We researched today’s top retailers for prints, canvases, customizations, and one-of-a-kind pieces. Among the panel of big and small brands, we are especially impressed with Society6, which has excellent tools for filtering through its expansive selection. Wayfair is another solid choice, with hundreds of thousands of options and fast turnarounds for custom sizes. For more guidance, we also tapped in Alex Epstein, lead interior designer at Purple Cherry Architects. She shared her own personal favorite retailers along with some artwork shopping tips: “Buying pre-framed art is a great way to save money and not have to source a matching frame,” she advises. These are the best places to buy wall art online. We like that Society6 makes it easy to filter your search by room, theme, type, or style. The retailer also boasts custom sizes and frame styles, fast production times, and a generous 60-day return window. When you browse Etsy, you’ll find quaint photography, vintage posters, abstract paintings, embroidery, woodwork, and delicate illustrations—to name just a few. Note that delivery options and return policies vary by seller. Still, many promise speedy turnarounds, even for made-to-order art. One thing to note is that the retailer typically carries under 200 pieces at a given time. Still, if you like earth tones, neutral palettes, organic textures, and natural wood frames, you’ll find something here. We’re talking banana-fiber saucers, three-dimensional palm suns, artisanal macramé, abstract brass ornaments, and oversized fans made from elephant grass. Just a heads up, there’s a fee for returns, and some sales are final. Available in made-to-order frames, each piece started as an original gouache watercolor painting. Just a heads up, though, production can take weeks, and there are no returns. If you don’t have anything specific in mind, you can also browse paintings, prints, and other art pieces from established artists. The prices are reasonable, but FYI, Framebridge doesn’t allow returns on custom orders. We appreciate the accessible prices, custom sizing options, and high-quality printing techniques. Minted doesn’t accept returns on wall art, but if your order gets messed up on their end, they promise to make it right. Like the retailer’s clothes offerings, UO art is geared more toward younger audiences (think teen and young adult crowds)—but this is subjective. At any rate, if you want hip, clever, vibrant pieces, you’ll find them here. Prices are on the steeper side, and the selection isn’t huge, but we appreciate the curated assortment. You can get painted tapestries, mini framed prints, paintings, mirrors, macramé, and three-dimensional wall hangings, all with a classy, down-to-earth vibe. You’ll also find more obscure things, like 50-million-year-old fossil stone murals. You can expect to pay a hefty premium for rare pieces, and we should note the complicated returns process comes with a fee. While there’s a range of abstract art, framed photography, watercolor canvas, and the like, the top results mostly include motivational sayings and inspirational quotes. Of course, you can also get things like mirrors, floating shelves, and other alternatives to framed art. We also love that Prime members can get free shipping, but note that not all pieces qualify. You can search by subject, aesthetic, color, frame material, price, or customer rating. Many pieces are available in custom sizes, too, but keep in mind those aren’t returnable because they’re made to order. Prices are undoubtedly expensive, but the virtual art dealer has frequent sales and offers a $100 credit for referring new customers. Saatchi’s return window is relatively short, and some sales are final, so check the fine print before you order. Shipping is expensive, and the return window is only 14 days. However, Artfinder redeems itself for its extensive selection and eco-conscious efforts, including a commitment to being a carbon-neutral company by 2030. With upwards of 3 million images to choose from, the site allows you to filter your search by style, artist, subject, type, and material. What’s more, AllPosters offers lots of custom sizes and frame options. Not only are the prices reasonable, but the site has sales nearly every week. You can get prints by famous artists, including Van Gogh, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Faith Ringgold, and Nathalie du Pasquier. But FYI, the sizes aren’t customizable, and all sales are final. Each piece is made by a human, not printed by a machine, and nothing is mass produced. Thus, the prices and shipping costs are expensive, and the sizes aren’t customizable. However, this is to be expected when buying rare and original artwork. Some people stick with one style for their entire home or for each room, but mixing and matching is fine as long as the art doesn’t clash. Genre aside, the pieces you choose should complement your home decor by calling back some of the colors and textures.
Material and Type
Wall art comes in various types and materials. This includes original paintings, canvas, digital art prints, woodwork, sculptures, metal hangings, photography, fabric tapestries, murals, collages, and macramé. In addition to various frame and mat materials, you can sometimes choose whether you want yours framed in glass or acrylic. (The latter is lighter, less prone to breaking, and typically more affordable.)
Size
Choosing the right size is crucial when buying wall art. There is such a thing as too big, but most people make the mistake of selecting pieces that are too small. Generally speaking, an art piece should cover roughly two-thirds of the available wall space. The idea is to choose something to scale with the size of your walls and the rest of your furnishings, as the wrong size can throw off the visual balance.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Theresa Holland is a commerce writer specializing in home decor. For this story, she interviewed two interior designers, who offered recommendations on where to look and insight into purchasing art for the home. She then researched today’s top online retailers for wall art and narrowed it down to those with the best selections, customization options, prices, turnarounds, and return policies. Theresa has wall art in her home from Wayfair, AllPosters, World Market, Rifle Paper Co., and Framebridge. She covers home design, furniture, and organization at The Spruce. According to interior designer Jennifer Hunter of Jennifer Hunter Design, it depends. She encourages clients to buy pieces that speak to them and make them happy. “However, if you are looking for art as an investment, do your research and try to identify up-and-coming artists.” Luckily, not all wall art is exorbitantly expensive. You can find lots of affordable options by exploring the retailers featured here. As Hunter notes, the frame an art piece comes in often encompasses how the artist intended it to look. However, many online retailers allow you to choose the frame material, color, and thickness. In some cases, a custom option might be better for decorating your space.
