In 1892 Claude Monet gave rise to the Impressionist movement by creating Impression, Sunrise. The paintings used long brush strokes to create a perfect color combination of green, blue, yellow, and orange.

Inspiration comes in many forms. When I am looking to design a room I try to focus on one particular piece and center my inspiration for the room on that element. This could be a piece of art, a tapestry or custom rug, or even a favorite decorative accessory. Not only does decorating with art give you a chance to express your personal style, it also creates a conversation piece for guests.

Here are some tips on how to incorporate a focal piece of art within a room.

First, use the 60-30-10 Rule. When decorating a particular room, divide the colors into percentages:

• 60% dominant color – i.e. the walls
• 30% secondary color- i.e. the furniture or upholstery
• 10% accent color- i.e. accent pieces

After you have chosen your colors, take a picture of your accessory or painting and center it on a mood board. Collect paint samples, pieces of fabric, pictures from magazines, and anything that might catch your eye. Pin all your inspirations on your mood board and see how they come together. You would be surprised how many color and style combinations work. The example mood board below shows how the colors in Impressionist, Sunrise can work together to create a calming and beautifully put together room.

Once you’ve chosen your pieces arrange your furniture so that everyone who sits in the room can appreciate the focal piece.  If you want to draw attention to your focal point, minimize the other decorative elements nearby.  If on the other hand you would like to minimize the impact of your focal point, carry the same balance of colors as the art throughout the room.

{This article was written by Ariel Dagan, co- founder of MyCustomRug.com. Ariel is a design enthusiast from New York who specializes in creating Custom Rugs for homes and small businesses. He blogs regularly about the history of rugs, how they are made and incorporated into the design of a home. }