Art. It can be an intimidating subject, a stimulating hobby, a downright obsession. Where you fall in this broad continuum is reflected in your home-in the furniture and accessories you have chosen, and by the ambience and energy within. The truly artful interior is compelling, provocative and sublime, transformed from visual silence into a symphony of texture, color and light. It may make a bold statement or be understated in design, but every artful interior has one thing in common: art that has been chosen with feeling and displayed with style.

How Great Thou Art

Art should come first; it is the most important element in an environment, at least according to Allyn Gallup, owner of Mira Mar Gallery. Yet it rarely happens that way. "Someone will pay seven figures for a residence and sign up for six-figure interior design, then at the very end when the designer has already gone way over budget, they'll get to the art. And they'll wind up with an interior that will not look anywhere near what it could have looked like had the right premium been put on art."

Of course, not everyone has a million-dollar home, let alone a design budget, but on a smaller scale, the same missed opportunity exists. "With a little courage and imagination, and relatively speaking, not a lot more money, almost anyone could have real art," suggests Gallup. Real art, not framed prints, stuff from catalogs or home stores. "One of the tragedies is that people-even those with enormous wealth-don't realize how much better their environment could be if they put original art in it. For some reason, people have no problem pulling the trigger on a luxury car or an expensive sofa, but buying a work of art is a big deal; they have a huge emotional problem with that. I believe it's due to an inherent lack of confidence because people don't know what is 'good'."

He's got a point. How many of us really know that much about art? It does appear that knowledge and personal taste are closely related, however, and can be developed. Like anything-wine, for example-the more you are exposed to really good stuff, the more sophisticated your tastes become. Start by looking at a lot of art (in all its glorious forms) and decide what you're drawn to-or work with a designer, art dealer or broker you trust.

"When I purchase art, whether it be for myself or a client, I like to know its history; I don't spontaneously purchase anything," says interior designer Wilson Stiles, whose own apartment is filled with pieces of historical significance. "Although my initial response is visceral, I like the intellectual satisfaction of learning what it is, what inspired it, how it fits into the realm of history of design," he says.

Homes enhanced by art chosen in this fashion cannot be compared to those filled with pieces having purely decorative value.

Let It Shine

Also a master at display, Wilson suggests rethinking traditional placement. "Have art at two different eye levels: one when you're standing and one when you're sitting. It's important when trying to create a reposeful interior to have objects and paintings at eye level when you are sitting down." It also makes art more approachable, particularly sculpture-especially if it is not encased behind glass.

Grouping is equally important. "You don't have to fill up every square inch," he says. "Having that relationship between positive and negative space is essential so the negative space can also frame the piece." When working with a client, Wilson may take everything out of a room and bring it back in, one piece at a time. "Sometimes this is the best way to edit. You can look at the space with a fresh eye, reposition things and get rid of pieces that aren't needed."

What if you own more art than you can attractively display at one time? Rotate your art. Put some in storage, bring other pieces out and enjoy them all over again. We rearrange our furniture, why not our art? The idea is to position, or reposition, everything for maximum visual appeal. Place it where you can see it and appreciate it, under the best possible light.

To See is to Believe

Lighting may be one of the most overlooked elements of design, yet it plays a critical role in creating an artful interior. At Light Up Your Life, a Sarasota lighting store owned by Susan and Moritz Inderbinen, customers browse the showroom much as they would a fine art gallery. "People are becoming more aware of how important lighting is, how it can dramatically enhance their environment," says Susan.