A. Peltier Interiors Wonderful article! Art is one of my favorite parts about designing a home. You can do so much with so little or the sky is the limit. It all depends on your tastes and budget.

Marion Mayer Don't forget local artists! In Cincinnati there are several art buildings housing studios that offer "Art Walks" several times a year. It is a terrific opportunity to meet artists and buy directly from them. www.essexstudios.com is a great place to start!

Alison Hodgson Great article, Laura! So many people find buying art intimidating. Very helpful advice.

Art.com We love your article, Laura!

Don't forget to check out Art.com for art and design inspiration! Through Art.com you can gain exclusive access to many of the world's most interesting image collections. We think you'll love to browse the amazing selection of art from emerging artists, limited editions, and the world's top museums. Art.com also offers the widest array of framing, mattes, canvas transfers, and super sleek acrylic, all made in America by craftsmen in Ohio - so your framing and design can really shine as art in itself. This limited edition image is by emerging artist Jane Kim, who's currently featured on our site: www.art.com

Dana Strotheide Another great place for prints, canvases and even prints on interesting materials like acrylic and metal is fineartamerica.com Plus, it's individual artists (like me :)) who are putting their work up and directly benefit. So, it's like buying it straight from the artist, but still getting a great deal and cool product.

Virgil Carter Fine Art Most regions have local, state and regional art leagues and societies which host various shows throughout the year. Check your local sources for these--they provide opportunities to see high quality original art by local artists.

As for "limited edition prints", don't be misled. These are the same quality reproductions as ordinary prints. Some artists and galleries simply use the term as a marketing device to increase the price beyond ordinary "prints". The quality and durability of these reproductions are the same, regardless of title.

Transforming Rooms Great article Laura! People often ask how famous the artist is, or what the art will be worth some day. In my opinion it really should be about how happy the art makes you feel. Because after all, we have no way of knowing if it will truely increase in value and if so, by how much. There is such a variety of styles in art, there's something for every personality!

Here's a link to a few blogs about what SIZE art, how to UPDATE a room with art (Candice Olsen room photos), and what criteria to use to purchase art.

http://www.interiordesigngreensboro.com/search?q=art

ptmatthews You can also look for art in antique stores, remembering that re-matting and re-framing a piece can often make a HUGE difference in how it looks. I found two pieces at an antique store that were loosely framed in cheap metal frames with no mats, so I got them for $12 each. Of course I spent much more than that on new mats and frames, but I really like them now.

Tirage Fine Art Gallery A well written article as fine art defines the soul of the home environment. Even for the budget minded, galleries are a font of information on artists, techniques, and styles. Many galleries (including Tirage Fine Art Gallery) have comprehensive websites and offer many payment options for those who want to collect a piece from a "listed" artist (museum exhibitions, magazine articles, etc.). A good online art education resource is Askart.com

Maple and Main Gallery of Fine Art Well written article, buy affordable original art by Connecticut artists at www.mapleandmaingallery.com in Chester, CT. 860-526-6065

JAN MOYER No matter what you buy, buy because you like or love, price depending. Do not expect anything you buy to rise in value. Art galleries in New York make the prices ( and the fame) of the most famous and collectible artists. For the rest, it is all luck and a big guess, and an establishing of a price or auction record with "you sell me yours, I will sell you mine, and there'll be a record and a value" But if you bought because you loved it, who cares? Do I love it, can I afford it are the only questions.

Marion Mayer Amen, Jan! Amen! Buy what you love. Resale value is a illusion. (Ask any Beany Baby "collector"... Buy local, not inflated New York pricing. The world is full of talented artists happy to take commissions to create something unique just for you!

tsudhonimh Some posters have a limited run, such as the posters advertising art exhibitions, and are often made from a work designed by one of the exhibiting artists. Also, some artists will have good quality posters made from their original works, and sell them signed - my artist friends referred to them as "gas money". While not nearly as desirable as the original work, it's one way to have a work by "Someone Famous" at a price you can afford.

I systematically check thrift stores, consignment stores, swap meets and yard sales for art and frames. On a very limited budget I have collected a nice assortment of oils and watercolors.

