Not everyone is a natural designer with lots of creativity and a flair for color. Some people stick with neutral shades and conventional furnishings because they are safe and don't show the dirt. Others are interested in creating an interesting living space, but don't quite know how to go about it. For these individuals, some experts suggest finding wall art, like impressionist prints, and building your room around it.

If you aren't able to start from scratch in a living or family area of your house, look around at the color scheme you already have. You may not even realize you have developed a particular color palette, but you probably have. There are certain shades and tones of particular colors that each individual leans toward.

Since you have already closely examined your preferred color schemes, you will be able to choose artwork that complements it. Trying to match colors exactly is very difficult and not really your goal anyway. What you need to look for are paintings that are similar in hue and tone with what you already have.

People who have never really looked at art before may feel a little overwhelmed and not know where to begin. You can always check out some art books from the local library to get a feel for the periods that most interest you. You will find that within one genre there are many different styles, subject matters, and brush stroke techniques. Your room design will look very different if you choose works by Pisarro rather than Degas, for instance.

How you arrange art on walls will depend on the size and configuration of the space. Some rooms lend themselves to vertical works. Others become more dramatic when prints are hung horizontally at eye level. Putting a bold print over a mantel will probably call attention to the art because fireplaces are the focal point of many sitting arrangements.

When you have strong feelings about certain ideas or beliefs, you can give subtle hints of them to your guests, using art, without being overbearing. Someone who is a strong supporter and active in women's issues, for instance, may want to focus on female artists like Mary Cassatt. Works by Van Gogh may spark a conversation on mental health issues.

If you live by yourself, you can choose any kind of art you like to hang on the walls. Individuals who share space with a partner and larger family should really take everyone's taste into consideration when choosing artwork and the accompanying room design. Modernism is not to everyone's liking any more than Victorian is.

Although a lot of Impressionist works are extremely famous and easily recognized by many, you can choose to select a lesser known piece that you like and see if your guests can figure out who the artist is. Decorating walls with good prints can make for interesting conversations.