For many, figuring out what to hang on their walls can be a perplexing situation. Are you sometimes unclear on what is the “right” kind of art to hang at home? Do you have trouble figuring out what works well – and what doesn’t – in a particular space? Or, have you ever moved into a new place and felt overwhelmed at all the walls you think you need to fill up? Whatever the reason, the art dilemma is very real for so many people, including my own design clients. So I’m taking the dilemma to a number of experts in this series “The Art Dilemma, Solved.” I’ve got questions and, today, Karen Hernandez, manager of Art Reproductions at The Museum of Modern Art in New York, has answers.

“The best way to build an art collection is by doing it slowly…this more personal approach will provide you with a collection that is tied to your life’s memories and experiences, making it truly unique and completely invaluable.” – Karen Hernandez

Q. What are the biggest challenges you think people have when it comes to deciding on artwork for their homes?
A. Choosing and hanging art in one’s home can be intimidating. It typically feels like a major commitment and one that involves adding an inconvenience to our already hectic lives. I’m guilty myself of never “getting around” to hanging my favorite pieces. I think people need to view choosing and hanging art as something that is enjoyable and that happens more organically. If you want to start a gallery wall, don’t feel like you have to have every piece at once. Find a place in your home— the wall heading up the stairs or the fireplace mantel— that you can add to as you collect those treasures throughout the years.

Q. What kinds of pieces do you think make the easiest works of art to bring into a home?
A. As the manager of Art Reproductions at The Museum of Modern Art in New York, I have found our abstract prints to be the most popular with our customers. Abstract paintings make an excellent compliment to home decor without competing with personal mementos and family photos.

Q. What are some of the best tips you can share?
A. On your travels, pick up treasures to incorporate into your home— on walls or shelves— that are meaningful, beautiful, and bring you back to a very personal and enjoyable memory. Print and frame pictures as soon as you return from your trips while it’s still fresh on your mind before the craziness of everyday life gets in the way.

Q. Must good art be expensive?
A. Not at all. There are so many high quality prints, both originals and reproductions, available on the market at reasonable prices from sites such as Etsy and Minted, to Museum online shops. Great and affordable art is always only a click away. I do, however, think the best wall art comes from your personal mementos; family photos, children’s art projects, and treasures picked up on your travels give a home character and are worth more than anything.

You can find affordable, good quality, frames at IKEA, or there are reasonably priced, full-service framers such as Framebridge, Simply Framed, and Livestock that make the entire framing process a breeze.

Q. Must a home have art to be complete?
A. Well, that’s a very personal decision. I think art makes a home feel loved and lived in, but art can mean different things to different people. Go with your heart and bring color to your home in any way that feels true to you.

Q. How would one go about starting an art collection?
A. You can frequent local art shows— most towns have these— to pick up original works by local artists. You can also find dozens of contemporary prints online by original artists and through sites that sell reproductions, but I think the best way to build an art collection is by doing it slowly and as you happen to come across pieces that move you. Over time, this more personal approach will provide you with a collection that is tied to your life’s memories and experiences, making it truly unique and completely invaluable.

Thanks, Karen, for all of this great advice! To see more of what the MoMA has to offer, visit here. To hear more from experts in “The Art Dilemma, Solved” series, check back here all week.