Leisa Rich As an artist, it pains me greatly that this article has focussed on the common, predictable types of art one can collect, which does a great disservice to millions of us passionate and talented artists by ignoring our varied creative contributions in a variety of art areas, and the very public itself by limiting their knowledge to a few genre rather than broadening it to be inclusive of the vast array of talent, materials, techniques and styles out there. Art is NOT just painting, prints and photography, which is what you have showcased here and which is what is taught in schools, thereby raising a whole generation of creatively ignorant people who think going to a big box store and purchasing a stretched canvas done by machine for $10 is art. How about expanding to include the wonderful modern quilts such as those by Luke Haynes that have come to the forefront of contemporary art? What about showing how free motion stitched pieces, weaving, basketry, hand embroideries and more of the fiber arts such as can be seen on www.surfacedesign.org can work in the interior designs featured on Houzz? How about trolling crafthaus.ning.com for incredible works in wood, metal, clay and more? How about showcasing the incredible collection of sculptural teapots such as are collected by The Kamm Teapot Foundation at http://kammteapotfoundation.org? Art books, art boxes, paper sculpture, the list can go on and on. Steer the public to the myriad of local brick and mortar galleries that are still in existence- they need you. Steer the public to local arts centers, local craft galleries, as well as on-line resources. And, as the great design site you are, feature in those designs those of us who are NOT painters, who are NOT photographers, who are NOT printmakers. I know it is easy to put something on the wall by a single hook and be done with it, but are you not also trying to educate the public what good design is? Let's work together to make that happen. Everyone will benefit!

JAN MOYER Leisa Rich,
You are so right, but I think the ONLY reason the focus goes to the walls....is empty walls drive folks insane. Woven hangings, pottery, so many venues....and all worth collecting and enjoying. Sculptural pieces in metal, glass or wood for a wall. Yes ! But most taste buds run more to "decor" and less to art for art's sake. Which has to be frustrating for an artist, as it can get equally frustrating for a designer : )

Kellie Thanks for the helpful article. I have add my vote to supporting local artists and Leisa Rich's point about broadening the definition to include works in the full range of materials. Exploring local art fairs and exhibitiions is a great way to do both, and a wonderful way to get to know the artists and the stories behind their works!

Christine Bhe, Bhe Design LLC Three cheers for original art! Thank you for the article and additional sources. Looking for artists in Indianapolis? Go to http://artists.indyarts.org/MeetIndyArtists.aspx Support your local art community!

see_ If you're planning on eventually creating a collection out of the (original) pieces you purchase it is worth to also think about cohesion. This usually means to have a common stylistic thread to unite the pieces, but it could also extend to colorway, technique, materials.

And a comment on the 'inflated NYC prices' that others have mentioned: The same artist selling for x dollars in NYC for a given size painting will also sell for x dollars in Idaho for a similar sized piece. You can easily inquire and check for yourself.

Tia Marie McDermid So glad to see an article addressing art on Houzz. As an artist, I find it very challenging to showcase and draw the public to my works. I have found many talented and beautiful works easily accessible through many online avenues which are easy for the collector. Fine Art America, Etsy, even local galleries and art events. Thank you for the aritcle!

steveashay As I look around at the art now on my walls, the two categories that give me the most pleasure are one, handmade fabrics from different cultures including Guatemalan weavings, Bedouin camel saddle bags from Jerusalem, and a Native American carving. And the other, art I bought from talented local artists who, let's just say, have more creativity than income. They were thrilled to sell a piece, and these are great ice-breakers when visitors come by and say, "Oh my. Who did that mosaic of our skyline? I've never seen anything like that before?" These are my two suggestions for affordable art that also serve as keepsakes you won't tire of, even when you move.

SWM Design Good article. I am a contemporary artist that showcases my affordable art work on different websites. I features original works as well as very affordable prints available in varying-sizes on acrylic, canvas, metal and paper. Prints start at $50 at www.stevenwmiller.com

betsywk In my area (Nashville, TN), several schools have art sales which feature local artists at varying price points, usually over a weekend. These are good places to see a variety of artists (our school had 70 artists at the last show) in one place. Also, generally purchases at these sales have no sales tax, and some percentage of the purchase (often 30%) is tax deductible because the school receives a portion of the sales. Another benefit is the ability to speak with the artists and learn more about what they do.

