The Importance of Art

Galleries are great places to discover new art. One of our favorite artists – Issy Wilson – has an opening coming up April 10. We’ll be there – and you’re invited! Click Here to RSVP

A home can be beautifully designed, expertly detailed, and fully furnished – and yet somehow, still feel incomplete. The missing layer is often art. At Morgante Wilson Architects, we consider art an essential interior design component in bringing a space to life. When we can – when a client has a special piece they ask us to plan around, for instance – we like to think about artwork early, treating it as integral to the design. Realistically though, that’s not always the case. Our clients often prefer to let a room unfold and then add art as they find it, whether it’s a gift to mark a special occasion, or the result of an afternoon at an art fair where they discovered a piece they could not live without. In our view, any time is a good time to think about the impact of art!

Here is our insight as to why art is essential in interior design

To show you what we mean, compare these two images. Both are beautiful, but one really sings. Without art, even the most thoughtfully designed interiors can feel like they’re waiting for something to happen. These images are a case in point.

How Art Introduces Color with Purpose

Art is one of the most effective ways to bring color into a home to whatever degree you’re comfortable. A single piece can shift the entire palette of a room. It can echo what’s already there or introduce contrast that enlivens everything around it. We often rely on artwork to carry a color story across spaces. It allows for flexibility, and it keeps things feeling fresh.

How Art Adds Dimension and Texture

Not all art is about image. Some of the most compelling pieces bring texture into a room – thick brushstrokes, layered materials, carved surfaces. These qualities matter, particularly in interiors that lean clean or minimal. Texture softens edges, catches light, and adds depth where it might otherwise be lacking. It’s a subtle shift, but one you feel immediately.

Using Art to Make a Home Feel Personal

No two collections are the same, and that’s exactly the point. Art is one of the clearest ways a home can reflect the people who live there. It might be a piece discovered while traveling, something inherited, or a work that simply resonated at a certain moment in time. We encourage clients to lean into that instinct. A home should not feel like it was installed in a single day. It should feel accumulated, considered, and uniquely yours.

How Art Shapes Emotion in a Space

The best interiors don’t just function well – they make you feel something. Art plays a significant role in that. It can energize a room, introduce calm, provoke thought, or spark conversation. We’ve seen spaces shift entirely based on the presence of a single piece. It’s not so much about filling a wall as it is about creating a response.

Where to Use Art Beyond the Living Room

Artwork doesn’t belong only in living rooms and over mantels. Some of the most memorable moments happen in quieter places – a small piece in a hallway, say, or something framed in a powder room. These are opportunities to surprise and delight. They also reinforce the idea that the entire home has been thoughtfully conceived.

The Final Layer That Completes a Room

We often say that a project isn’t complete until the art is in place. It’s the final layer that pulls everything together. Proportion, color, material, mood – all of it comes into focus. Without art, a room can feel resolved but not quite alive. With it, the space takes on character and depth.

For us, artwork is not decoration. It’s a defining element of a home that feels personal. When it’s right, you don’t just see it – you feel its presence.

And please join us at Issy Wilson's opening at Pagoda Red. You might just discover the perfect piece to finish a room in your own home!

Click to Attend Issy Wilson: Boundary Layer - Opening at PAGODA RED on April 10th -- 4-10pm