Modern art is often 'abstract', in that it is not a realistic depiction of a visible object. This differs from a still life study of fruit or flowers, for instance, or a landscape with clouds, mountains, animals, and people.
Abstract artists may be able to draw extremely well but may choose to paint an impression or emotion rather than actual things.
For example, an artist could use hot reds and yellows to bring to life the feeling of lying on a beach with your eyes closed, seeing the blaze of light through your eyelids and feeling your blood coming to the boiling point. Of course, you might not discern that. You might think of a desert or of the energy of the sun which makes life on earth possible.
Local artists create art in all styles, colors, shapes, and sizes. This makes decorating easy. Your hall can hold a dramatic sculpture or a silk screen that evokes city streets or coastal cliffs. The wall behind the couch or over the fireplace is a perfect spot for a large oil painting that makes a defining statement. Wall hangings can bring texture as well as color. No room is complete without something that attracts the eye; you can use different examples of creative genius.
Sometimes people find a treasure that really speaks to them, and they design a whole room around it. This can be done by picking up a color from a painting hung over the fireplace, or by choosing furniture that will display a sculpture to best advantage. The proper placement of an object and the lighting that shows it off are key.
Abstract is often taken to mean indecipherable, but it really means 'not like a photograph'. The artist may be trying to suggest something and do it so skillfully that his vision becomes yours. Sometimes it's more that the artist is aiming for an impact, and the viewer is left to find an interpretation. The vision can be vast - like an expression of creation or of an emotion common to all - or minute, like a study of one detail of a familiar object that few have ever focused on in this particular way. This kind of art can fit any period and any decor, although many feel it is only for modern settings.
Pictures are almost indispensable in furnishing a home, but you have a wide choice of pictorial art. A print of a famous painting can be effective, as can the work of a local artist you especially enjoy. Pen and ink drawings can be striking, while an oil painting usually makes a real statement. Watercolors, pastels, and photographs are other ways to decorate the walls.
You can also beautify a house or a garden with sculpture. Perhaps a dramatic piece of driftwood fits a beach house, while a swirl of copper might spark an urban patio. Los Angeles, CA, has all kids of talent, and you can find the perfect thing to add beauty to your home while expressing your own taste and preference. It's fun to learn about the local art scene, and you might stumble on the next genius.
There are probably things out there you never thought of, like fabric art or mosaics for your bathroom. The internet is a great place to find out what is happening on the art scene and to discover things that stir your soul.