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From the Great Sphinx at Giza to Michelangelo’s David, to the Statue of Liberty, sculptures have held an iconic place in art and culture for millennia. Today, sculptures remain as creative and impactful as ever, leading many art enthusiasts to utilize them in their home decor. “By accessorizing with sculptures, you can add movement, color, and emotion to a space,” says Tracy Young, a sales associate at Copenhagen Scottsdale. “And because sculptures can be admired from multiple angles, they bring a distinct sense of dimensionality and style to a room.” If you have a space or spaces in your home that feel like they’re missing a special touch, perhaps a sculpture – or several – might be the solution. Read on for pro tips and points to consider when accessorizing with these versatile art pieces.
“Almost any flat, stable, and durable surface in your home can be a good place to put a sculpture,” Young says. “For instance, you can use sculptures to liven up a coffee table, console table, or end table – or place one on your dining table to create an artistic centerpiece.” You may also enjoy placing sculptures on their own pedestals to give them a special spotlight. Copenhagen offers the Lumi Pedestal, complete with LED lighting – or try the Hexagon Table, whose unique shape and slim form allows it to double perfectly as a pedestal for your favorite sculpture.
Because sculptures are three-dimensional, ideal spots to place them would allow them to be admired from multiple different angles. As an additional pointer, make sure there is enough negative space around a sculpture to allow it to stand out against its surroundings. Try not to place sculptures in locations where they may be easily knocked over, especially if you have children and/or pets – a curio cabinet like the Bella Clara is a good option for more delicate pieces or valuable heirlooms.
You may also consider placing sculptures outside if they are appropriate for indoor/outdoor use, like our aluminum Woodbrook sculptures. Try placing the Swim Mini figure at the edge of a pond or water feature for a playful accent – or display the life-size Walking Horse in your garden or yard to give it a touch of the extraordinary.
From miniature pieces that add a subtle accent, to larger-than-life sculptures that command instant attention, sculptures come in every size under the sun. As such, it’s important to choose sculptures whose size meshes well with their surrounding environment. Young advises, “Keep in mind not only the size of the sculpture, but the size of the surface you are placing the sculpture on (such as a table), the proportions of other furniture in the room, and the dimensions of the room in general. A sculpture should not be too big or too small for its context.”
Large sculptures are ideal for creating a focal point and can be set on the floor of a living room or entryway to make a statement. Take, for instance, the Swim Swallow Sculpture – with its commanding size and outstretched arms, Swim Swallow is a work that is ideal for expansive, high-ceilinged spaces, or even outdoors. On the other hand, smaller sculptures like the Dotted Horned Owl or Colorful Puppies Trio are highly versatile and can add pops of personality to anywhere from a desk to a night table, to a bookshelf.
Contemporary sculptures come in such a wide variety of styles that you are sure to find one that’s a perfect match for your aesthetic. When shopping for sculptures based on style, Young recommends matching a sculpture to the ambiance of the room you want to place it in, and thinking about how you want people to feel in that room. Her personal favorites are Copenhagen’s Ambienti Glamour sculptures, designed in Italy – “Their bright colors and patterns are perfect for adding joy and whimsy to a space,” she says. Whether it’s the relaxed mood of the Withney Sculpture, the vivacious energy of the Flying Girl, or the humorous appearance of the Pop Black Dog, Ambienti Glamour sculptures are ideal for those wanting to infuse a room with color and fun.
You may also enjoy abstract sculptures for adding a contemporary vibe to your home. For instance, the Interlocking Sculpture has a fluid form reminiscent of a curling ribbon, while the nested angular forms of the Geo Sculpture recall forms found in science and nature.
It can also be helpful to think about how the colors in a sculpture play with the hues in its surrounding environment. A sculpture can match the primary color of a room for a unified look, or echo secondary or accent colors for a more varied impression. If you want to make a sculpture pop more easily, consider placing it against a contrasting background, such as a dark statue against a light wall.
Finally, the texture and material of a sculpture can be a useful aspect to consider. For instance, a wooden sculpture like the Small Cat exudes a warm, natural feel, while the Dahy Statues and Muse Sculpture give off more of an edgy vibe with their variegated metal surfaces.
Not all sculptures must be placed on a horizontal surface – wall-mounted sculptures can open a world of possibility when it comes to accessorizing. “A room can have both free-standing and wall sculptures,” Young says. “Wall sculptures, with their dynamic and dimensional design, are great for adding depth and movement to a room.” She recommends the Artisan House wall sculptures for their playful abstract shapes and masterful use of metal. For instance, Propensity features warm metallic tones and a pleasing configuration of linked circles, while Traffic Control is a whimsical arrangement of paper airplanes made of steel.
The right level of lighting will flatter your sculptures and let them attract the attention they deserve. Make sure sculptures receive adequate light by placing them close to lamps or overhead light fixtures. In the daytime, ensure that the angle of natural light is enough to let all the details of your sculptures be admired. Though it’s important not to display your sculptures in overly dim light, too-bright light can also have a negative effect – for example, a strong spotlight can wash out finer details and create unwanted shadows.
This is another instance where you may consider a curio cabinet for showing off your sculptures, since many have built-in lighting to cast the perfect amount of illumination for your art objects. Young recommends the Curve Display Cabinet or Bella Ruggente Curio – both have integrated LED lights combined with warm wood tones and unique curved lines.
Large or small, classic or modern, sculptures lend a unique sense of artistry to all kinds of spaces. If you’re curious about branching out and introducing these one-of-a-kind art objects into your home, stop by Copenhagen to explore our wide collection of superb sculptures.