The Art Trends Defining Interiors Right Now

Landscape painting is having a renaissance, but not as you know it. Today's most sought-after works are looser, more atmospheric and often abstracted, using colour and texture to evoke a place rather than depict it literally.

Stephanie Crosland-Goss, founder, Interrupted Art

“A sense of ‘place' is often so important to collectors, as it evokes memory, emotions and connection. What we’ve really noticed is the use of traditional materials such as oils, but applied in a more contemporary style and palette to suit a modern aesthetic. We’ve also seen a demand for abstracted pieces in more traditional colour palettes, but being placed in very non-traditional settings, for example a Cornish seascape in a scheme inspired by a modern Moroccan riad. The results can be unexpectedly striking.”

One of the biggest shifts we're seeing is towards smaller works. Collectors are embracing intimate paintings, sketches and studies that can be layered on shelves, hung in groups or incorporated into gallery walls.

Stephanie Crosland-Goss, founder, Interrupted Art

‘We’ve seen a big shift with our clients who last year were asking for extra-large artwork for big empty walls. We always caution against this as going too big can start to feel a little ‘wallpapery’. Smaller, more considered works that speak to each other give more opportunity to build an eclectic and interesting personal collection while keeping the interiors elevated. Small artworks are an excellent way to bring attention to otherwise overlooked corners or areas of the home that don’t have a sense of place or an obvious use. A well-placed small artwork can be a clever trick to draw the eye where you want it to go – placing a small artwork slightly higher, for example, can bring attention up the wall, creating the illusion of a more expansive room.”

The decorative portrait continues to dominate among designers and collectors. Characterful, slightly eccentric and endlessly chic, these pieces bring personality and history to a room.

Nicole Salvesen, co-founder, Salvesen Graham

“Portraits are something we often find ourselves working with, particularly as they're frequently inherited or already part of a client's collection. We love the character they bring to a room and the way they can make a scheme feel more personal and less contrived. Whether it's a grand ancestral portrait or a smaller painting picked up at auction, they often become an unexpected focal point. We rarely feel the need to decorate around them too heavily; in fact, they're often at their best when paired with more contemporary pieces, creating a layered interior that feels collected rather than designed.”

In reaction to AI and digital imagery, buyers are gravitating towards pieces that celebrate the artist's hand. Visible brushstrokes, texture and imperfection are becoming cherished.

Chloe Willis, associate director, Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler

“I am drawn to objects that bear the marks of their making. I collect pottery, where the hand-thrown nature of each piece and the unpredictability of the glaze mean that no two pieces are alike. I also love paintings and sketches that have an unfinished quality, where the brush marks themselves hold energy, tension and the feeling of the artist that made it. It is these imperfections and traces of process that create the strongest sense of connection for me.”