You may have a naturally sharp eye for a lovely object or painting, but how confident do you feel when it comes to arranging your things? After all, our connection to objects is a personal one. You can't be told or taught your 'tastes'.
The harder thing is to know what to do with your things, and how to display artworks and objects and create vignettes to add impact and balance. We sat down with Laura Sartori Rimini from the architectural firm Studio Peregalli Sartori to find out how we can take our home galleries to the next level.
How to arrange objects like an interior designer
Laura tells us, 'Whether it's something you thrifted because you loved it, something that reminds you of something, or an object you were given, the objects we choose to surround ourselves with are important.'
Here, Laura delves into the crucial things to keep in mind when we're arranging the objects in our homes. From pairing surprising elements to embracing imperfection, these top tips will help you to curate your collection like a gallerist.
Consider the space you're working with
'We always start with the architecture of a space. It’s important to start with a well-proportioned room, otherwise, whatever you put on display is unlikely to be beautiful. There has to be harmony between the architecture and the interior.'
'Similarly, it is important to ground our projects in the places they exist. For one 16th-century house in Tangier, we did this by framing old photos of the medina in the city and hanging them in the hallway. It gives the house an idea of the atmosphere of its past.'
Embrace the unexpected and keep things relaxed
'There are no set rules for how you want to display your collections. You can put things together in lots of different ways and get a beautiful result. We love to group items that seem almost peculiar together, mixing antique and contemporary, and high and low value. It’s all about finding the beauty in the unexpected.'
'Our philosophy is that there should be a touch of casualness in the way you organize a display: things should not look too stiff or formal. Otherwise, there is the danger that it will feel like a hotel or a home designed by a developer. Simple things, like books, are wonderful objects to display – you can let them become the protagonists of a room.'
Strike a balance between high and low
'If you have extraordinary things, you might want to keep the rest of the room simple. We worked with an antique dealer who had a sculpture from Myanmar and elaborate Indian wall panels. We kept the walls simple, with subtle hand-painted stripes to emphasize the collection.'
'But not all objects have to be grand. On an 18th-century console in my pied-à-terre in Paris, I put coral and shells; they’re very simple things, and perhaps unexpected, but I love how they give the display a little twist, as well as remind me of the sea.'
Make peace with imperfection
'Don’t worry about perfection in a display. We bought a huge quantity of 17th-century Chinese white and blue porcelain from an auction. It had been in a shipwreck and was damaged, so no one else wanted it. But we saw the beauty in it and have used it to create vignettes on the walls of a house we built in Spain. It looks so majestic; the chips and dents tell their own stories.'
There's no need to be afraid of getting it 'wrong' when it comes to creating a display at home. Things can be endlessly moved around and switched in or out. What's important is to ignore hard and fast rules, and instead, start by surrounding yourself with things that you love. Consider balance, scale, and contrast, and your home collection will be a continuing source of joy.
