Applied arts bring aesthetically pleasing design choices to everyday objects, overlapping as a concept with decorative arts to create artistic objects that are fully functional items appropriate for daily use. It may not be easy to spot in the beginning, but the aesthetic value of an object matters a lot when it comes to purchasing and maintaining it. Although you might say that the only reason you’re buying something is due to its functional characteristics, if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll realize that design also plays an important role.

Fashion

Perhaps one of the most obvious examples of applied arts in everyday life is that of fashion design. While many find fashion as art debatable, there’s no denying its artistic merits. The lack of recognition might also come from the identification of arts solely with fine arts, which leads to applied art sometimes being relegated to an inferior rank. However, the truth is that the two are highly complementary and draw a lot of inspiration from one another. In fashion, artistic expression is achieved through the materials used, the cuts and how the item is expected to look when worn. Many designers have drawn inspiration from the artistic world as well, integrating different colour palettes or prints that are reminiscent of oil paintings or sculptures.

Household art

Many things can be said about the importance of bringing artwork into your home. They’ll create a focal point in your interior design, elicit a specific mood, improve creativity and give your room character. It is also a great conversation starter for when guests come over and improve mental well-being through the increase of serotonin levels and by improving cognitive functions. But choosing the best art for your home is no easy task, and you can’t shop for it the way you would for a random item. Instead, you should take the time to do your research to discover some pieces that resonate with you before committing to investing in them.

Browsing through an extensive selection of original fine art prints for sale will help you have a more complete view of the offering. You can also establish what would work best for your home this way, as you have to consider the overall design when making a choice. So, if you’re a fan of Baroque, opulent ensembles, you might want to consider Magnus Gjoen’s “Heaven Lent you a soul Earth will lend you a grave”, but if you’re more positively inclined toward modern, eclectic artworks with a vibrant colour palette, then Dan Baldwin’s “Hope in Hell” is probably the ideal choice for you.

But what about the applied arts? Can you also integrate them into a fine art ensemble and create a beautiful design? The answer is yes.

Interior design

While fine art pieces serve as centrepieces of interior design, applied art objects can be integrated more practically. Interior design is closely tied to architecture and yet fundamentally distinct from it. A room’s layout is crucial for how you arrange items and décor inside so that you can manage space utilization more efficiently, increase functionality, and ensure seamless navigation around the room. This way, you can be sure that all of your space is used effectively, even if that means leaving some areas empty to even out the whole ensemble. But interior design is also focused on the aesthetic goals of homeowners, in order to create an environment that is not only comfortable but also pleasant to live in. All buildings utilize interior design concepts, including commercial spaces and institutions, but the concept operates differently in residential areas.

Depending on your personal preferences, you can choose maximalism, an aesthetic of excessive décor or minimalism, which focuses on bare, sparsely decorated areas. In the case of the former, it can seem easier to use the applied arts, as you can use items such as French Polish furniture with deep hues and optical reflectance effects, ornate vases, antique chairs, intricate wallpapers using primary colours, marbleized finishes, lusterware and pottery figurines are just a few of the examples. You can also draw inspiration from history, with the Victorian, Rococo and Gothic revival styles being perfect for a maximalist house.

As for minimalism, the style revolves around airiness, spaciousness, neutral tones, and applied arts that can be integrated through high-quality craftsmanship. While the design has been criticized for feeling impersonal and cold, that is only the case when the designer isn’t aware of the history and different forms of minimalism. For example, a household decorated based on the Dutch De Stijl will feature panels of bright colours interspaced with areas of white and ecru. Japandi design features, such as wood panelling, pieces like the Noguchi table, unique custom-made furniture, and stonework, can all elevate a minimal room to make it more aesthetically pleasing and personal.

Ceramics and calligraphy

Some of the cultures that are particularly notable for their creation and use of ceramics are the Chinese, Persians, Koreans, Japanese, Mayans, Greeks and Cretans. Several materials can be used, resulting in the creation of stoneware, porcelain, earthenware and bone china. Elaborately decorated plates and bowls make every meal a special occasion and are a great way to impress your guests. Earthenware cookware is not only rustic-looking but also resilient and versatile, as you can use it in the microwave as well as on cooktops. They can also help your foods retain more of their flavour. If you like antique designs, you can draw inspiration from jasperware, famous for its cerulean shade known as Wedgwood blue, or designs inspired by Longquan celadon, Chinese green-glazed ceramics that were first produced between 950 and 1550.

Calligraphy has earned less recognition worldwide as a form of visual art, but it is a wonderful mix of applied arts and understated, simple designs. Although calligraphy works can be created even using ballpoint pens and markers, you might want to go for something created with a quill, ink brush, dip pen, or Qalam.

Japanese calligraphy works are particularly popular among connoisseurs, with the creative process, which employs the use of inkstones, mulberry paper and seals, being considered an art form in and of itself. Korean calligraphy, known as seoye, is similar, with several scripts available and roughly the same tools used in the process. Calligraphy pieces should be added on an accent wall so that they can stand out.

Applied arts most likely surround you every day, as many objects are not just made to serve a practical purpose but appeal to aesthetic sensibilities as well. If you want to make your household more artistic, there’s no better way than to invest in this type of design.