Leisa Rich Excellent comments have arisen here. It comes down to "education". It is our responsibility as artists, designers, teachers, bog writers, publishers, etc. to nudge the mainstream public toward a greater understanding of the breadth and variety of art styles, mediums and approaches available today. When I need something done that I can't do myself I look for knowledgeable companies and individuals who can do it for me. I wouldn't hire a tub refinisher to redo my roof, for instance! However, it has been my experience that those who SHOULD be more educated in this field of art and design- art teachers, designers, interior designers, art marketing consultants, gallery owners, etc.- are even themselves ignorant of what is out there, what the important movements are of our time, thus perpetuating the ignorance of the public. I recently met with someone very high in the field of art who was so ignorant of what constitutes "fiber art" and the wealth of contemporary talent out there in this field, yet this individual can go on at length about Van Gogh. And, in schools across the U.S. and Canada, teachers are doing a grave disservice to the next generation by teaching only dead white guys; most follow antiquated lesson plans or use the common on-line teacher resources so everything looks the same and the students end up doing cookie-cutter lessons that remain unchanged year after year after year. Ask any young person to name artists and they will invariable say, Picasso, Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Monet. Not to discount these important artists! but merely to mention that they are NOT the be all to end all of any art education! Those students won't know El Anatsui; Tara Donovan; Do Ho Suh; Andy Goldsworthy; Annette Messager; Ann Hamilton; Magdalena Abakanowicz; Machiko Agano; Gaudi; Gehry; Charlie McLenahan...I could go on and on and cover a variety of interesting and important artists of our time in every field imaginable. And designers who think that knowing these things is not important because their clients won't like the works, are not seeing how art prefaces major trends in design...that art IS design because it is about color and color heightens emotion, and we are all one and linked.

Jacobs Woodworks We love that you're promoting art collecting! There's also a whole world of fine art that doesn't live on walls. For those pieces, it's important to have an equally beautiful way to display them in your home. Enter, art display pedestals. We have a new line that may put some energy in the art collecting spirit http://jacobswoodworks.com/display-pedestals/. Go forth and appreciate art.

mere bitu Thank you so much Laura for a great piece of advice for beginners like me. I have had the experience of seeing something very nice like art.. Classic art and pieces always catches my eye, then impulsive me if i have the means to buy it then i do! later on i realised it has become so much and now no more space to put them and they are piled up for much much later!!!! what I waste of cash and art!!!... Your article today has taught me greatly to be more wise about art... because impulsively, some things I bought loses its taste to me and i regret... Having bought our new family home, your article of advice to me today will be that wise factor in getting a well and classy decorated house that me and my family will enjoy seeing and living in for a very well and good duration before any other changes...

nelsonart I have been a professional artist for the past 3 years (well, doing it full time for three years, anyway!) and it is a challenge to get one's work out there. I do have a website if anyone would like to have a look through www. sherrinelson. ca - and also would love to show an example of my large oil paintings, if i might:

nelsonart Thanks for writing about buying art! I am an artist and would love to take a minute to show this audience a few of my pieces. Here they are! If you like them, my web site is
www. sherrinelson. ca (without the spaces, of course!) thanks!

Sightline Art Consulting Collecting art is a very personal thing. I love the process of helping my clients find artwork that's just right for them. The art people have in their homes is an expression of themselves, just like the decor they choose, the music they listen to, the clothes they wear and the people they hang out with. There's so much art out there, I think it's really helpful to have an informed guide. I welcome any readers to contact me to discuss how I can assist you in your art search. My favorite clients aren't the ones with the most money, it's the ones who have an open attitude and are ready to learn and have fun. Allison Marvin / Sightline Art Consulting / www.sightline.biz

cateye Great information, thanks! I especially appreciate the links.

I do think it's worthwhile to warn people to be very, very careful buying original art online. I got badly burned several weeks ago buying a piece from Artist Rising. That site claims to have a 30 day period when you can return art for a full refund, and below that a note to contact their team for help returning original art. Turns out that the refund policy does NOT apply to original art. The painting looked entirely different in person than pictured on the site, and the artist refused to accept a return. The Artist Rising support team sent me an email that a supervisor would be in touch, and then I never heard from them again despite repeated requests for help. Paypal was no help. I'm out several hundred dollars for an item that was useless to me.

Short story, see it in person or have a very clear agreement about what will happen if you don't like it. And don't trust reassurances on a site unless the site itself is selling you the art.

CAROLE MEYER Thank you for this article on art. I love interior design and always am impressed by how important the art selection is to any interior. My paintings are shown at Gallery 903 in Portland, Oregon as well as on my website. www.carolemeyerart.com Carole

Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel Good introduction to this subject. Please yourself and don't be deceived about 'investment value', especially on cruise ship auctions!

I make 2-dimensional art (paintings on canvas), but rooms with only paintings and prints are a little dull. Try to mix it up with 3-dimensional or shallow relief art. Also, if you have things you love, an old doll or antique clothing, these can also be displayed as art.

