Art is such an interesting thing to invest in. You may never know if your piece will offer you a return on your financial investment – but it is something that you will enjoy in your home on a daily basis. Some of my favorite pieces of art are items I found at antique shops or even hidden away in our old house. Regardless of cost – the payoff can be great when you find a piece you truly love.
Getting Started with Budget Friendly Art
The most important thing to remember when you are starting to collect artwork is that ‘art’ can really mean anything. I’ve decorated my house with a bunch of prints and maps that I found in the attic of our house - so anything is really up for grabs. I like to collect nautical and seascapes in quirky frames when I’m out antiquing (I like to get ones that are already framed to avoid the hassle and expense of getting frames for them).
There are so many ways to start collecting – but it’s also really important to take your time. Picking up pieces over time – as you go to a gallery show, boutique, or see something online that you love – will give you the best result. We moved into our current home about a year ago, and we’ve been taking our time to hang art. I have always found that if you try to rush collecting and decorating all in one go it can look very forced. Instead, I’ve been slowly picking up pieces and looking through our collection to figure out what works best in different spaces and what complements how we spend time in each different ‘zone’ in the house.
These days, I’ve also given particular thought as to what art is visible during zoom meetings. I love how your background can tell a little something about you through your art and decor choices. Lately, I’ve found that a beautiful graphic print or boldly colored landscapes make the biggest impact and can really brighten your day of back to back zoom calls.