Do you ever feel overwhelmed when decorating with art?

Whether it’s the sheer number of choices available, the fear of expressing yourself creatively, or just being unsure where to begin, there are many reasons why you might feel less than confident in your decorating abilities.

Below are five of the most popular decorating trends for fall 2008 that are sure to provide inspiration and tips for your interior design ideas.

Among this season’s most trendy design elements are contrasting colors and textures, reviving the classics, a twist on the country theme, world influence and nature.

Contrasts

Contrasting colors and textures are sure to be a huge hit this fall season. Look for variations of bright colors and mixing textures. Think outside the confines of themes and strive for vivid color combinations. Add simple, sleek frames to textured canvas and accessorize your artwork with colorful frames and mats.

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Vintage Classic

Think beyond distressed and faded hipster style t-shirts. This isn’t your worn out vintage look, but instead a contemporary appeal with a nod to the classics. Expect to see artwork reminiscent of days gone by. Whether it’s John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, James Dean, Frank Sinatra or Johnny Cash, past icons will take center stage once again.

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Euro Country

Look for artwork that infuses traditional styles with bold colors in fall 2008. Think French country meets pop. Comforting pastoral scenes will take on a new look with stark color combinations. This isn’t your grandma’s country kitchen look.

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Exotic Influence

Art inspired from around the world will still be a major decorating theme in the fall of 2008. With the Olympics ending recently and the continually growing global community, expect to see art influenced by cultures spanning far and wide. Though Asian styles will still remain prominent, African styles will begin to dominate this theme with animal inspired prints, natural colors and jungle patterns. Couple artwork with exotic looking frames to really set your interior décor.

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Natural Appeal

Interior design trends for fall 2008 are sure to feature nature highly. With the environment being a particularly hot topic in the current presidential race, expect to see a continued emphasis on the planet. Decorating trends have adopted this theme in their own unique way. Look for artwork that brings nature indoors and inspires a peaceful existence with the outdoors.

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For fall 2008 decorating trends, bright colors are everywhere. The dull colors of fall are out of date. Bright and contrasting colors that feature familiar faces, different cultural styles and art influenced from as close as your backyard are the new trends. Shop for artwork on Imagekind that compliments these styles to really enhance your interior décor.

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Choosing art can be a difficult process. Not only are there millions of pieces out there for you to sift through, look at, dismiss and decide upon, you must also have a good understanding of what it is you are trying to accomplish when decorating with art. Below are five simple tips that can make selecting artwork easier and ultimately more enjoyable.

For My Flickr Friends by Laura Olson

1. Connect with it: Art is many things to many people, but when choosing how to decorate with it, it needs to be yours and yours alone. Whether the piece inspires you, calms you, excites you or just generally makes you happy, that is where you need to start.

2. Blend it: Not only should the artwork affect you internally and emotionally, it must help create a space that surrounds you externally. Whether it is furnishings, accessories or the people who occupy the space, the art you choose should be a reflection of that and be able to pull it all together.

Orion by GALACTIC SHIFT

3. Hang it: What good is wall art if is not on the wall? Here are a few tips for hanging your artwork:

• Bigger is often better by creating more of a statement.
• Go with small prints on narrow walls and large works for large surface areas.
• When hanging wall art over furniture, it should generally not be longer than the piece of furniture.
• Hang art so that the center point of the piece is at eye level for the average person.

Ask For Directions by Dan Jesperson

4. Mat it: A white or subtle cream mat brings the focus to the artwork itself. To create maximum impact with your prints, consider choosing a mat that contrasts your wall color: light mat with a dark wall and dark mat for wall painted with a light color.

5. Frame it: Usually, when selecting a custom frame, you want to avoid choosing a color that is too similar to the color of the mat you chose. Blending and selecting mat and frame colors that are evident within the painting itself can provide a cohesive and complete look.