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Things you need to remember before you buy Wall Art.

You most likely know what I am about to tell you. However, sometimes these considerations are in the back of your mind and don’t come up until is too late.

Choose the art you like.

You probably have heard before that you need to make sure the art piece matches your decor. In my experience people already have the space in mind when contemplating buying wall art. “That will look great in my lounge-room” I hear often.

Less common is when someone really likes a piece of art, impulsively buys it and then doesn’t know where to hang it.

When you think you are ready to buy some wall art, think about the colours you like and realise that other people living in the house might have different tastes. Also, whether you should consider it.

Original Painting or Art Print

It is up to you. An original painting is one of, therefore more expensive than an art print. If you go online, you can buy both originals and prints. Art prints normally come in various sizes and you can choose the dimensions that will suit your space best.

Buy the artwork first and accessories after.

If you buy them together, you will most likely be trying to find a good match instead of focussing on buying something you really like.

Once you buy the artwork, if needed, frame it or stretch it, hang it, then look for accessories that will complement it and the rest of the room. It’s easier to buy and then return soft furnishing than an art print.

It’s also a good idea to choose a colour palette. The colours can either match or complement each other.

Be aware of patterns and textures. For example, think of an art print of a seascape painting. It features an ocean sunset and the most outstanding colours are red, carmine and orange. Then there are these cushions that have an image of a rose with the exact colours of the art print. The colours do match, but not the theme. Therefore, it would make more sense to get some cushions on neutral hues than something that has identical colours but are totally unconnected to each other.

Screen colours vs print colours.

When buying art prints online the colours in the computer screen will be different to the colours you will get on the final reproduction.

When buying art prints online, the colours of the print will vary from the ones you have seen on the computer screen.

The colours on the computer are light based (RGB) and the colours on paper (CMYK)are pigment based. They will never look the same, although they should look close enough.

If you buy the art print unframed or unstretched, I recommend you take it to professional framers. They know what they are doing. There is not much room for error in framing and if you try to have a go and you fail, it can cost you.

Reproduction on paper or canvas

Detailed representations like watercolours, inks and photography are more suitable to be printed on paper. The smoothness of the paper will allow every small detail to be appreciated. Paintings look like the real thing when printed on canvas. Big brush strokes, abstract paintings, seascapes and portraits will look like the real thing when printed on canvas. Photographs and digital art will adopt a more pictorial aspect when printed on canvas.

These days the quality of the prints is mostly archival, meaning they are long lasting and less likely to fade. However, paper may be more sensitive to light than a varnished or sealed canvas.

Paper prints need to be framed behind glass to avoid scratches, fading and spills. Canvases will look their best stretched on stretcher bars or on a floating frame without glass.

Whilst printing on paper is cheaper, framing it can increase the cost noticeably.

Printing on canvas is more expensive but stretching it is not as costly.

Light or dark

It is important to take into consideration the space’s natural light level. In a bright room almost anything could be hung, bright, dark, colours, soft tints. In a room where the main colours are white and neutral hues, art prints or paintings with too much white in the background can make the space look a little bit too sterilized.

In places where there is not too much natural light or in rooms with dark walls, dark or strong colours should be avoided. What doesn’t work in a white room, will look great here, art with white or light backgrounds, monochromes.

Match your environment

If you live on the coast you are more likely to have a coastal style than an industrial one. A seascape or a painting featuring the beach or waves would be the best match. People like to hang images of the local scenery with pride.

Photo: Original Contemporary Art Prints

Style- Art suggestions

  • Coastal – Seascape, ocean art
  • Rustic – Landscape, woodworks, realistic paintings
  • Industrial – abstract art, Minimal art, Monochromatic art
  • Scandi – Abstract art, conceptual
  • Contemporary – abstract, any modern art, colour

After all these considerations you will be less likely to have any regrets and you will feel satisfied that you made the right choice when buying wall art. Have Fun.