Decorating
15 Ways to Use Pop Art at Home
Integrating pop art accents into your home add instant character and capture the playful kitsch of the 1950s and 1960s
Immortalised by the likes of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, pop art emerged in the 1950s and both mocked and celebrated society’s obsession with flashy consumerism and mass-produced objects – advertising images, iconic public figures and everyday branded products were all given the instantly recognisable pop-art treatment.
While an original Warhol is probably out of most of our price ranges, pop art can be incorporated into almost any style of home for a dynamic and eye-catching look.
While an original Warhol is probably out of most of our price ranges, pop art can be incorporated into almost any style of home for a dynamic and eye-catching look.
2. Copy and paste
Replicated faces on various canvases are an iconic pop art motif (think of Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe or Chairman Mao repeats). Take a more monochrome approach to the look and create a glamorous and commanding wall feature with a series of black and white portraits, as seen with this ‘Faces’ wallpaper by Phillis Morris.
Replicated faces on various canvases are an iconic pop art motif (think of Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe or Chairman Mao repeats). Take a more monochrome approach to the look and create a glamorous and commanding wall feature with a series of black and white portraits, as seen with this ‘Faces’ wallpaper by Phillis Morris.
3. Maximise a mural
A magnified part of a cartoon, especially one as expressive as the one in this picture, works perfectly for a pop-art-inspired bedroom or living room and allows you to keep the rest of the look relatively restrained.
A magnified part of a cartoon, especially one as expressive as the one in this picture, works perfectly for a pop-art-inspired bedroom or living room and allows you to keep the rest of the look relatively restrained.
4. Consider fun typography
Comics, colours and large neon-tinted prints may be a bit too much for some. In that case, a simple yet original speech-bubble print, such as the one in this photo, can be a cheeky way to reference a cartoon style without fully committing to a panel or figure. The comic-like speech bubble is also a great way to introduce some typography into your decorating scheme.
Comics, colours and large neon-tinted prints may be a bit too much for some. In that case, a simple yet original speech-bubble print, such as the one in this photo, can be a cheeky way to reference a cartoon style without fully committing to a panel or figure. The comic-like speech bubble is also a great way to introduce some typography into your decorating scheme.
5. Make a well-balanced display
A shallow, freestanding open shelving unit is ideal for displaying prints, especially if you’re renting and don’t want to start drilling into the wall. Source pop-art prints online, from arts and crafts or bookshops.
For a more uniform look, gather prints that are approximately the same size, and frame them similarly. This will keep the colourful prints from overpowering each other.
Show-stopping shelving suggestions
A shallow, freestanding open shelving unit is ideal for displaying prints, especially if you’re renting and don’t want to start drilling into the wall. Source pop-art prints online, from arts and crafts or bookshops.
For a more uniform look, gather prints that are approximately the same size, and frame them similarly. This will keep the colourful prints from overpowering each other.
Show-stopping shelving suggestions
6. Supersize the script
If you’re bold enough to embrace the pop-art aesthetic face on, then an all-out graphic typography print, such as the one in this kitchen, may be just what your home needs. Large letters and bold colours turn this otherwise neutral kitchen into an original and exciting space.
If you’re bold enough to embrace the pop-art aesthetic face on, then an all-out graphic typography print, such as the one in this kitchen, may be just what your home needs. Large letters and bold colours turn this otherwise neutral kitchen into an original and exciting space.
7. Hang a colourful lighting feature
The idea behind Ingo Maurer’s iconic configure-it-yourself ceiling light ‘Zettel’z’ is that it creates a diffused and texturised lighting experience. By replacing the standard plain papers with brightly illustrated comics, as the owners of this lamp have done, the pendant light goes from being a minimalist design feature to a wild and playful highlight.
The idea behind Ingo Maurer’s iconic configure-it-yourself ceiling light ‘Zettel’z’ is that it creates a diffused and texturised lighting experience. By replacing the standard plain papers with brightly illustrated comics, as the owners of this lamp have done, the pendant light goes from being a minimalist design feature to a wild and playful highlight.
8. Integrate your hobbies
Pop-art prints are versatile and easily transferable to all sorts of surfaces, which means that you can showcase your hobbies and your style credentials at the same time. If you, or someone in your family loves skate culture for example, cover the back of skateboards with colourful prints and turn them into a stylish wall display, as in this kitchen. Give box files or notebooks an update with new pop-art-inspired covers you can easily do yourself, then store them on an open shelf. Or, if you play an instrument, why not cover its case with comics and bold prints? The options are endless.
