The difference between a house with barren or sparsely decorated walls and a home enlivened with artwork can be night and day. Art provides an excellent chance to add a personal touch to your home, and every room is an opportunity to tell a unique story through the art that you decide to hang on your walls. A lot of people are intimidated by the process of picking artwork, choosing frames, or getting custom frames built for specific pieces. The truth is that it's actually fairly easy to get into art, and with only a few hours worth of effort, you can add a touch of class and elegance to your home in no time! Initial impressions are everything, so why not make the effort to have your home give off a great impression?

Buying Art Online

There has never been a better time to be interested in art than now. The internet provides access to a near limitless supply of choices when it comes to your budget, style, colors, etc. Choosing to buy art online also has the advantage of allowing you to compare lots of different pieces side by side without ever having to leave the comfort of your home. It's important to buy from a reputable art dealer, and it's worth paying a little extra to make sure that any artwork purchased online is shipped in a properly protected container to prevent damage in transit.

Buying Quality Prints

A well-made print can be almost indistinguishable from the original when viewed from a moderate to close distance. The importance of buying quality prints cannot be understated, cheap prints just can't match the vibrancy and overall appearance of a print made by a seller who knows what they are doing. One of the most important things when buying a print is the material that it's printed on. If the original was a painting, it may be worth buying a canvas print to reproduce some of the original appearances of the art. If you choose to go with a print on paper, make sure that the paper used is relatively thick and acid-free to prevent discoloration with age.

Buying Frames and Custom Frames Online

There is a huge difference between hanging a piece of art directly on the wall and hanging a well-framed piece of art. A well-framed artwork draws attention to specific elements of the piece while maintaining balance in color and design throughout. A lot of online art merchants will offer framing services, but make sure that they aren't trying to upsell basic poster frames. A custom made frame should fit the piece snugly, though for some smaller artworks it's preferable to leave a buffer between the frame and the art with a colored backing to help the piece stand out. The style of frames used on a given wall or room should be consistent, and make sure to choose frame colors that compliment the wall you intend to hang the art on. Black and dark brown are generally the safest choices, but at the end of the day it comes down to personal preference.