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Best Inexpensive Art for Home: Seven Easy Ideas

By , May 12, 2018

Artwork is a great way to add depth and interest to your home. Original artwork is usually expensive to procure, but even a framed print can take a chunk out of your wallet. I firmly believe that something you truly love is worth the splurge, but there are also plenty of ways to fill your home with beautiful art at an affordable price. In this post, we’ll explore the best inexpensive art for your home!

The Power of Art

I still remember the first time I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art with my friend from college. At first we were chatting with each other, sharing our thoughts on each exhibit. But the deeper we got into the museum, the more quiet we became. The art we encountered entranced us, pulling us deeper into our thoughts. We would silently circle through each exhibit, taking it in deeply and then without any words, we would find each other before moving on to the next room.

Art holds an amazing, unspoken magic that draws you deeper into your inner world. When you hang art in your home, it’s not just a decoration — it has the power to cause people to pause, to dream, to reminisce, or to wonder.

The Best Inexpensive Art for Home

Art has power, but that doesn’t mean it need to break the bank! Here are some ideas for filling your home with art on a budget.

Idea #1: Purchase Your Artwork Secondhand

I’ve managed to score a small collection of gorgeous oil paintings by shopping secondhand. The trick is to shop often – pieces like these tend to go fast once they make it to the thrift store. I once saw an oil painting in a thrift store and decided to think about it for a few minutes – it was gone by the time I got back.

Best Inexpensive Art for Home: Manuel Cuberos oil painting

Getting a beautiful piece for a low cost is thrilling, but don’t let the price you pay fool you into seeing your art as less valuable than it is. Grabbing a beautiful oil painting at a low cost is a steal. You’re getting an original work of art that has someone’s creativity, passion, and time put into it. The price you’re paying doesn’t even come close to the actual worth of the item you’re buying. This always reminds me that even when I purchase something for a low cost, I need to appreciate that it’s value is actually much higher.

Idea #2: Frame a Pretty Fabric

Over the years, a trick I have always fallen back on is to frame pretty fabric for a pop of color or pattern. Save even more money by looking through the fabric remnants at your local fabric store! You can usually score pretty pieces of fabric for a good price. Check out this tutorial for tips on how to frame fabric.

DIY Framed Fabric Toile Print

If you try this, consider removing the glass from the frame. This displays your pattern glare-free and allows the texture of the fabric to stand out!

Idea #3: Frame a Favorite Piece of Jewelry

I liked this jeweled statement necklace so much that I had been draping over my doorknob so that I could always look at it. I decided to go all out and create the perfect framed backdrop for this gorgeous piece.

best inexpensive art for home: framed necklace

The frame was a $1 yard sale find – it had no glass or back, just an empty frame. I loved the green textured fabric that gave this frame a unique look. I purchased sheets of cork board from Walmart and cut them to size with a razor blade. Then, I used hot glue to wrap this bright pink fabric around the board. I inserted the finished piece into the frame and added two pretty pushpins. Voila! The perfect necklace display.

Keep in mind: If you use this jewelry often, don’t pin the necklace directly to the board – just rest it over the pins. You don’t want to be pulling them pushpins out too often because eventually, you’ll start to see the holes in the fabric.

Idea #4: Frame an Etsy Print in a Vintage Frame

Etsy is absolutely full of inexpensive art prints! You can buy a digital file of a piece of art for $10 and then have it printed at your local Staples. Then, frame the art in an inexpensive vintage frame. I found these downloadable jungle prints on Etsy for my nursery.

Jungle Themed Baby Nursery Jungle Animal Wall Collage

Frames can be so expensive when you buy them all full price. If you have the patience to look for them, you can find equally beautiful frames for a fraction of the cost. Most of the frames in my home were bought at secondhand stores or at yard sales.

Idea #5: Hang Plates or Trays as Artwork

I love beautiful vintage plates, and it’s so easy to grab them for a few dollars apiece at a thrift store. You can display them using plate hangers or even put them on a chair rail.

How to Create a Plate Wall: Collection of Blue Willow Plates above Kitchen cabinets
How to create a plate wall: Eclectic collection of colorful plates
best inexpensive art for home: vintage plates on a chair rail

Beautiful trays are another easy artwork option. Grab one in a pattern that you love and hang it alone, or mix it into a vignette. These are lightweight enough that you can display them using Command Strips. Later if you decide to restore them to their original purpose, just remove the strips!

Idea #6: DIY Framed Silhouette

This easy DIY project is a classic look, and it’s sure to become a keepsake. To recreate the look, check out my DIY framed silhouette tutorial.

Idea #7: Frame a Vintage Doily

I love the look of a framed vintage doily. You can dye the doily using RIT dye, or keep it plain. For some detailed instructions, check out my DIY framed doily tutorial.

Best Inexpensive Art for Home: What Would You Do?

Most of these ideas are in action in my home in one way or another. Which of these artwork ideas would you be most likely to try out? Let me know in the comments below!

About Lauren Rose Correa

Lauren is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Lauren Magazine. She is passionate about interior design, creating homemade cocktails, baking, mental health, and encouraging others in their walk with God. She and her husband, Juan, share a 1-year-old daughter named Alexa and live in New Jersey.

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