Put your favourite hobbies on display
Pop-art prints are versatile and easily transferable to all sorts of surfaces, which means that you can showcase your hobbies and your style credentials at the same time. If you, or someone in your family loves skate culture for example, cover the back of skateboards with colourful prints and turn them into a stylish wall display, as in this kitchen. Give box files or notebooks an update with new pop-art-inspired covers you can easily do yourself, then store them on an open shelf. Or, if you play an instrument, why not cover its case with comics and bold prints? The options are endless.
Put your favourite hobbies on display
9. Cartoonify the bathroom
Make a splash in the bathroom by turning an otherwise neutral-hued space into a dynamic and original room with the help of large wall stickers. Bold block letters, an energetic Wonder Woman and strong primary colours make this a heroic space for getting ready to face the world in every morning.
Make a splash in the bathroom by turning an otherwise neutral-hued space into a dynamic and original room with the help of large wall stickers. Bold block letters, an energetic Wonder Woman and strong primary colours make this a heroic space for getting ready to face the world in every morning.
10. Give it some grit
While pop art originated as a reaction to mass-produced objects and favoured bright, primary colours, the rise of graffiti in the ’80s gave pop art a grittier makeover, thanks to stencils, dripping spray paint and strong urban themes.
Embrace graffiti’s tough aesthetic and have a sprayed portrait – perhaps of the family pet – make an impact on the walls of your home. The bolder the colours, the stronger the look.
While pop art originated as a reaction to mass-produced objects and favoured bright, primary colours, the rise of graffiti in the ’80s gave pop art a grittier makeover, thanks to stencils, dripping spray paint and strong urban themes.
Embrace graffiti’s tough aesthetic and have a sprayed portrait – perhaps of the family pet – make an impact on the walls of your home. The bolder the colours, the stronger the look.
11. Trick the eye
We’ve all heard of using mirrors to make a room feel larger, but how about a piece of art that happens to look just like your living room? A cartoon reproduction of a particular room in a similar colour scheme is a great visual trick, and can significantly expand your spatial perception.
We’ve all heard of using mirrors to make a room feel larger, but how about a piece of art that happens to look just like your living room? A cartoon reproduction of a particular room in a similar colour scheme is a great visual trick, and can significantly expand your spatial perception.
12. Celebrate the muse
Since pop art often borrowed from photography and then manipulated images to create vivid prints, go back to basics with a large photo of one of pop art’s greatest muses, Marilyn Monroe. Find the best print or photo you can and then apply a slight discolouration before printing for a more stylised look.
Since pop art often borrowed from photography and then manipulated images to create vivid prints, go back to basics with a large photo of one of pop art’s greatest muses, Marilyn Monroe. Find the best print or photo you can and then apply a slight discolouration before printing for a more stylised look.
13. Go for the full Ziggy Stardust
The glam rock movement of the ’70s was heavily influenced by the pop-art craze, and celebrated over-the-top everything: glitter, neon, platforms, bright lights, big hair and much more. A Warhol classic, such as this Marilyn print, is given a David Bowie-esque makeover with bright neons and light flashes over her face. Platform thigh-high glitter boots, not included…
The glam rock movement of the ’70s was heavily influenced by the pop-art craze, and celebrated over-the-top everything: glitter, neon, platforms, bright lights, big hair and much more. A Warhol classic, such as this Marilyn print, is given a David Bowie-esque makeover with bright neons and light flashes over her face. Platform thigh-high glitter boots, not included…
15. Celebrate lines and shapes
You don’t have to like cartoons or vintage Hollywood starlets to be able to appreciate pop art. Artists such as Keith Haring used simple shapes and lines, influenced by graffiti styles, in order to create colourful and dynamic figures. For a look that’s rich in contrast and texture, pair some Haring prints with geometric, colour-coordinating patterns on cushions and fabrics, as can be seen in this photo.
TELL US
Are you a fan of pop art? How would you display it in your home? Share your tips and thoughts in the Comments.
MORE
What We Can Learn From Art Collectors
Australian Homes Embracing Street Art
Cartoon Characters Take Over Animated Homes
You don’t have to like cartoons or vintage Hollywood starlets to be able to appreciate pop art. Artists such as Keith Haring used simple shapes and lines, influenced by graffiti styles, in order to create colourful and dynamic figures. For a look that’s rich in contrast and texture, pair some Haring prints with geometric, colour-coordinating patterns on cushions and fabrics, as can be seen in this photo.
TELL US
Are you a fan of pop art? How would you display it in your home? Share your tips and thoughts in the Comments.
MORE
What We Can Learn From Art Collectors
Australian Homes Embracing Street Art
Cartoon Characters Take Over Animated Homes
If you aren’t a fan of bright colours, why not go for a comic in shades of grey? A monochrome print is a perfect addition to a room with a pared-back colour palette, since it creates an interesting visual detail without introducing jarring colour.