Bonus: Showing off that functional art

From handcrafted mugs to furniture, art comes in all shapes and sizes. For the 3D functional sort, the concept of displaying them is almost polar opposite to anything else.

Cluttering the space around a functional piece is a definite no-no. You want to use it, don't want to be hindered when you need it, and, most importantly, don't want anything to distract the eye away from that unique piece.

Kitchenware can especially be challenging when it is notoriously a busy, cluttered place. Consider glass front cabinets and reserving a space to store your pieces where they're safe but visible. It can be tempting to isolate that functional art, show it off exclusively, but that would defeat the purpose of it being functional. Love that art by utilizing it. Show off your love for it by letting your guests see it in its natural setting!

For furniture, it is even more important to avoid surrounding or covering it with anything that might cause someone to overlook it. Consider the layout of the room you're placing it in, arrange your favored art piece so it is the very first thing one's eye naturally lands on. An example being, if you have a beautiful hand-carved wooden chair in a living room, have it facing towards the main entrance with a soft buffer zone around it. Give it about a foot of clear space on all sides. If you use it often, and you should, any lamps or end tables should be set back. Make that favorite seat the star at the front of the stage!

Also, consider having the other furniture in the room blend in to the rest of the decor. That way the uniqueness of that piece helps it stand out even more. Functional art is a fantastic way to turn your every day surroundings into something special.

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