I don’t know about you, but when I have time to spend ten minutes scrolling through local homes on Zillow, two very startling things stand out: open toilet seats and a surprising number of blank walls. But it's not just Zillow. My husband and I own Urban Renewal in downtown St. George, and over the years I've also noticed this in photos of customers' homes, on deliveries, and while helping people furnish and decorate their spaces. What is the reason for this epidemic of blank, artless walls?
I personally don’t think it’s for a lack of being inspired by art - most everyone enjoys museums, books, or a favorite artist--yet many fail to live with it in their homes even though living with art is one of the best ways to connect us to our own spaces. More than almost anything else, it very specifically reflects our interests and our personalities. In a world driven by the newest color schemes, Instagram trends and what's “in” or “out," our homes need more of us and less of everyone else.
My appreciation for what art can do for a home started early on in life. At age 18 I found an Egon Schiele print at a framing shop during my lunch break one day. Between the cost of the print and the framing, it consumed my entire paycheck. I hung it up in my first apartment... Suddenly it felt like home. This taught me the difference between appreciating art and actually living with it. That single print didn’t decorate the whole apartment, but it changed how the apartment made me feel.
So why do so many walls stay empty?
I think it comes down to three things: assuming that art is out of our budget, not knowing where to find artwork we connect with, or simply being overwhelmed and not knowing where to begin.
In buying artwork to stock in our store, we struggled to find affordable pieces that felt original and personal rather than mass-produced and ultimately forgettable. That frustration eventually led us to create our own art line, called You Be Are, with one simple goal: make meaningful, high-quality artwork more accessible.
If you're staring at a blank wall in your home and don't know where to start, just start. Don't think about decorating. Don't think about matching art to your sofa. Start by buying pieces you find interesting - especially one someone else might find weird. Art is personal. Don’t expect your neighbors to like it. Choose it because you love it, not because it fits a trend. Choose it because it makes you stop, look again, and feel something.
When I’m in our store and I watch someone flip through our prints, I hope they're finding more than something to hang on a wall. I hope they're finding the art piece that makes them feel connected to their home and inspires them to keep searching for more. Because once you start living with personally selected works of art, it's hard to imagine living without it. And if they do find that piece of art that calls to them, I feel proud that it will not cost them their entire paycheck. And maybe, the next time you are scrolling Zillow, there will be a few less blank walls - and a few more homes that reflect the people who live there.
In a world driven by the newest color schemes, Instagram trends and what's “in” or “out”, our homes need more of us and less of everyone else. -Jenny Larsen of Urban Renewal