The most important decision to make when investing in art for your home

There’s nothing quite like the blank canvas of a new home. And, for some of us, there’s nothing quite so intimidating.

Filling a home with the “right” kind of art can feel like a burden for those outside the world of art galleries, events and highfalutin criticism. Fortunately, there are people working to break down those barriers.

“I hate empty walls,” says Freddy Grant, who works for Australia’s largest online art gallery, Bluethumb. Photographing the avid collector in his West Melbourne home, that much is obvious. He admits to living by the platitude “Minimalism is overrated”, and the result is a rich and vibrant home – far from the often sparse and clinical feeling of a gallery.

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Knowing where to start with a collection can be difficult in itself. For Grant, knowing where to stop has proved more difficult. “One day [the walls] will be completely covered like a haunted house, only not scary – unless you’re or a bigot or scared of nudity,” he says of his growing collection.

Together with his husband, Grant has amassed work by everyone from the legendary David Gulpilil, to Archibald Prize finalists and emerging local artists. “It’s human instinct to collect and arrange things,” says Grant.

But when it comes to collecting art, invisible barricades can go up – and simply plastering the walls with family photos can be the less stressful option.

But Grant insists the art world is becoming more accessible. “Now every artist has an outlet,” he says, “and every potential collector can easily buy an artwork they love at a price they can afford”.

When we speak about art, money is often the elephant in the room.

Launching in Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building in September is the Affordable Art Fair, a global success story that has been visited by 2.5 million people in 10 cities. Held for the first time in London’s Battersea Park in 1999, the fair has since taken its mission of making contemporary art more accessible to fairs in New York, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and Milan, among others.

Australian fair director Stephanie Kelly says the fair aims to be both “transparent and fun” and welcomes “all art lovers … from first-time buyers looking to start their art-collecting journey to more experienced collectors looking to test their eye and snap up the next rising star”.

The event is certainly true to its democratic mission, with pieces starting at $100. For those willing and able to fork out more, pieces go up to $12,000.

Of course, finding options within your price range doesn’t make choosing an artwork any easier. Melbourne lawyer Samuel Burt is in his early 30s and recently bought his first home with his partner. They’ve filled the renovated workers’ cottage with pieces collected over the years, including some bought while Burt lived in share houses.

His advice for fellow first-home buyers feeling intimidated by the art world? “If it’s too intimidating it’s generally a sign that it might not be a scene you want to be invested in.

“Ultimately, you’ll end up liking pieces of art for different reasons and at different times in your life.”

He also says you don’t need to commit to art in order to enjoy it – art rental initiatives such as Australian government-backed Artbank allow you to change up your walls every six months.

Bluethumb’s Grant says while you need to follow your own instincts, choosing a piece doesn’t need to be a solitary experience. He suggests seeking advice from an interior designer or curator.

“The most important thing is buying what you love … or it will end up cluttering your cupboards.”

Melbourne artist Anna Prifti, whose work will be up for sale at next month’s fair, agrees aspiring buyers shouldn’t be afraid to ask advice when deciding whether to invest in a piece – whether for $100 or $10,000.

“Talk to the gallery director or curator,” says Prifti. She advises forgetting about trends in favour of choosing a piece you’ll love for life.

Affordable Art Fair, 5-8 September at the Royal Exhibition Building.