Looking to improve your decor and add some colour to your walls with a refresh, but not sure where to start? Our wall art buying guide will give you everything you need to know to confidently narrow down the type of art you are looking for, so you can easily find your new masterpiece to hang and enjoy in your home.
Our expert curators have put together this free guide to explain the different types of art and help you find the perfect artwork for your space, in the style you like and on budget.
When it comes to art, pieces are normally divided into two groups - collectible art and decorative art.
But ultimately, there is a fine line between both.
Open Edition Prints
Open edition prints are the most affordable out of the three options. It is a great place to start collecting art to discover new styles, artists and add colours to your walls. It can also be on many different media including paper and canvas.
Limited Edition Prints
Limited edition prints include prints that are produced in small runs or batches, and they are normally signed by the artist and numbered. They should come with an Authenticity Certificate to guarantee the edition, which is excellent for investment purposes if you wish to resell the limited edition artwork in the future. Limited edition print runs can be in batches of 10, 100, 250 or 500. The average print run tends to be around the 250 mark, but bear in mind, the smaller the print run the more expensive the artwork is.
Discover Limited Edition Prints
Original Art
The holy grail of art. An original artwork is a one-of-a-kind painting or piece which means there is only one available. Prices can vary depending on how established the artist is, but generally original art starts from as low as £100. The artwork can be produced using various mediums and surfaces but mainly oil paintings on canvas are the most famous, however you can still get acrylic paintings on canvas for the same price. It really depends on the skill and talent of the artist rather than the medium used.
Choosing Your Art
Style
There are many different styles of art to choose from. Here are some of the best known art styles:
Abstract:
Abstract is a form of artwork that works mainly with colour and shapes without representing an object. It is purely what you see and feel about the art piece. Abstract print is the most popular form of art for your home. Discover our exclusive collection of abstract wall art to get you started.
Fine Art:
Fine art can refer to any medium and subject but it is mainly associated with how valuable the artwork is.
Impressionism:
Claude Monet is the father of impressionist art. This style of work represent the subject vaguely using small brushstrokes and mainly focuses on the use of light in the artwork and how it captures the subject.
Figurative & Portraiture:
This style is self explanatory. Capturing the human form in a vivid way using lines, colour and shades.
Colour
Choosing colour to match your decor is important to create the flow in the design of the room.
Some of the popular colour palettes many interior designers use are as follows:
Black & White (AKA Monochrome)
Black and white colour scheme is timeless and can create a sophisticated decor.
Bold
Choosing bold colour for your room can create energy and brighten up your hoe decor. You can also play with patterns from cushions and rugs to the artwork itself to design a balance room.
Beige & Browns
Choosing earthy tones for your decor can create a calming room. In fact beige hues is currently trending from choosing clay vases to wood stained wall decorations and coffee tables.
Blue Palette
To create a calming decor inspired by the ocean, the sky and nature. blue tones can massively improve the mood of the decor and help you achieve that.
Size
Choosing the right size for your artwork can transform your space.
Displaying large artwork in small spaces can create a unique and grand decor feel. It Is best to measure the wall and then decide what the preferred end results you would like to see.
Learn more about our frame size guide or view which large canvas wall art would be suitable for your space.
Subject
There are many subjects artist can be inspired by. From the beautiful nature to every day objects around us.
Whatever the style used, whether it is abstract, impressionist, modern or even minimal, inspiration can come in many forms.
Take our best selling artist, and CEO, Omar Obaid for example. He creates original paintings using a vivid colour palette of blues inspired mainly by the ocean but you can also see the inspiration from the daily life in every brush stroke.
Price
Prices can vary depending on many factors. But at Abstract House, we created a platform for art lovers to be able to find quality art at affordable prices.
Framing Your Art
All of our artwork is available framed or unframed. So if you buy framed art prints from Abstract House, your artwork arrives strung on the back and ready to hang.
If you have an art print that you would like a frame for, then browse our collection of quality wooden frames in various sizes and colours to suit your art and space. Follow our simple guide to framing your artwork in a few easy steps.
