Interior decor / art

[silk]

Totally NH, other than I have them

I bought an apartment at the start of this year. 3 bedrooms plus an open plan living/kitchen. It had a really bad paint job (presumably the brief was "make it look clean and bright for sale") in a sort of chalky white colour. Bearable... I can't afford to change it yet, and I need to dress the place in the meantime. Carpet is a pale and nondescript grey ish beige colour.
The entire apartment is ~915 square feet.

I changed the lounge curtains from a drab, generic grey to a gorgeous set of florals - beige-y background with pink peony-type roses. Some green and some yellow/brown in the design. I LOVE them <3

I don't currently have any desks/tables/furniture that I can put things ON. Work in progress! My sister in law is painting 4 wooden items for me (2 sets of drawers, one cabinet and one 'manrobe'). They will all be a dark and glossy navy. Maybe with polished wood "tops" (unpainted) to increase the depth and contrast.
I have 3 lounge chairs and am on the lookout for a couch - the problem is very small access corridor, so I need something slimline and modular.

What I can do is art! I ordered 6 canvases of various-coloured flowers (I took the photos), 12 x 24 inches. 3 are landscape and 3 portrait. I hung 2 on one side of the lounge/dining and 3 on the other, with the last one in my room.
This leaves two walls in my room and the other two bedrooms to decorate. Of course, I can move the canvases around.

What other art could I get? I don't like clutter or fussiness but feel like I need to find some non-canvas/prints. Fibre art? Sculptures? Tiles or pottery wall hangings?

[KathyK]

I think your best bet is to go to some art and/or crafts shows and galleries, and look around until you find pieces that you love. Another source is furniture stores. They have "room settings" that are accessorized out the yin yang. I recently was on the hunt for a hallway bench and spotted a lovely bird sculpture on a side table in a furniture store. It was $20 and looks great on a side table in my living room.

Keep your eyes open, and don't try to do it all at once.

[goneriding]

This post is useless without pictures

[Wicky]

My wall decorations are mostly things that have stories behind them. Some are pieces I bought years ago when I thought I should buy some art. THose will probably be weeded out.

But this was something that made me feel good - reminds me that we are so, so tiny and the universe is so, so large, and my problems are so, so insignificant. The colors are gorgeous and I got a version on metal, which shows depth. It is comforting.

http://hubblesite.org/image/1826/news_release/2006-01

[WheresMyWhite]

I'm with Wicky... most of my wall "art" have stories behind them.

Some/many are photo's I've taken, some are paintings that I love the style and have a connection with the artist, the rest have some "meaning" to me; I look at them and remember why I have them on my walls.

I can't at the moment thing of any art/knick knacks I have that I just bought without have a connection to why I bought them other than just pretty/cute

[StraightForward]

I don't know if your crafty/artistic at all, but a friend of mine has been doing paint pouring and making some neat pieces. As much as she is producing, I imagine that it's not very time-consuming. Something like that could be easily customizable and not too expensive. I think it's sort of a trendy hobby right now, so you might be able to find someone doing it who will sell their stuff for little more than the price of supplies.

[silk]

Wicky and Where's My White - that's what I am like. I just don't know what I want/will feel a connection to. I need to browse and gather my ideas together. When I see it, whatever "it" is, I'll know. Today I saw some wonderful driftwood sculptures. $900. Gulp. And some gorgeous brass birds. Three of them would set me back 5000. GULP.

Apparently I have expensive taste?!

[Koolkat]

Can you do some sort of shelf arrangement with brackets/floating, whatever works in your space? You'll still have to put something on them (could use a plant or two), but it might change things up a little. A mirror, cool clock? How about a comfy chair with a small table and a swagged light (or floor lamp) over it for a corner or in some other appropriate space? Do you guys have Craigs List?

[silk]

I can do anything I want - it's my apartment!
I just need a handyman to achieve much more than hanging a picture hook haha.

My SIL confirmed today that she's nearly ready to start with painting my furniture so I will have more than the dining table and 3 armchairs in the main space. I'll also be able to put away my clothes without standing on a chair to get to the top of the wardrobe - how novel!

[piedmontfields]

Brass birds (ex. quail) are pretty easy to find in antique/used shops online or in person in the US, and they are usually fairly modest in cost. Perhaps look at etsy.com? I also see them on onekingslane.com a lot. Not sure about shipping to you in NZ, though.

[Tuffytown]

If you have local art community shows or gatherings then I would go take a look. all my pieces are direct from artist (many who are friends) as I like to get the money into starving artists hands directly.

[Moutaineer]

As a potential starving artist, I thank you, Tuffy!!!

[goneriding]

Sometimes I find "amateur art" at Goodwill that appeals to me, and I love the thrill of the hunt. You could check out flea markets/antique markets for vintage art that has history. Go to local art sales, student art sales etc. Sometimes community colleges have student art sales. Our local college has a sale in the ceramics department twice a year, and I love the pottery I have purchased there. I have a good friend who I have always gone with, so I have the extra pleasure of the memory of time spent with her. I love to buy things on vacation that can be displayed, I can savor the trip again and again. Buy what you like, don't worry whether it's significant or "worth" anything.

My decorating philosophy is, if I like it, it goes together.