Printed illustration as a decor element

Typography is a branch of graphic design. Typographic images are used in space as informational and decorative elements. Let’s look at the fairly wide possibilities of graphic decor in the interior and exterior.

Printed illustrations are currently quite a popular and effective tool for creating attractive interior designs, rather than faceless rooms where there is nothing to look at. Regardless of the style of the interior, properly selected illustrations have always been and remain the final touch, that makes both a chic and a simple interior have a finished look. 

So what are printed illustrations and how do they differ from paintings in the usual sense of the word?

Actually, there is no difference, besides, of course, the fact that printed illustrations are designed to perform one important function. They should organically fit into the existing interior of a particular room, or serve as an effective tool for creating a certain style from scratch in a house, office or any other space.

It’s one thing if you are just a connoisseur of paintings and want to buy a painting that you like. In this case, the selection criteria, in addition to cost, will be the artistic value of the painting and the author. At the same time, you will not bother with the question of how well the picture matches the interior of the room.

A decorative element of the interior can imply a traditional picture in a frame, as well as a poster on a stretcher or a modular printed illustration. The principle of selecting them is almost the same.

Selection criteria

In fact, there are several criteria for choosing a printed illustration for one’s interior. These are the content of the illustration, the color scheme of the interior, the size of the illustration and the room, the style and the materials of the illustration – natural canvas or paper, natural wood for the stretcher and frame, or plastic.

It is quite difficult to take into account all the criteria when choosing, therefore, we will start with the most important ones.

The content of the illustration 

If a printed illustration or a poster is beautiful, this does not mean that they will be equally appropriate in any room. The illustration and its semantic meaning should correspond to the purpose of the room and the age group of its inhabitants. 

Let’s say a teenager’s bedroom might well have a poster of a cool car or motorcycle. In the bedroom of a young couple, romantic landscapes are appropriate. In a parents’ bedroom, a good still in a classic style would be preferable. If the room is decorated in Japanese style, an illustration of a sakura or other symbols of Japanese culture would be appropriate. For the children’s room, the illustrations should also be appropriate, but without annoying colors. Moreover, for a girl and a boy, they may differ.

For a room decorated in a classic style, an abstract impressionist illustration is hardly suitable. For a living room or office, it may well be appropriate.

The color scheme of illustrations

All of the above is true if your plans do not include a grand renovation and a complete change in the design of the room. 

If the task is to completely transform the interior of a particular room, the newly purchased illustrations should correspond not only to the style, but also to the color scheme of the room. The printed illustration will look much more organic if it is perceived as an integral part of the interior, and not just a bright spot on the wall.

At the initial stage, you can use two options for interior design. In the first case, you select illustrations for the interior based on your own taste and the intended style of the room. Then, you paint the walls in colors that will be in harmony with the paintings and some pieces of furniture, or choose neutral colors for them.

On the contrary, you can start by decorating the room in the appropriate style and only after that select the decor for the interior. 

A few more words about the combination of tones

In fact, when choosing an illustration, you should not scrupulously consider every centimeter of it in order to determine how well it will be combined with the interior of your room. You just need to look at the illustration from a distance to determine how it looks – more yellow, green or blue.

Sizes and placement

It is desirable to select printed canvases taking into account their size. More precisely, the dimensions of the illustration should be related to the dimensions of the wall or furniture near which it will be located. It is generally accepted that the size of the illustration should be at least a third of the length of the sofa set and at least half the width of the head of the bed, fireplace or table, otherwise, it will not look like a composition.

In addition, interior decor can be arranged in groups, creating a common composition. 

By the way, one piece of advice about the optimal placement of printed illustrations. If you have to determine a place for an illustration, do not immediately stop at the obvious option. Be sure to experiment by having someone hold the painting in different positions. 

In addition, remember that the printed illustration, depending on its size and location, can visually change the size of the room. One that has a larger vertical size and is located above a table or fireplace increases the height of the ceilings. A long modular picture, arranged horizontally, expands the space.

These properties should also be taken into account depending on the characteristics of a particular room.

The quality of the materials

Interior decor can be made from different materials, which ultimately affect not only the quality, but also the price. Therefore, you must decide how important it is for you that the picture is printed on natural materials or not.

The printing can be done on natural canvas, synthetic canvas or paper. Paper also comes in different qualities. If you want better quality, preference should be given to thick photo paper. 

The stretcher of the illustration and the frame itself can be made of natural wood, metal or plastic. Frames made of natural wood, in addition to looking more noble, are less prone to deformation, unlike plastic.

The technology of applying the image is also different. Most modern technology is eco-solvent. It provides excellent color reproduction, image durability and is environmentally friendly.

Where can I buy good quality interior illustrations?

The last question remains – where to find a variety of illustrations of good quality at an affordable price, that would also meet the requirements described in this article?

There are different options, but the most optimal is the purchase through an online store. True, not through any, namely through the store of a company that has its own production of printed illustrations and baguettes for frames, sufficient experience in this area and a good reputation in the eyes of customers.

Featured image source: unsplash

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