The style of your decor has a profound effect on your space. Art prints on the walls, whether for your home or business, can make a big difference to the environment. If you’re looking for an affordable, simple, and eclectic interior decorating solution, art prints and posters are among your best choices. Here are some reasons to invest in art prints and some guidelines on how to get the most out of them.
Why Art Prints?
One of the best traits of art prints is that they’re extremely affordable. Original art is nice to own but it’s quite expensive. You can easily spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on original oil paintings, watercolors or drawings. Even original photos are often costly. If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to decorate your space, framed prints or posters are your solution. Of course, you can pay a lot for first edition prints by established artists. If you’re seeking a bargain, though, you can always find digital reproductions and other low-cost prints.
Art prints are also extremely versatile. You can, of course, hang framed prints or posters on the wall like any type of art. They can also, however, be used in a variety of other ways as well. One advantage that art prints have over original paintings is that they can be printed out in any size.
You can display smaller art prints on top of furniture such as dressers, desks, and vanities. You can also place them on shelves or bookcases. If you use your imagination, you can think of many creative ways to display art prints.
A Simple Way to Collect Art
Collecting art is not only a costly hobby but one that’s time-consuming. Because minimalist art prints and posters are so economical and come in so many varieties, you can easily build up a collection of them. As new styles emerge and your preferences change, you can acquire new types of prints and posters.
It’s a type of art you can collect without spending a fortune or spending lots of time going to galleries or auctions. You can find art you like online and simply order (or, in the case of printables, simply download) it.
Art Prints Make Great Gifts
Art prints also make thoughtful gifts. However, it can be challenging to find something that’s just right for someone. If you need to buy gifts for lots of people, it gets even more difficult. Art prints are a reasonable and diverse type of art that can be customized to each recipient.
Because you can find prints and posters in such a variety of styles, you can find something to please just about anyone. You can choose prints that match someone’s interests or personality. You might select a relevant or humorous typography print to match someone’s profession or hobby.
Find the Right Subject and Style
When you choose art, you have to consider how well it blends with the surroundings. Even a beautiful piece doesn’t necessarily look great in every environment. No matter what type of interior decorating you prefer, you can find art prints that complement the style.
Consider the type of mood you want to create. In a medical office, for example, you probably want a theme that’s relaxing and reassuring. Landscapes and seascapes are always a good choice. For your office or study, try to find a theme that stimulates creativity. This could be an abstract piece, a cityscape, or perhaps something more experimental.
Because there are so many diverse types of art prints and posters, you don’t have to limit yourself to just one style. Choosing different themes for different parts of the house can give your home a more interesting and multifaceted feeling. You might select different themes for the living room, kitchen, bedrooms, study, and other areas.
For an office or retail business, you can hang different style prints for the reception or dining area, employee area, kitchen, or whatever other spaces you want to decorate. You can choose a theme that gives a room the type of atmosphere you want, whether that’s relaxing, inspiring, or one that stimulates your creativity.
Minimalist and Scandinavian Prints
When you consider artwork and decor, it’s always nice to consider the latest trends. It turns out that minimalist and Scandinavian art prints are one of the most popular art and design trends. This style is part of the larger trend of simplicity and de-cluttering. If you want to give your home or business a modern and trendy look, minimalistic art prints are the way to go.
One nice quality about minimalist art is that the meaning is largely decided by the viewer. A portrait, landscape, or street scene has a very specific subject which some people will like and others might now. Scandinavian art prints, by contrast, are often more abstract and open to interpretation. Even when minimalistic art portrays something you can identify such as an animal, landscape, or person, the meaning is generally open-ended. This actually gives the viewer more freedom to come up with his or her own meaning.
Some artwork is striking and becomes a focal point in a room. This can be desirable but it also has its drawbacks. If a painting is the first thing everyone notices, it may detract from other elements in the room. It can also be a bit jarring, the visual equivalent of music played at a high volume. Minimalist art, on the other hand, blends in rather than dominates the room. It lets you appreciate all the elements and decor rather than grabbing all the attention for itself.
Antique and Classical Prints
At the other end of the spectrum from contemporary Scandinavian and minimalist prints are antique and classical style prints. Some people like to hang old-fashioned portraits to match their Victorian homes.
Other possibilities include prints made from 19th-century landscapes, fox hunt scenes, or seascapes. Old style prints can add gravitas to businesses such as law firms and financial consulting companies. Maxfield Parrish prints, which have a neo-classical style, are perfect for a home or business that have an art deco style.
Print Your Own Art
Printable artwork is a fast-growing trend in the digital age. This is art you can print out yourself once you purchase the file. This is extremely convenient as you don’t have to leave the house or wait for delivery. It’s as easy as downloading a song or movie. If you don’t have a high-quality printer, you can always get it printed at a local shop.
Printable art is likely to get more common as people start to appreciate how fast and simple it is to choose art they like and download it within minutes. You can even find free printable art from sources such as the New York Public Library and the Library of Congress.
Where to Find Art Prints
There are numerous places to find art prints both online and offline. Here are a few suggestions.
• Online shops and auctions such as Amazon, eBay, and Etsy
• Thrift shops. You can often find very cheap prints in such places
• Flea markets and larger farmer’s markets
• Street festivals and arts & crafts festivals.
• Yard and garage sales
• Art galleries. You’ll have to pay a little more at a gallery but you may discover some new and exciting artists in your region
• Museum shops. These are good if you want a print of a famous painting Art prints provide you with a flexible and economical way to decorate your home or business. They also make great gifts for friends, family members, and customers. Take the time to learn more about the variety of prints that are available and start your own collection.