftonleungdesignworkshop.com/project-residential/babington-house-mid-levels/

The entrance area of your home is perfect for an art piece, which gives you and your guests a perk-me-up every time you walk into your living space. Complemented by only a small shelf designed by Clifton and a floor-to-ceiling lighting fixture from Flos, this atmospheric painting by Paul Kenton is allowed to shine and get you thinking. Inspired by the wing of a stealth fighter jet, the shelf is contemporary, matches the travel theme of the art work, and provides a convenient pick-up/drop-off place for small items.

Check out more about this project: http://www.cliftonleungdesignworkshop.com/project-residential/repulse-bay-garden-south-hk-island/

If you’re a fan of the classics and traditional art pieces, it’s important to make sure your décor goes with them, even their frames.

Here, the delicate flowers in the Chinese painting are brought out by displays with a Chinese theme, such as floral and bamboo displays, vases and an intricately designed tea set. Meanwhile, the wooden frame of the painting is complemented by the brown colour scheme of the furniture and flooring.

Check out more about this project: http://www.cliftonleungdesignworkshop.com/project-residential/hanking-court-a-east-hk-island/

Similarly, the traditional paintings here—including the framed painting and scroll—are incorporated into the living space with a Chinese-themed design, featuring shades of brown and Oriental ornaments, including tea pots, vases and a wooden screen.

If you don’t want your art pieces to be too conspicuous and in-your-face, make sure they are complemented by your room’s décor.

Check out more about this project: http://www.cliftonleungdesignworkshop.com/project-residential/constellation-cove-new-territories/

One way to do so is to consider wallpaper art. The hand-painted wallpaper fits seamlessly with the Victorian theme of this bedroom, with shades of gold and intricate designs.

Check out more about this project: http://www.cliftonleungdesignworkshop.com/project-residential/bel-air-residence-c/

The spirit of Ansel Adams’ photograph is brought out with this room’s black and grey colour scheme, featuring a wall with an industrial feel and a chic black lamp.

Check out more about this project: http://www.cliftonleungdesignworkshop.com/project-residential/formwell-garden/

For a touch of the tropics, consider matching textured and colourful floral paintings with wooden furnishings, plants and textured walls.

Check out more about this project: http://www.cliftonleungdesignworkshop.com/project-residential/leon-court-mid-levels/

Here, calming colours of the blue, purple, brown and white are extracted from the painting to into the furnishings and furniture of the bedroom, giving the bedroom tranquility and serenity.

Check out more about this project: http://www.cliftonleungdesignworkshop.com/project-residential/robinson-place-mid-levels/

If your art pieces are three-dimensional like figurines and ornaments, consider having a display shelf to showcase them. Here, a display shelf is designed to conceal a storage unit—perfect for space-starved Hong Kong apartments! With a light at the back of the display shelf, your experience of viewing your art pieces is enhanced. Here’s a tip, if you have a diverse range of art works, arrange them according to different themes. For example, here, the architectural pieces are put together here on the second compartment from the top and works by famous Taiwanese sculptor Ju Ming are grouped together in the middle compartment.

Check out more about this project: http://www.cliftonleungdesignworkshop.com/project-residential/vantage-park-mid-levels/