Buying fine art photography can feel like a daunting process, even if you’ve bought fine art before. In this article, I’ll show you five easy steps to select and buy the perfect fine art photography for your home or office decor.
Define your goal
First, define what you want your wall art to achieve. Consider the message you want to express and who will view the piece:
- Homeowners and apartment dwellers often buy fine art prints because the image resonates with their personal philosophy.
- Business owners buy fine art photography for the office to inspire employee creativity.
- Property managers choose fine art prints featuring familiar locations to make tenants feel welcome.
- Medical facilities—such as doctors’ offices, dentists, or hospitals—select calming art prints to soothe patients undergoing stressful experiences.
Define the location
Second, determine exactly where you will hang the print to achieve your goal.
A home provides a variety of spaces for wall art, including:
- Kitchens
- Living rooms
- Hallways
- Home offices
- Bedrooms
A place of business also offers excellent locations for art, such as:
- Employee workspaces
- Conference rooms
- Lobbies
- Hallways
- Waiting rooms
Pro Tip: Avoid spaces with direct sunlight or extreme changes in temperature and humidity. These elements accelerate the degradation of your printed art, even when you use archival materials and protective coatings.
Determine decor style
Third, analyze the decor style of the room. Note the materials, finishes, and color palette of the space. Is your style contemporary, modern, French country, or something else? Keep this style in mind when browsing fine art prints. If possible, bring along color samples and material swatches when you shop.
Remember that several aspects of fine art photography heavily influence style:
- The artistic style: Photographers express subjects in various ways, including minimalism, abstraction, or realism.
- The medium: Printing on metal produces a completely different aesthetic than printing on canvas.
- The framing: Framed wall art strongly impacts style. Frames offer a wide variety of materials, mats, and finishes to complement your room.
Use archival materials and coatings
Fourth, ensure your printer uses archival-quality materials and coatings for the printing, matting, and framing processes. Manufacturers create archival-quality materials without the unstable components that accelerate the decay of art prints. Depending on the specific rating, these materials can preserve your art for 75 to over 100 years.
Additionally, a UV coating protects fine art prints by blocking the sun’s damaging ultraviolet radiation. While no art print lasts forever in a standard home or office environment, archival materials and coatings ensure your print stays vibrant for as long as possible.
Decide on placement
Fifth, plan exactly where to hang the print on the wall. Poor placement can make a room look small or imbalanced, and it can even expose the art to physical damage.
Start by defining the general area on the wall using these guidelines:
- Hang wall art 6 to 8 inches above the top of your furniture.
- Position the top of the fine art print 1 to 2 feet below the ceiling.
- Measure the swing radius of nearby doors so a doorknob doesn’t accidentally puncture your art.
Once you find the general area, refine the placement by mocking up the art on your wall. A mockup prevents you from damaging the art or drilling unnecessary holes in your wall. You can mock up the placement using a few different methods:
- Place a small square of painter’s tape on the wall to mark each of the four corners of your print.
- Cut poster board, cardboard, or gift wrap to the exact size of your fine art print and secure it to the wall with painter’s tape.
- Use a dedicated art visualization app, like Fundy or ProSelect, to see the art on your digital walls.
Now that you have the right knowledge to buy fine art photography for your home or office, it’s time to go shopping! Please explore my online fine art photography gallery. If you have any questions, you can easily submit a fine art photography inquiry—I would be happy to help you find the perfect piece.