Recently, I finally got around to building a shelving unit in my dining room, a project that I’ve been completely obsessed with undertaking ever since I saw a photograph in Architectural Digest four years ago. When I say we, I mean, of course, someone else (in this case, Mike The Builder). I like to try my hand at most things, but building a twelve foot high MDF unit with copious shelving slots exceeded my DIY abilities by at least tenfold. Prior to this unit being built, I had temporarily put up shelves in this very space myself, one next to the other, until my grand plan could be put into action, but tbh, they didn’t work particularly well. They were straight as a die thanks to my excellent use of the spirit ruler but unfortunately, they weren’t on the same level. What this meant was that there were not only gaps between what should have been a straight run, but it was also impossible to place any sort of object on the joins as they were on levels at least an inch apart. My poor DIY skills were, however, were brilliantly disguised on Instagram by my very effective usage of Touch Retouch, the saviour of all prospective social media posters with its Houdini style abilities to remove both non aesthetically pleasing plugs and wires but also copious dustballs. An absolute essential.

The art shelves built by Mike The Builder, filled with my favourite art and, well, random shite.

Anyway, the object of the shelving unit was to create individual shelf spaces for my favourite art work and general family and vintage memorabilia (most of which could be - and is - described by my husband as ‘random shite’). I wanted the whole shelving space to reflect me and my personality - I picked pieces that meant something to me. Some years ago, I ran Styling Your Home workshops with my friend, Dee, and our entire mantra was that your home should be a representation of yourself and that every piece that you have in your home, whether it be a picture on the wall, an armchair or a paint colour, should be something that you truly loved. If it didn’t make you happy, ditch it. Harsh, but true. I’ve lived by these rules pretty much forever and as a result, my home makes me happy every time that I walk through the door as I’m surrounded by things that sing to me. A week or so ago, I was talking about this on my Instagram stories, spouting forth that everyone should have art in their home. I received a reply from a follower who said that that particular comment was very privileged, that not everyone could afford to decorate their home with art.

I disagreed (I’m quite good at disagreeing). Vehemently, in fact. Many years ago, I picked up a large vintage painting of a rampaging lion from our local charity shop for £2. Resplendent in a white etched frame, I was super happy with it. I’ve always had a real thing for kitsch artwork - my previous home had an entire landing full of pictures of huge headed doe eyed children in their pyjamas fishing in rivers which terrified my children to a point that they wouldn’t walk past them to go to bed unless Joe or I were with them. Anyway, I brought the lion home, cleaned it up and hung it in the hall. My father in law dropped in later that day, took one look and said to me ‘ah yes. This is what people in the sixties who didn't know anything about art hung on their walls’. I was infuriated. I liked it. Actually, I LOVED it. And if I loved it, then it worked for me and my home. I may not have had a degree in Art History but I knew what I liked. Therefore, the fact that I liked the rampaging lion made it art. Why should one person decide what is art and what isn’t? It still hangs on my bedroom wall in all its £2 glory today.

My hallway with independent artists found on Instagram, charity shop finds and second hand mirrors all creating a display.

So what is the technical definition of art? Art, in its broadest sense, is a form of communication. It means whatever the artist intends it to mean, and this meaning is shaped by the materials, techniques, and forms it makes use of, as well as the ideas and feelings it creates in its viewers. Art is an act of expressing feelings, thoughts, and observations. Art can be whatever you want to see. A framed bus ticket from your first date. A painting your child did in Reception, mounted on the wall. A vintage floral print. A favourite album, a collection of holiday photographs curated in a frame. If you love it and it sings to you, then it’s art. And for someone to tell me that art is a privilege is, as a friend responded, elitism in itself. You decide what you love, no one else.

I talk a lot about art and displaying art on both my Instagram and my blog - it’s fair to say it’s one of my favourite subjects. Over the years, my walls have held countless memories, special finds and family favourites alongside limited edition investments and inherited pieces. The floral oil painting in the gold frame that was one of my first real vintage buys is just as special to me as the huge Slim Aaron canvas that Joe gave to me when I was having cancer treatment. Art that I’ve made myself with gold leaf and spray paint sits alongside an anniversary present of a Benjamin Murphy print. I love each of these pieces just as much as the other. So how can you project your own personality on to your walls and ensure that what you are looking at ticks all of your boxes? Here’s my view on what makes the art that you put in your home work for you.

