Get ideas on how to put together a budget-friendly gallery wall.
There’s just something about having art on your walls that makes your home feel uniquely you. That’s how I feel about it anyway. I never want someone to walk into my home and think “oh this looks like everyone else’s home.” Paint colors and wall treatments follow trends (shiplap anyone?), but wall art is an easy way to personalize your space and change it as you and your tastes change. Plus it’s a low-cost way to decorate if you’re on a limited budget or you’re renting and have limited options for making any real changes.
Get free art prints online
I’m not going to bury the lead here. The Library of Congress has copyright free artwork which you can download, print, and hang on your walls. For free! This is an especially great option for history buffs and art lovers since some of the images available include maps, paintings, political posters, and more. As an avid rule-follower and fan of protecting artists, you don’t have to worry about illegally obtaining or using these images, plus they’re high quality. You can look for other websites with similar policies, but be sure to verify their terms of use and any copyright information.
Make your own artwork
Hear me out, making art doesn’t have to be intimidating and you don’t have to be a proper artist to make it. If the thought of drawing or painting freehand terrifies you, stencils, stamps, and geometric shapes should become your best friends. And if you didn’t know this already, I’m going to let you in on a secret. Most artists don’t just sit down in front of a canvas and start painting. They make sketches where they can make mistakes and plan what they’re going to make first. Play around and have some fun with it. If that’s still too much, a quick search on YouTube should give you some tutorials on easy ways to make an abstract painting or drawing.
Print out the photos collecting digital dust on your camera roll
I love the idea of a gallery wall with both artwork you’ve collected and personal photos. At the same time, if you’re going for a look that’s more curated than your great-grandmother’s hallway, be intentional about the photos you use. Look for interesting compositions or photos from
trips and vacations. Everyone becomes a photographer when they travel so why not make use of some of those pictures. Pro tip: Make sure your photos are printed at the best size for quality. If you’re getting them printed from a professional printer and want to print them at a size larger than a standard letter size, talk to them before placing an order. The last thing you want is a blurry photo because the original image file was too small.
Look for artwork and frames at thrift stores, yard sales, and estate sales
It can take a lot of digging, but you never know what hidden gems you’ll find in the resale world. You could find a vintage poster of your favorite classic movie or original artwork from an amateur artist. I love this option because it’s full of surprises. It’s also my favorite way to find picture and painting frames. New frames can be pretty expensive, especially large ones or those with matting. If you already have artwork but no frames, take measurements of your art, save them in your phone, and go look for frames that fit your needs. It doesn’t matter what’s in the frames, because you can just take out the existing art and you’re still likely getting a great deal.
Purchase art print downloads from artists
Maybe you love artwork and want to support an artist, but it’s not in your budget to purchase that large art print you love. This is where digital downloads can be a win/win solution. There are plenty of artists, like me, who sell some of their artwork as art prints, on their own websites or sites like Etsy, which you can download online for a fraction of the cost. You can purchase wall art from them directly, print it right from home, or get it printed from your local printshop. Even if you get it printed professionally, the total cost will likely be less than what you would pay to order a physical art print. Plus, if you’re looking for a coordinating set of art prints, there are many artists who sell bundles of themed artwork like my retro cocktail poster collection.
A word of warning: Be on the lookout for AI art or artists selling this kind of art with vague or minimal information in their profiles. Because it’s easy to do, there are some bad eggs out there who steal or resell digital artwork.
Artist giveaways and promotions
And finally, you can even get free art directly from artists promoting their work. Sign up for my newsletter and get a free digital download of this lemony gouache watercolor painting. I don’t give away all my artwork for free, but myself and many other artists believe that art should be accessible, so be on the lookout for promotions and newsletter sign-ups from your favorite artists online and on social media.
Happy decorating!
