The luxury Warwickshire home featured in Episode 2 of The Big Deal with Steph McGovern.

The Big Deal with Steph McGovern Episode 2: How to Choose Art for Your Home

Episode 2 of The Big Deal with Steph McGovern on BBC Two took us into a completely different side of the art world: choosing artwork for a real home. Instead of simply finding pieces we liked and trying to sell them at auction, we had to think about how artwork could become part of an interior, complement the architecture and reflect the personality of the people living there.

The challenge was set in a beautiful home in Warwickshire, where we were asked to source artwork for the property's leisure spaces, including the snooker and bar room, cinema, stairway and garden. We had to find pieces that we believed the homeowner would genuinely want to live with, which made the challenge feel much closer to the way we think about art at Bella + Ollie Art.

Choosing artwork for a home isn't simply about finding something that looks good above a sofa. It's about understanding the space, the person, the way they live and the feeling you want the artwork to create.

Bella and Ollie the Big deal BBC with bronze sculpture artist Hamsh Mackie on Epsiode 2

How do you choose art for your home?

The challenge was led by luxury interior designer Peter Staunton, who gave us some advice that has genuinely stayed with us. One of his biggest points was very simple: “Buy what you like, not what you think you should like.”

It sounds obvious, but we think it's one of the most important things to remember when buying art. It's very easy to get caught up in what is fashionable, what will “go” with your furniture or what you think you're supposed to like. But artwork is something you're going to live with every day, so ultimately, you need to want to look at it.

Peter also encouraged us to find something that has resonance and connection to the home, because that personal connection is what gives a piece longevity. That really shaped the way we approached the challenge. Rather than simply asking what artwork would look good in a room, we started thinking about what artwork would feel right for these particular people.
Russell Hatton Champagne Starlight artwork chosen for the snooker and bar room in The Big Deal Episode 2.

Art should complement your interior, not match it

One of the biggest misconceptions we come across when talking about art and interiors is that artwork needs to match the room. We don't think it does.

Peter's advice was that there are no strict rules when it comes to scale or colour. Colour can complement an existing interior, introduce a completely different shade, add a pop of something unexpected or simply lift a space. The same goes for scale. A piece doesn't necessarily have to be a particular size because a room is a particular size; sometimes breaking that expectation is exactly what makes the artwork work.

We think complementing is much more interesting than matching. A beautifully designed room can have a very considered colour palette and still benefit from artwork that introduces something unexpected. It might be a contrasting colour, texture, unusual shape or simply a piece with enough personality to hold its own in the space.

When you're choosing art for your home, we'd always consider the interior, but we wouldn't let the interior dictate everything.

Choosing artwork for a luxury snooker and bar room

The snooker and bar room was one of the most fun spaces to think about because it already had such a strong atmosphere. It was luxurious and sociable, with mood lighting and a feeling that it was designed for entertaining, so we wanted the artwork to have some energy and personality too.

One of the pieces our team chose was Russell Hatton's Champagne Starlight. The navy and gold leaf worked beautifully with the luxurious feel of the room, while the circular forms subtly echoed the shape of the snooker balls. It felt connected to the space without being overly literal.

That is often what we're looking for when choosing art for an interior. Rather than finding something that perfectly coordinates with the furniture or wall colour, we like artwork that feels as though it belongs in the room while still bringing something of its own personality. It should add another layer rather than simply blending into what is already there.

Let different rooms have different personalities

The wider home was also a great reminder that you don't need to have one consistent style of artwork throughout your entire house. We had the opportunity to see more of the interior and some of the artwork the family had already collected, including pieces they had picked up while travelling. It gave us a much better understanding of their taste and showed us that they weren't afraid of colour or artwork with a story behind it.

The leisure spaces could therefore be much more playful. Gavin and Liam chose Louie Sidolii's Heartbreak Hotel for the top of the stairway, a vibrant neon sculpture inspired by pop culture. It brought a completely different energy to the space and felt right for an area of the home designed around having fun and spending time together.

They also chose Mark Houghton's Southam Art 1 & 2 for the cinema room. The matching geometric blue works created a calmer, more considered moment and worked beautifully as a pair, while they also sourced Keith Haynes' Abbey Road.

What we loved about seeing all of these pieces together was that they didn't need to look like they came from the same collection. A home can have a bold neon sculpture in one area, a luxurious gold-leaf artwork in another, geometric paintings somewhere else and a bronze sculpture outside. Different rooms can have completely different personalities, and we think that makes a home much more interesting.

The common thread doesn't necessarily need to be the style of the artwork. It can simply be the people who live there and the things they love.
Bella and Ollie chose Hamish Mackie's Hare Running bronze sculpture for the garden in The Big Deal Episode 2.

Finding the right artwork for the garden

For Ollie and me, the highlight of the challenge was choosing the sculpture for the garden. We had noticed the family's connection with hares and the wildlife around their property, so we wanted to find something that felt personal rather than simply choosing a sculpture because it looked impressive outside.

That led us to Hamish Mackie, whose wildlife sculptures we had admired, and eventually to his studio in the Cotswolds. Visiting his studio was one of my favourite parts of the entire experience. It was surrounded by countryside, with sculptures sitting amongst the grass and trees, including life-sized animals that made it feel as though his work had become part of the landscape around him.

We spent time talking to Hamish about his work and the process behind creating his bronze sculptures. He told us that Hare Running 2023 had taken around four months to make, which made us appreciate it in a completely different way. You could see the movement in the sculpture immediately; the hare looked as though it had just launched itself forward, almost mid-stride, with its body stretched out as if it could disappear into the landscape at any moment.