Quality or Price?
Some say the more expensive it is the better quality it is. Yes, this is true as you would need to factor the costs involved to produce a framed print. But at Abstract House, you can have both.
We produce all of our prints and frames by hand in London, using only the highest quality materials while maintaining our sustainability affords by not using plastic in any of our products. How? well, that is not easy to do but we managed to do it simply because we care and we want everyone to have access to quality handmade art at affordable prices.
Hanging Your Art
And that's the fun part. Now that you have your framed artwork and know where to place it. There are many ways to hanging your art to ensure maximum impact.
Hanging Art In The Living Room.
The main place to hang art is above the sofa, this spot in the room is where all the eyes will be looking at when they enter the room so make sure you have a large piece of framed artwork or even a triptych to fill the space.
Art In The Kitchen
You might not think to hang art prints in your kitchen but the finishing touches do really matter to create a cool space while you are enjoying cooking.
Art For The Bedroom
The most obvious wall to hang art is above the bed. Choosing a calming photography scene or simply a blue abstract art print could create the mood of the bedroom. Learn more about how to decorate your bedroom with art and how it can create positive energy which leads to a more relaxing night sleep.
Art For The Entrance/ Hallway
Last but not least is the hallway. First impressions count and this really means that getting the decor of your hallway right is vital not only for your guests but it is also for you - when you come home from work you want to be greeted with positive energy while creating a space that you want to come to and enjoy.
Displaying Your Art
There are many ways to hanging and displaying your art. Here are the best ways to create the wow factor.
Hanging Art On Your Wall.
When it comes to hanging the artwork on your wall, you need to make sure you have the correct tools depending on the wall. When buying framed art from Abstract House, you will receive a nail to make it easy for you to hang the artwork. However, you might want to use a screw. You can also follow our article about how to hang art without nails.
On The Shelf
Another trending way to display your art is by placing it on a shelf. This way you don't need to use any tools and simply lay the framed print on the exciting shelf you have. This can be in a bookcase, a windowsill or even a sideboard. Don't forget to add some finishing touches like a lamp, books or even a plant to complete the decor.
Caring For Your Art
You can clean framed artwork with a damp cloth and gently wiping the surface. However, once the artwork is hung on the wall it doesn't really require any maintenance but general dusting once in a while would be recommended.
Where To Buy Wall Art
Where to buy wall art online? There are many places where you can discover art but in 2024 there are many factors you should consider before you buy wall art. Here are some of the important points our experts have recommended to consider:
1- Sustainability: This important factor has grown the past couple of years and it is extremely important to know how your products are made and how sustainable they are. We've all heard of the phrase 'fast fashion' and sadly this is replicated in the art industry with 'fast art', produced without intent nor crafted from sustainable materials such as FSC certified wood and fine art papers. This is important not only to protect our forests, but to ensure we reduce landfill waste and also create a better environment for future generations to enjoy.
2- Quality: The word quality has been overused by a lot of print shops online but they don't actually produce quality like they claim to. When talking about quality you should really question the materials used, whether it was created by an independent artist or in a factory and finally where it was made. All these determine the quality of the art which you will be investing in, and whether it will last.
3- Originality: Copy-cats are everywhere, when someone sees a product gaining popularity, some will unfortunately try to reap the rewards and unfortunately this leads to copying other artists' work to benefit without the actual artist gaining anything from it. We have experienced this with some of our popular artworks by our own artist Omar Obaid, so how you would tell if an artwork is original? Well, read the description of the product, read the About Page of the website and perhaps send an email or even better give them a call and check the website is real and that you can contact them if needed. If they don't have a phone number and you won't be able to reach the website then you should worry about buying from them. Make sure they are not hiding behind a computer screen or contact form, and ensure they have a number to call!
We hope this guide helped you understand the different types of art and styles. So have a browse and look at some art for sale that speaks to you and fall in love with your new favourite masterpiece.
