How to Buy Art for Your Office

In a few weeks, I’m moving into my new office.  My colleagues only see me on Zoom, so I need the background to convey personality and professionalism in the same breath.  I need it to feel warm and inviting, but also like a workspace.

Luckily, this is the fourth office that I’ve decorated and I’ve learned that if you choose the right wall art for the space, the rest is easy.  The trouble is that most of the wall art for sale in stores in pricey and generic, a great combo.  So here are my best tips for buying art for your office that won’t break the bank.

First, skip TJ Maxx, Home Goods, or Target.  Some of the pieces at big box retailers are nice, many are bad hotel art.  And once a piece from one of these retailers becomes popular, it pops up everywhere (every AirBnB in Montana has the photo of the highland steer from Target).  I recommended avoiding the shops entirely, there are often more interesting pieces in similar price points to be had elsewhere.

The one exception to this guideline is if you love the piece.  Sometimes we just swing into Target because it’s there and snap up the first thing we see that we like okay.  Since you can live with a piece of art for so long, you should want to look at it every day.  If a loved piece of art comes from Target, so be it.

Second, think about size and style.  The art you choose for your work space conveys a message to your boss, your clients, your colleagues and yourself.  Choose something you like, but keep in mind who else will see it and what the impression you want to leave is.

As for how to pick art, Emily Henderson and My Domaine both have great how-to guides to walk you through how to pick art for your space.  They talk about tone, color, size and more to make sure you get the mechanics right.  Nothing looks quite as bad as a small piece of art on a very big wall.

For my office, I’m mixing a pair of simple landscapes that I already own with pieces that have a bit more pop.  Since my office is in my home, I have a bit more freedom to branch out than I would if my office was in my firm’s building.  I think I’ve decided on this print that features a quote from a great legal scholar, but I may change my mind.

Third, downloading art is cheaper than buying it printed.  The art in my last office was purchased from Juniper Print Shop and downloaded onto my computer for less than $30.  This allowed me to print and frame it without having to pay a premium.  Downloading art is an affordable way to buy unique pieces of art.

I also purchased this painting from Juniper Print Shop,  It feels like a Holly Addi or William McClure piece, without the toe-curling price tag.  The neutral color palette and abstract print would look great in an office.  The shop’s selection of landscapes gives you lots of great options for the office as well.  A friend printed this photograph of a calm sea onto the largest canvas the shop offered and then put it into a floating plexiglass frame.  It looks spectacular.

You can also find lots of great art available for digital download on Etsy.  A friend is getting her first office with a door (she’s toiled in a cubicle for almost two decades), and I picked up this seed print that I’m having framed for her.  She works in agriculture and it’s a nice sentiment in a unique piece.

Fourth, buy a real frame.  The cheap, plastic frames from Ikea don’t do your art any favors.  A great piece in a plexiglass frame doesn’t look as good as a decent piece in a better quality frame.  Professionals with real offices can amp up the look by framing their art under real glass with real wood and metal frames.  My two go-to spots for framing are Michael’s crafts (thanks to the coupons in the paper) and Framebridge.

Simply upload your downloaded art to their site, choose your frame and matting, and in a few weeks, beautifully framed art arrives on your doorstep.  (It’s also a great way to send relatives who live far away pictures of your family.) I’ve framed eleven pieces with Framebridge and I’ve never had an issue.  Every piece has looked great, and with only one exception, every framing job has cost less than $200.

Finally, the primary place I buy wall decor. If this is all too much for you and you just want to ordered framed art from one store for delivery, you may need to spend a bit more money to get good art.  My pick is Crate & Barrel, which features pieces from lesser known artists that are perfect for the office.  I bought this Beverly Fuller reproduction a few years ago for my birthday and so many of our guests comments on it.  The color palette is really pretty and fresh; it’s a simple piece with a bit of flair.

If you have tips for where to buy art for your office or how to choose the right pieces, leave them below.

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