It felt particularly right for this garden because it wasn't just a beautiful object. It connected to the wildlife around the property and something we knew the family already loved. We started imagining it outside, almost leaping between the hedges.

That was the moment the advice we'd been given about finding something with resonance and connection to the homereally came to life for us. We weren't just choosing a bronze hare. We were thinking about the artist, the story behind the piece, the landscape it had come from and why we thought it would mean something to this particular family.

The homeowner loved it and bought it.

You don't have to fill every wall

We're also big believers that buying art shouldn't be about filling every blank wall in your home. A room doesn't need an artwork simply because there is an empty space above a piece of furniture.

Sometimes one large statement piece will have much more impact than several smaller works. Sometimes a collection of smaller artworks creates the feeling you're looking for. And sometimes leaving a wall empty gives another piece in the room more space to breathe.

The same applies to scale. We think it's worth considering the proportions of a room and the surrounding furniture, but there aren't necessarily rules that need to be followed. A large artwork can create drama in a smaller space, while a more intimate piece can completely change the feeling of a quiet corner.

The important thing is to think about how the artwork interacts with everything around it, rather than simply asking whether there is somewhere to hang it.

 Artwork selected for different rooms in The Big Deal Episode 2, including Louie Sidolii, Mark Houghton and Keith Haynes.

Art is what gives an interior personality

Interior design creates the framework of a room. Furniture, lighting, architecture, materials and colour all come together to create the atmosphere, but artwork is often what gives that space its personality.

It can tell you something about the person who lives there. It might be a painting collected on holiday, a photograph that brings back a particular memory, a sculpture connected to something they love or simply a colour that makes them happy every time they walk past it.

That's why we don't think choosing art for your home should be treated as an afterthought. It can be just as important to the feeling of a room as the furniture or lighting. For us, the best interiors aren't necessarily the ones where everything matches perfectly. They're the ones where you can see something of the person who lives there.

Explore artwork for your home

Thinking about bringing more personality into your own space? Here are a few pieces from our current collection that could work beautifully across different interiors.
Original minimalist artwork by Welsh Artist Elfyn Lewis. Acrylic paint on MDF board to create a calming yet striking appearance through a dramatic emerald green band radiating between subtle salmon pinks to reflect the early morning light of a rural green landscape in Wales.

Islawr-dref, 2026

Islawr-dref, 2026
£4,200.00
Framed artwork with the word 'RHYTHM' repeated in a stylized font on a black background.

RHYTHM Print

RHYTHM Print
£175.00
Dreamland Spray by Maximillian Boxer, contemporary Pop Art print featuring the iconic Dreamland Margate building in vibrant pink, yellow and blue spray-painted colours.

Dreamland Spray

Dreamland Spray
£125.00

What we took away from The Big Deal Episode 2

This challenge really reinforced the way we think about art and interiors through Bella + Ollie Art. We don't want to choose artwork simply because it looks good on an empty wall. We want to discover artists and artworks that people genuinely connect with, and help them find pieces that work within the spaces they live in.

Art can bring colour into a neutral room, create contrast against a carefully designed interior, add texture, introduce something unexpected or tell a story that means something to you. It doesn't have to follow a particular trend or style, and it certainly doesn't need to match your sofa.

Peter's advice probably sums it up best: buy what you like, not what you think you should like. Think about the room, but think about yourself too. Consider scale and colour, but don't be afraid to break the rules. And if you can find an artwork that has a genuine connection to your home or your life, even better.

Because ultimately, the artwork you remember isn't necessarily the piece that matched the room perfectly. It's the one you still love looking at years later.

Bella + Ollie

Need help finding art for your home?

Not sure what would work in your space? Send us a photo of your room and tell us what you're drawn to. We can help you find artwork that works with your interior while still feeling personal to you.

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What happened in The Big Deal Episode 2?

Episode 2 of The Big Deal with Steph McGovern challenged the remaining contestants to source artwork for a luxury home in Warwickshire. The artwork needed to complement different areas of the property, including a snooker and bar room, cinema, stairway and garden, while reflecting the homeowner's personality and taste.
Who was the interior designer in The Big Deal Episode 2?

The Episode 2 challenge was led by luxury interior designer Peter Staunton. He encouraged the contestants to think about artwork as part of the wider interior and to choose pieces based on personal taste and connection rather than simply trying to match a room.
How do you choose art for your home?

Start with artwork you genuinely love. Consider the room, including its size, colours, furniture and atmosphere, but also think about your own personality, memories and interests. The best artwork for your home should feel personal rather than simply being chosen to fill an empty wall. Learn more about our art curation services here.
Should artwork match your interior?

Artwork doesn't have to match your interior perfectly. We prefer pieces that complement a room by introducing colour, contrast, texture or personality. Sometimes the most successful artwork is the piece that brings something unexpected to an otherwise carefully designed space.
Does all the artwork in a home need to match?

No. Different rooms can have completely different artwork styles. A home can combine painting, photography, sculpture, neon and contemporary art without everything needing to look like part of the same collection. The common thread can simply be the taste and personality of the people who live there.
Who is Hamish Mackie?

Hamish Mackie is a British sculptor known for his detailed bronze wildlife sculptures. His work includes hares, deer, birds and other animals, often capturing them in natural movement. During Episode 2 of The Big Deal, we visited Hamish at his Cotswolds studio and chose his Hare Running 2023 sculpture for the homeowner's garden.
Can Bella + Ollie help me choose art for my home?

Yes. We love helping people discover artwork that works with their space while still feeling personal to them. Whether you're looking for a statement piece, artwork for a particular room or simply don't know where to start, get in touch with Bella + Ollie Art and we'd be happy to help you find something you genuinely connect with.

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