Old photos in my downstairs loo which both amuses guests but also is a visual reminder of memories.

THE HAPPINESS FACTOR: This week I picked up a vintage painting from my local second hand shop for £5. It wasn’t a well known artist; the likelihood is that it was just painted by someone who liked to paint rather than a commercial artist. But the colours sang to me - it was painted in calming, neutral tones and I immediately loved it. Go with your gut.

PERSONAL CONNECTION: I often buy art because it evokes happy memories. I was brought up in Hong Kong and I’m obsessed with all artwork that has any association - I actively seek it out. Recently I found a framed print of Hong Kong harbour and on the back it had a gift inscription for a wedding anniversary date back in 1974. My parents had Bruegels print Hunters In The Snow on our walls when we were children and I was SO HAPPY when I found a copy of it in a charity shop. Having that connection feels good.

TRENDS SCHMENDS: Try not to be influenced by a trend. Okay, so this applies to everything in your house but most importantly to art. Don’t buy because everyone else has it. If you really, truly love it, it’s meant to be. But if you like it in someone else’s house and want to replicate their look, that’s not a good enough reason. When you’re scrolling past countless similarly decorated homes, it might not be singing to you quite so loudly.

MULTI TASKING: I’ve made the mistake before of choosing art because it suited the colours of my room, not because I was drawn to it. This isn’t a good reason for investing your hard cash. Your style will evolve over the years so when you’re picking items for your home, remember you’re likely to restyle your spaces countless times so choosing for colour rather than love is never a good option.

Plates on my kitchen wall sourced from independent shops and artists.

SOUVENIR SPECIALS: Our best times as a family have been spent together on holiday and as a result, I never fail to bring back a momento to add to my wall, whether it be a plate, a print or a menu from a restaurant that I can frame. I’ve still got a Rick Stein Seafood Restaurant menu on my wall from a trip to Padstow in 1999. Concert tickets, event programmes, vinyl records - if it means something to you, frame it up and stick it up.

HOME GROWN: Making your own artwork is super economical and I often get more comments on a spray painted canvas with gold leaf that I made ten years ago than I do on an investment piece. It’s also brilliant fun to do - I’m particularly non artistic but it’s amazing what you can do with a few hours on a Sunday afternoon, a blank canvas and a paintbrush. If you’ve got children, don’t do as I’m prone to do and immediately discard their creative school bag contents into the B file - there could be gems crying out for a frame.

SEEK IT OUT: Instagram is a hotbed of small, independent artists and the perfect place to seek out art that works for you and your walls. You can pick up cool limited edition prints or even originals, often for well under £100, plus you’re supporting a small business and enabling these smaller brands to expand their audience. Some of my favourite pieces in my home have been happened upon via social media. My art gallery owning friend, Craig, once told me ‘find the art that you love, then support it like you might a football team or your favourite band as a teenager’.

Vintage butterflies found in a second hand shop alongside favourite pieces from independent artists.

THINK BIG: Art doesn’t have to be in a frame - art is what you make it. Printers trays, neon typography, a guitar owned by my late Dad and countless plates adorn my walls and are the perfect juxtaposition. Straw hats, a collection mirrors or even skateboards (as seen in the home of Bianca Hall) are all perfect for display and reflect both your personality and your own interests.

SAY CHEESE: In my humble opinion, old photographs are way too good to be hidden away in photograph albums. Take a look at your home to find the right space and tape them with washi in tonal colours so that they can bring the happy memories every day. A downstairs loo, for example, is totally perfect for such a display and is perfect for guest viewing whilst they’re otherwise engaged.

INVEST IN THE BEST: If you do have cash to invest in something special, make sure you do your homework. Don’t buy just because you think it’s going to go up in value - if it doesn’t sing to you, it won’t bring you joy. Art galleries such as the Art Of Protest (my local one) are fonts of knowledge and are always happy to help you find exactly what you’re looking for. You can click here to read Craig Humbles expert tips on buying art.

Andy Warhol said, ‘everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it’. Art cannot be a privilege, because only you can decide what art means to you. What you choose to have in your home, what you hang on your walls, what YOU decide that you love, is wholly your choice and no one else’s. Creating a home that works and that hits your happiness peak is the only thing that matters. So dig out the family albums, take a dive into the B file and surround yourself with what you love. If it makes your heart sing, it’s meant to be. And don’t listen to your in laws.

Art In The Home: Why Everything Has Its Beauty