A piano brings beautiful music into your home but can also present a decorating challenge. Pianos often don’t fit well into your space or design style. Here are some tips for decorating with a piano.
Focal point or background music?
The first thing you should do if you decorate with a piano is decide whether you want the instrument to be a focal point in your room. A grand piano almost begs to be the center of attention, but other pianos can be decorated to blend in with the rest of your decor.
Temperature control is important for maintaining the sound and finish of a piano, so when decorating with a piano, avoid placing it in a room with wide temperature swings. Make sure there’s space around it to reach the piano for tuning or cleaning. If family members will regularly play the piano, make sure there’s comfortable seating nearby for listeners.
Consider the piano’s color when choosing the rest of the room’s decor. Furnishings that contrast with the instrument will make it stand out more than those with similar colors and styles.
With grand pianos, the open area of the piano should face the room’s seating.
Decorating the piano
You may prefer not to decorate your piano, particularly if it’s a grand. Doing so will allow the piano’s design to shine. But if you feel your piano needs some adornment, here are several ways to decorate it.
- If you want your piano to be a focal point, place it against a wallpapered wall or one painted a contrasting color. Or, if your piano has seen better days, paint it a color that looks good with the rest of your room’s decor.
- Top your piano with decorative items of different sizes. A table lamp, potted plants, framed photos or artwork, stacked books, candles, branches or fresh flowers in a vase — any or all of these can be used to create an attractive vignette atop your piano.
- Add texture to the piano’s decor. A woven basket, a ceramic lamp, metal candlesticks and a furry piano bench will add more interest than items all made of similar materials.
- Add floating shelves over the piano to hold artwork or music books. Or place a mirror or framed painting over the instrument. You can even hang a gallery wall over and around your piano. If you do, it’s fun to include framed sheet music as part of the design.
- If you own other musical instruments such as guitars or violins, hang them in an arrangement over your piano.
- Accent your piano with overhead lighting, like a chandelier or an arcing floor lamp.
- Don’t forget about your piano’s seating. You don’t have to use the bench that came with the instrument. Try an upholstered bench or stool, or cover the bench with a striking throw that coordinates with your room’s decor. You can even use an interesting office chair.
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