The Artful Home - Where to pick up unique affordable art

In our previous blog we talked through how art can be used to add character and visual interest in your home. Following on from that post, we wanted to share some of the great places we go to when we are sourcing art for our clients.

“Art to suit all tastes and budgets is out there,

you just need to know where to look” – Mache Interiors

eBay/Facebook Marketplace

Always a great place to look if you have a clear idea of what you are after. There are many artists who sell their work direct (which if you have a good eye) can mean you pick up a great art piece at a fraction of the price. These sites are also a great place to find an array of vintage pieces.

TIP – set up alerts with all your search criteria. Be clear on what you are looking for and how far you are willing to travel to get the piece you want. This is not the quickest route, but you really can find some incredible art at reasonable prices.

1stDibs

Like the above this is a great place to pick up antique and vintage pieces. These are usually more expensive than eBay as they have been professionally curated and assessed, but they always have a fantastic array of pieces that can work in many spaces.

TIP - If you see an art piece that you love in an interiors post on Pinterest or Instagram try Google Image search. If you use their desktop version you can upload the image and they can usually bring up all of the elements within, so you know where the furniture/ art etc is from.  From there you can either buy the piece or search for similar.

Affordable art fair

A wonderful option to find new up and coming artists that you can pick up at a lower price point, before they hit the bigtime. It is also a great place to see lots of art in one place and get inspired. We love meeting artists and hear them share their story and inspiration behind their art, it always makes the pieces we choose feel extra special.

TIP – we know everyone is busy and internet shopping has become the go to, but we would always recommend seeing art in person if possible. Colours can get changed online and the size and intensity of a piece is hard to get across on a phone or laptop. Even if you aren’t looking to buy art now, heading to a place where you can see lots of artists in one place is great and you can then start following your favourites on social media. This will also make your art collection feel more special as you add pieces you truly love.

The Poster Club

Is a great option if you are looking for prints rather than original art, but still want something that is a bit different. The Poster Club works with established and up and coming artist to bring great options that can work well with most interior design projects.  

TIP – watch out for import charges. Always check when ordering art from overseas if the store/gallery will cover shipping and taxes. The Poster Club is reasonably priced but it is never fun to be hit with unexpected charges whilst you art is held captive.  

Print Club London

Print Club London is a screen-printing studio and online gallery offering limited edition screen-prints and original artwork. If you are in the market for quirky pieces full of personality this is the place to go.

TIP - If you have a few colours in your room try looking at art that has these colours included. This will ensure your design looks cohesive. However, if you are looking to add a colour pop, you should get out your colour wheel and see what colours would work with what you have planned. You can also filter their prints by colour and size, so finding your perfect piece is easy.   

We love to hear about great places to source art, so if there are any that we have missed, let us know in the comments below.