Art that Speaks to You

Art that Speaks to You

Interior Designer Becky Hirt shows us how to weave your own story into your home with art..

In this third edition of Becky Hirt’s Guides, Becky inspires us to create a home that reflects our unique personal story through art.

She emphasises the importance of incorporating meaningful pieces into a space, allowing us to connect with our environment on a deeper level.

Becky encourages us to move beyond replicating trends seen on social media and instead focus on curating art that speaks to our life experiences, preferences, and identity.

This way, our homes can become more than just aesthetically pleasing—they can become a celebration of who we are, offering a sense of comfort and connection both for ourselves and our guests.

Weaving your Own Story into your Home with Art

Written by Becky Hirt of Becky Hirt Interiors

So many people see a lovely photo of a room on Instagram and want to create the same look in their own home. But I think the best interior design incorporates something of you into it, and therefore no two rooms or homes should be the same. One of the easiest ways to inject some of yourself into a space is to choose pieces of art that reflect your own life story, experiences and preferences.

Not only will this help to make you feel truly comfortable and connected with your own living space, but it will also reflect unique aspects of yourself to anyone else who you invite in. It’s an opportunity for you to celebrate who you are, and for visitors to have the opportunity to connect with you on a deeper level.

Below I’ve pulled together some pieces currently listed on The Discerning Palette, to give you an idea of how you could approach sourcing art that is meaningful to you.

Evoke the Spirit of a Place you Love

If you can’t live full time in your happy place or the place that feels most like home, art can be a wonderful way to remind yourself of a familiar culture or location. This could mean choosing a very pictorial depiction of a scene like this one below.

Or you could also find resonance in more abstract pieces or colour schemes.

For example, the bright, saturated colours in this painting ‘Goes Up Come Down’ by Jenny Belton are reminiscent of the bright blue paintwork and intense pink bougainvillea that characterises some of the Greek Islands and parts of southern Europe.

‘Goes Up Come Down’, acrylic on linen canvas, available here.

You might even find something that speaks directly to your culture of origin, like this portrait below, which captures the rich cultural history of Welsh traditional dress.

Celebrate your Favourite Season

One of the questions I tend to ask clients before we start work together is what is their favourite season.

Their answer points me towards not just a colour palette but activity or lifestyle preference.

For example, do they like the intense colours and activity of spring or the cosy glow and dwindling light of autumn? Or perhaps they lean towards the quiet introspection of winter or the intense heat and soft tones of summer.

These four paintings each invoke a season and you’ll almost certainly find yourself drawn more to one than the others. Hanging one of these in your home will serve as a reminder of the mood of your favourite time of year.

Choose Themes that Echo your Own Values

Another way of looking to express your identity through art is to hang pictures that embody values and activities that are important to you.

For example, if you’re an introvert and having solo time is fundamental to your wellbeing, you might choose a piece like this one titled ‘Solitude in Nature’

It captures the power of being alone in nature, and blurs the connection between the natural world and the human one by depicting both the trees and the figure in the same colour palette.

‘Solitude in Nature’, oil on canvas, available here.

If you’re someone for whom play, and staying young at heart, are important values, you could choose this energetic portrait ensemble titled ‘Children at Play’.

To me it has the fun and playfulness of a Quentin Blake illustration, which is accentuated by the almost crayon like quality to the blue background and the simplicity of the human forms.

If intergenerational get-togethers play a pivotal role in your life then a painting such as this one below of a garden tea party is a reminder of the importance of family relationships and leisurely time spent with the ones you love.

It has a nostalgic feel and reflects a time when conversation not technology shaped our interactions.

Choose Themes that Capture your Interests

My final thought about communicating what matters to you in your home is to choose art that reflects your interests and hobbies.

For example, this still life below might be the perfect thing for you if you’re a fishing or cooking enthusiast.

Or perhaps you love to travel.

This cheerful and relaxed scene of a coastal café could be a wonderful reminder of holidays spent exploring new places and soaking up the local café culture.

I’ve saved the last spot for this arresting portrait of a black cat, because so many of us have a soft spot for the animals in our lives.

And if you are grieving for a furry creatures who is no longer with you then an animal portrait can be a lovely way to remember them.

This one demands attention and engagement as it stares directly out at the viewer.

More about Becky Hirt Interiors

Becky Hirt is an interior designer based in Kingston Upon Thames, South West London. Through her focus on interior design and wellbeing she creates spaces that are warm, relaxed and nature inspired. She offers a flexible service that includes one-off consultations, ongoing support and full service design. Find out more about how to work with her.

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On a Separate Note

Would you like to contribute to our weekly Art Advisor?

If you are an interior designer / art collector / artist/ art enthusiast and you have practical (non ‘art-jargony’) ways of helping all of us with collecting, looking after, displaying, or appreciating art, please feel free to get in touch with me about your idea(s).

We have a readership of over 2000 so it might be a good way to get your name or brand out there!