How to Buy Art: Where to Buy Art For Your Home & What Size Art

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Art is a great way to add personality and style into your home, but buying art for the first time can be difficult. Buying art for the first time can be challenging, so we will tackle where to buy art for your home and what size you should look for. Here we’ll discuss some tips that will help you get started with shopping for art pieces in stores or online!

Where to Buy Art For Your Home

You can find art for your home in a variety of places. Some people like to buy from artist friends or local shops while others might want the latest trendy pieces on Instagram.

But where you purchase it doesn’t really matter as long as they have what you need – whether its an original work by someone famous or something affordable, second hand. I want your art to be personal.

The Number One rule to buying art for your home is that it should be something you love.

While you may feel in a crunch to find that piece to go above the sofa or in a powder room, don’t settle for generic art unless you have to!

Here is the short list of places to buy art for your home and then we will discuss the best ways to shop these art dealers.

  • Online Art Stores (Art.com, Minted, Fine Art America)
  • Online Marketplaces (Etsy, Ebay)
  • Retail Stores (Home Goods, Target)
  • Second Hand (Goodwill, Garage Sales, Thrift Stores)

Before I jump into the specifics of each of these places to buy art (and I’ll list more + favorite sources), let’s talk about the types of art so that you will know what I am referencing.

Types of Art

One of the best ways to make your home more welcoming is through art. There are many different types and styles available, from landscapes or abstract paintings in various sizes up to large-scale murals that can be placed anywhere.

With so much variety you’re bound find something perfect for any room – even if it’s one accent piece among many other decorations on display throughout the house. And since everyone’s taste is different, we want to find pieces that connect with you!

Really quickly, I want to list some popular styles of art to help you identify what style of art you like.

Popular Styles of Art

  • Abstract
  • Modern
  • Sculpture
  • Impressionist
  • Pop Art
  • Cubism
  • Surrealism
  • Landscape
  • Geometric

The above terms are some things you may use to describe the art you like. There are many more, but these are commonly found.

Next, let’s talk about the types of art for your walls from original fine art paintings to prints and canvases.

Original Art

Original Art is any work considered to be an authentic work of an artist, rather than a reproduction or printed copy. It can be in many forms- painted oil or watercolor, canvas, sculpture or 3D, digital art original to that artist.

If you want to start collecting art that you love, and I don’t necessarily mean art that is expensive or will hold high dollar value over years, but meaningful art you should begin with original art.

Do’s and Dont’s of buying Original Art

  • Do find something you love
  • Doesn’t have to be expensive
  • Do find styles you prefer
  • Doesn’t have to be a famous artist
  • Do find a local art gallery or museum to explore themes and styles
  • Don’t buy a famous reproduction from the gift shop (I’m looking at you Waterlilies)
  • Do try thrift stores, Etsy and googling local Artist’s
  • Don’t rush or compromise, take you time to find something you love

Prints

Next, we have prints, which is a printed reproduction of an original work of art. This can come in the form of Giclee (type of printing), on a canvas or on specialty paper.

Above, I made mention to find original art, but I know how long it can take to find something that is the right size, style, and price. So I will give you a pass to buy prints.

However, skip the famous artists in a museum and opt for something less widely produced. Below we will go into some of my favorite places to buy artwork prints that aren’t overdone.

Canvases

Canvases can be original or prints or a combination of printed artwork with original markings added. You will find canvases in most retail stores.

The most common type of printing on a canvas is called a giclee: a technology for fine art or photograph reproduction using a high-quality inkjet printer to make individual copies– French term meaning “to spray”. Pronounced: Gee- clay.

Canvases can also be purchased framed or unframed. A floating frame is where the canvas sits inside of the fame and it is flush with the front, usually leaving a gap between the frame and the canvas. A full frame will be mounted on top of the canvas and slightly overlap the canvas.

Digital Download Art

Lastly, we have digital art which can be downloaded by the buyer and printed at their own printer to have framed and displayed. Most often digital art is a reproduction or print of the artists original work.

This allows many people to buy the piece of art in an affordable manner. Often times you can select the size you want to download the print in. You will purchase the download and no physical item will be sent.

Then you can send the digital file to a local printer, to a Walgreens, or a copy shop.

Where to buy art for your home

This post may contain affiliate links- meaning when you purchase through the link and I receive a small commission. It feeds my Starbucks addiction & for that I thank you! You can see my full disclosure policy here.

WHERE TO BUY AFFORDABLE PRINTS ONLINE

Where to Buy Original Art Online

Where to Buy Art in Stores

  • Home Goods
  • Target
  • Thrift Stores
  • Kirklands

Where to Buy Second Hand Art for Your Home

  • 1st Dibs
  • Chairish
  • Thrift Stores
  • Instagram vintage shops
  • Local consignment stores
  • Ebay
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Favorite Artists for Prints

Here are just a few of my favorite artists to purchase artwork from. Take a look around and see if any to the styles resonate with you.

  • Rifle Paper Co
  • William Morris
  • Gray Malin
  • Sabina Fenn
  • Paul Fuentes
  • Megan Galante
  • Paige Gemmel
  • Megan Carn
What Size Art Should You Buy For Your Living Room?

What Size Art Should You Buy For Your Living Room?

Living room wall art should be large. Bigger is almost always better here. At a minimum, artwork should be 2/3 the width of the sofa. If you are floating the sofa in the room (you should if you can), and you have a wall that is much larger than the sofa, aim for 2/3 the width of the entire wall.

If you cannot find art large enough, you can pair two companion pieces of the same size beside one another.

Lastly, make sure the height of the artwork is proportional to the width. You don’t want super wide, but not tall enough art.

What Height To Hang Art In Living Room?

Generally speaking, art should be hung so that the middle of the piece is at eye level (60 inches). If the piece of art is 2/3 the width of the sofa and also very tall vertically, you can drop the artwork down so that it recedes behind the sofa.

How to Hang Artwork in a Bedroom or Above the Bed

What Size Art Should You Buy For Your Bedroom?

Art above your bed will look best if it fills out the area. Choose artwork that is at least 2/3 the width of the headboard. Below are options for hanging art in pair, trio and standalone above your bed.

Guide to Choosing Artwork over Your Bed

What Height To Hang Art In Bedroom?

Much like when hanging art above a sofa, artwork above the bed should be approximately 4
to 6″ above the headboard.

How to Hang Art in a Bathroom

What Size Art Should You Buy For Your Powder Room?

Powder rooms are a great place for small art. The ideal size for artwork over the toilet is between 12″ and 16″.

Square pieces look great here, as well as a pair of square framed prints stacked on top of one another.

Ways-to-Hang-art-in-the-Powder-Room

What Height To Hang Art In a Bathroom or Powder Room?

Hang art above the toilet at eye level when standing (60″). If you are hanging one piece of art, the middle of the artwork should be at 60″ or slightly lower.

If you are hanging a grouping of two, the space in between the pieces should be at 60″ from the ground. Hang the two pieces 2″ – 4″ apart.

BUY ART ONLINE

Best Places to Buy Art Online & In Store 2