Leisa, why don't you pen an article about some of the other art forms?

Zatista Great article on original art. www.Zatista.com is a wonderful source for original art from emerging artists. Art is indeed a very personal purchase and buying what you love will always result in a valuable collection!

Mackin Drafting & Design My father was an artist for the last half of his life so I grew up around art my whole life. He has since passed away but I still have a lot of his peices of art as well as many other artists. While I have no idea if any of the art I own will have any value on the market, the pleasure and the memories it gives to me is priceless.

christina It's good to see an article about collecting original art on Houzz. Local non-profit art centers, especially those that offer artist studios on site are an excellent resource for original art. The exhibits are often curated, and it's common for the artists renting studios to have been accepted by jury as well. (I visited one recently in Charlottesville, VA that was a great space converted from an old school building and had some talented artists working in their studios, a small store with artist-made books, jewelry, and small functional pieces as well as two galleries.) Many areas offer annual open studio tours that allow the public to visit artists, talk to them about their work and see their working process. As mentioned in the article, art colleges also have annual student exhibits. Maryland Institute, College of Art in Baltimore has a fiber art department; student work is very diverse including fiber, video, sound, installation, as well as more traditional painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, etc.

I feel strongly that art should be seen in person. I don't knock online resources as a way to research or discover new artists, but suggest contacting the artists you like online to see if they have work on exhibit in your area, or find out if you can make a trip to where their studio is to see the work in person. I wouldn't spend money on a couch I saw online without having the chance to sit in it, buy a car without a test drive, or buy house paint based on what the color looks like on my computer screen.

Leisa Rich Great points, Christina! Also- many artists would be happy to bring an artwork to a client who is interested and install it so they can see how it "makes" the space; I have done that many a time and not once have I returned to my studio with the piece still in hand!

In addition, I would also like to point out to art buyers out there that old adage, "Buyer Beware". Watch out for some giclee (which is essentially inkjet printing to make reproduction of original two-dimensional artwork, photographs, or computer-generated art- they CAN vary greatly in quality) that are advertised as "originals". You are essentially buying a copy that will have no value and certainly no long-lasting resiliency.

Also- if it is a painting you are purchasing, ask the artist what type of paint was used. If they stammer, run! It is common for house paint trolled from the $1.00-$5.00 "oops" sections of local hardware big boxes to be used in cheap works. I have a friend who purchased a painting a couple of years ago that was quite expensive. She asked my opinion of it. I advised her that it had been done with house paint but she didn't believe me. Imagine her surprise when a year later the paint started to flake right off of the canvas! Did the art gallery or artist allow a return...? No way.

Lastly, sculptures, fiber art and many other forms do not need a pedestal unless you really want to display the work on one and have the money to pay dearly for one. These forms of art can be hung from the ceiling, suspended from corners, displayed in niche, on bookshelves, on the top of cabinets, on a stair landing, on a block of great wood culled from your back yard. Pinterest has been a great boon to all sorts of art forms as there are so many creative ideas on boards! I am always amazed at how resourceful and creative the human spirit.

Go forth and buy original art...artists need you and it will liven your life and home!

christina Liesa: It's true that artists can use materials without considering the long term sustainability of their work. Museum conservators are often busy trying to repair major works in their collections that are literally falling apart. That's why some collectors prefer to go through a gallery for artwork, although that's no guarantee. It's a shame that the artist your friend purchased work from didn't offer to conserve or at least seal the piece to prevent further deterioration. However,it's ironic your comment about the artist using house paint comes just as an article about Picasso using house paint is in the news. I can't post a link here, but if you Google Picasso house paint, you can read the article.

shiplesp I'm not sure if someone has already mentioned it, but galleries will often allow you to purchase art on lay-away. Several of my purchases were acquired that way. I'm not a rich collector, but I've managed to acquire some pieces I really love.

CAROLE MEYER I agree that art should be viewed in person. I find it very hard to get good photos of my artwork that show the texture and depth of the work. I do have my own art website, www.carolemeyerart.com ,but can understand why people would want to make an appointment to see my work in person.

Kevin Robb Studios Great article - I can't stress enough to buy things that "speak to you". You'll know it when you see it and you can't get it out of your mind, so don't hesitate to think about a piece for a time before purchasing. We have a number of original pieces in our personal collection that my heart still bumps when I walk by it. That's what you're looking for!

maddecorator Thank you so much for this article and especially the links!

