The other day whilst touring a home, I took note of something I have observed several times in some of the most beautiful homes I've walked through. Some owners do not restrict placing art, even really important art, to their most important rooms that are rarely used. Sometimes they display them in a powder room, a bathroom, even a kitchen.

Those who buy art to simply impress their friends and visitors are one thing. The smartest collectors, in my opinion, are those who buy what they really, really like. If you love your art, placing it in a place that you use regularly is smart. A beautiful piece placed in a kitchen, if that is where you spend lots of time, can make perfect sense, allowing you to live with your art and appreciate it daily.

The powder room of a country home can be the perfect place to display lithograph studies of grasses, far from collector-grade fine art, but extremely appealing as they are relative to the garden outside that has a strong emphasis on wildflowers and the rewilding of nature (even more inspiring during the barren winter months). 

Yes, art can be decorative, but often it's much, much more than that. Observing art has a positive psychological impact, including stress reduction, improved mood, and enhanced cognitive functions like critical thinking and empathy. It triggers the brain's reward system, leading to feelings of pleasure and well-being, and can reduce stress hormones like cortisol. Furthermore, engaging with art promotes creativity, mindfulness, and social connection. Placing that art in places that you see daily may add to their value.