What if I told you that you don’t have to have an area designated specifically for scroll-stopping photos? There is a way to have multiple areas in your home to get great images without sacrificing natural lighting and living space. It just takes a little work, creativity, and being willing to move things out of the way when ready to stage your furniture.
One of the hardest things as an artist is finding that ideal place to stage newly painted furniture and artwork for photographs. You want your art to appeal to buyers so your photos must capture their attention and allow them to envision your art inside their space!
For years I struggled with trying to find a space for photographing my art. I even created a fake wall in one room covering my beautiful windows. I repainted that wall so many times trying to create the right look to showcase my pieces only to be disappointed in the results.
This year, I have given my home studio a makeover, uncovering my windows, while keeping in mind the need to have places to stage scroll-stopping photos. Here’s how I created multiple staging walls in my space.
The Textured Wall
The first wall is adjacent to a wall of windows on the north end of our home. Instead of repainting the wall, I used a trowel and smeared on sheetrock mud in areas, leaving other areas the original creamy texture. Working in 4-foot sections while the mud was still wet, I used a faux brick roller from IOD. The IOD roller makes this so easy to create!
When the mud was dry, I used my Paint Pixie brush, Lit’l D, I brushed my favorite colors on to the faux brick. For this wall, since it was in the main open area of our home and studio, I wanted to use colors that would complement not only the furniture I loved to create but also the pieces I own. You can find the Multi or Red Faux Brick color bundle here.
I loved the faux brick so much that I decided to do it on a wall inside our RDV Prints office where I print Giclee prints for artists. This room is off my studio and meant I could use different colors, creating more freedom with color choices for furniture makeovers! I chose totally different colors for this one and I’m in love with it!
Neutral Wall for Scroll-Stopping Photos
On the opposite wall in this room, I painted a layered neutral look using my trusty VIP Brush from Paint Pixie, The Turquoise Iris collection. It makes painting walls in a faux finish look go super quick and easy! Because this wall was already solid white, I just needed to add my other colors to create the look. I used two different shades of white, an off white, a cream, a taupe, and a gray. Adding each color to my VIP brush at once, I used “X” motion to apply the paints until the wall was covered! I really love how this neutral setting makes furniture really pop in photos!
The Door Wall
The last wall is custom bi-fold doors that my husband built to hide our heat furnace. While these doors serve a function, they also make a great backdrop for photographs! While I realize not everyone has these doors or a need for them, a room divider screen can give the same functionality and beauty. The added benefit is being able to put them away when done.
I know it seems like I am saying you need lots of space and free walls to achieve incredible photos and staging. But you don’t. Every wall I showed is in use every day here, and completely covered by art and furniture. Whenever I am ready to stage, it requires considering which wall would best showcase my piece, and some planning. Setting aside a day and batching your art and furniture allows you to gather the help you need to move everything. If you don’t have help, furniture dollies or sliders will make your job easier and help prevent strain. If the area doesn’t have the benefit of natural light, then making room for the lights is another setup, but can be made easy by bringing in a few ring lights.
Then when the staging is done, everything must go back up and into place. Believe me, the work is worth it!
I’ve learned that getting scroll-stopping photos can be done using your phone’s camera and good lighting. It may require extra muscles, time management, and planning, but it is achievable for anyone with the desire and passion for their art and growing their business! And I’ve found a new passion for creating beautiful Wall murals which allows me to live inside my art!
The extra bonus is that your home or studio can have gorgeous, yet functional, walls you can enjoy every day!