Leisa Rich Can I just ask one silly question...does Houzz encourage self-promotion?

Leisa Rich To Fine Art and Portraits by Laurel: Thanks for thinking of me and commenting!

I have written many articles and been featured in slews of books, and have done a variety of lectures- one is coming up this Saturday in the Atlanta area - and stay tuned to the magazine Fiber Art Now- probably summer issue- for my article coming up about how fiber artists are using plastics in their works and about the fungi and microbes discovered by scientists in the oceans and rain forests that have been adapting, eating, and breaking down synthetics. It is tentatively titled: Plastics in Fiber: Creative Friend...or Environmental Foe?

I use a huge variety of mixed media in my work, and I look at painting, photography, sculpture, 3D modeling, video, computer-generated, fiber, performance, fashion, graffiti, street art, outsider art, the Masters, etc. for inspiration. I subscribe to a huge variety of magazines such as New American Paintings, Sculpture, American Craft, Surface Design, industry publications and catalogues- especially those of the Museum of Art and Design (MAD) in NYC whose incredibly forward curated exhibitions are the best in NYC! and I teach a wide variety of classes at arts centers all over the U.S that cover and focus on wonderfully diverse artists, myriad techniques, and incredible sources of inspiration. I love what I do and I love learning!

I also LOVE great design right down to the way a teaspoon is designed. I love HOUZZ...it has been the source of so many wonderful ideas for personal decorating as well as to incorporate in my teaching.

springlering Thanks for the links. I just spent a happy couple of hours browsing and bookmarked a few artists I particularly enjoyed. Now if I just had any wallspace left......

Lauren Elyse Might I suggest shopping at custommade.com? No I'm not a spokes person for the site. I'm an artist who invests my time & talents into creating custom pieces of art for anyone with a vision & budget. The site has been revolutionary in connecting me to clients & I think just as revolutionary visa versa. Here's my profile, & feel free to explore the site!! The painting section is new & filled with insanely talented painters with time for you to bend our ears ;)

www.custommade.com/by/laurenelysefineart

Miz Lala Contact your local art schools!!! Students can be VERY talented and they all have different style! More interesting, since they are beginners, they will sell their art at a low price! You can even ask for a commission!

Also, there's a lot of artists on www,deviantart.com

cflorov Why not consider our latest model of wall mount electric fireplace to enhance the design of your space for art on the wall? AmbionAir Flame wall hanging fireplace products provide sleek and enviable designs that will quickly make any space your favorite, with the bonus of providing quick, clean and efficient heat at any time. Equipped with remote control and easy to use mounting brackets, this electric fireplace heater is a fantastic way to improve the look and functionality of your home, office or apartment. www.homemarketdeals.com

Artistica Painting & Decorating I love this! I am a Fine Arts graduate and I know my tastes and understand and appreciate art. Most people however are intimidated and overwhelmed by art and are not confident when shopping for artworks for their homes.

Barbara Griffin Art and Photography Great article about buying art. On FineArtAmerica.com you can not only buy prints on canvas, paper, acrylic, or metal and have them matted and framed, but you can also contact the artist personally if you are interested in the original pieces. Maybe you will find the piece that you just have to have on my original art and photography site. Please check it out at barbara-griffin.artistwebsites.com

Ureno Interiors Thank you Laura, I will keep this article in mind and pass on to my clients. Art is the finishing touch, or inspiration for a room.

Luke Moore - Fine Art Photography Excellent article Laura! Very helpful for the art buyer, the artist, and many others. Enjoyed reading all the comments too.

Alexei Rebrov Art With modern technology of printing and photography large scale prints on new materials like alumnimun and glass become additional options to consider. Aluminum does not require protection and can be exposed to sun and humidity. Large scale prints are very light and do not require framing.

Paintings by Kirsten Elizabeth Gilmore For buyers wary of buying online, it is like buying any other product online: some vendors are more reputable than others. Although I've never had someone ask to return a painting, I would honor that promise. Over 90% of my sales are online to people who have never seen my art in person, so it concerns me when people assume all online art is questionable.

Also, custom work online is another way to be sure you like what you are getting. The "custommade" site was mentioned earlier--there, you establish a relationship with the artist and see photos as the work is being made. There and on etsy, my clients become partners in making key decisions about what direction the art takes.

All that said, Laura, thank you for including original art in the article and encouraging collector confidence. People need to know it's okay to buy what you love, not just what is trendy. :)