I’ve previously written about the key factors to consider when selecting a piece of art, such as context, scale, framing, color palette, and personal connection (you can read the full post here). Recently, a client asked me to select a print specifically for their staircase wall, which inspired this article. Entryways, stairwells, and hallways are often the first emotional impression of a home, and the art placed here should set the tone, introduce your home, and invite you in. Here is what I kept in mind when selecting Byron Sunbather in gallery size, white frame to be hung in the stairwell.

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1. Choose a print that sets the tone immediately. I wanted a striking image that captures your attention, but is still abstract enough that you can walk past it every day and feel energized.

2. Let scale and negative space do the work. These spaces often have less furniture, which makes scale especially important. A gallery size framed print in an entryway creates confidence with intention. A vertical orientation can elevate a stairwell and draw the eye upward. In narrow hallways, one striking piece with generous negative space often feels more refined than a series of smaller works. The goal is balance – allow the piece to do the talking!

3. In transitional spaces like entryways, stairwells, and hallways, consider the direction and strength of movement within a print. Some images carry more directional energy than others. For example, the yachting collection offers visible motion as sailboats cut through the water toward a marker. In contrast, the aerials collection—such as the Clovelly series—express movement through structure, with the concrete platform guiding the eye. Byron Sunbather implies movement more subtly, as if you’re walking along the beach, passing the sunbather on your way to your own spot.

4. Consider the viewing distance. Hallways and stairways are often narrow, so choose pieces that read beautifully both up close and from afar. You should be able to get the picture as you pass by, without needing to stop and study every detail.

5. Create a visual journey rather than a pause. When selecting Byron Sunbather for the staircase wall, I was drawn to the way it extends the story of the home. Another print from the Byron Bay collection, The Pass Playground, hangs in the dining room, offering depth and a window onto the landscape from Byron Bay’s most iconic vantage point. If The Pass Playground captures the place, Byron Sunbather captures the feeling with this iconic pose of the location. Together, the two images don’t compete; they offer different perspectives of the same mood, creating continuity as you move throughout the home.

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Curating spaces is one of my favorite parts of being an artist, finding pieces that feel like windows to a daydream and belong effortlessly in your home. When selected with movement, scale, and context in mind, art in entryways, stairwells, and hallways becomes part of the journey through the home. For styling guidance or curation support, I’d be happy to help so get in touch.