Large scale art is a game-changer when it comes to personalizing your living space and making it feel truly like home. Back in 2018, we explored this topic, but today we’re revisiting and expanding on it to bring you even more ideas and inspiration for incorporating large scale art into your decor. A striking gallery wall or a breathtakingly large stand-alone art piece is timeless and always in style. If you’re looking to make a statement on your walls, now is the perfect time.
The challenge? High-quality, large-scale art often comes with hefty price tags. But don’t worry, we’re here to offer solutions and show you how to achieve the large-scale art aesthetic without breaking the bank. Get ready for a wealth of options, ideas, and inspiration to realize your large scale art dreams (and ours!).
Large Scale Art as a Gallery Wall Anchor
Photo by tessa neustadt | From: brady’s kitchen reveal
Before diving into specific ideas, let’s discuss why large scale art works so effectively in various rooms and design styles. As demonstrated in Brady’s dining room above, a single large piece can effectively anchor an entire gallery wall. In fact, using a large piece is our top tip for creating a visually appealing gallery wall – a point often overlooked. Start with a substantial piece of art and build your gallery outwards. This approach prevents your collection from feeling scattered and disjointed. The large artwork visually commands attention, grounds the wall, and simplifies the process of arranging smaller pieces around it. Genius, right?
Photo by sara ligorria-tramp | From: how we designed our super kid-friendly family room
Emily used this technique in her mountain house family room gallery wall too. Birdie’s large scale art truly makes a statement. Parenting tip: give your child a large sheet of paper and a limited color palette (one or two colors max) and let their creativity flow. Voila! Instant art that’s both visually impactful and sentimentally valuable.
Stand-Alone Large Scale Art for Impact
Photo by tessa neustadt | From: my house tour from good housekeeping
Large-scale art is equally stunning and impactful when displayed alone, without being part of a gallery wall. In fact, stand-alone large scale pieces are particularly on-trend. Like the piece we featured in our living room, a large artwork fills the space effectively while maintaining a sense of calm and order, unlike a gallery wall which can sometimes appear busier.
Below, we incorporated a large bison print in Cup of Jo’s bedroom. This modern art piece elevates the room’s playful and vibrant textiles, harmonizing the overall aesthetic and filling a significant blank wall space without visual clutter. Struggling with what to place above a bed? A large stand-alone art piece is often the easiest and most effective solution.
Photo by ryan liebe | From: cup of jo makeover | the master bedroom
Typically, finding ready-made large-scale art pieces in stores can be challenging and expensive. However, the internet is a treasure trove of incredible large pieces at surprisingly affordable prices. You just need to know where to look and how to bring it all together. Luckily, we’ve done the groundwork for you.
Large-scale art tends to be pricey for a few key reasons: 1) established artists naturally charge appropriately for their time and creative effort, 2) larger prints and materials cost more, and 3) framing large pieces is more complex and labor-intensive, leading to higher framing costs. While we fully support artists, and pricing their work fairly, we can definitely find ways to reduce costs related to printing and framing. And that’s exactly what we’ve focused on in this guide.
Did you know that many online platforms offer digital art files for purchase, often for under $20? You can then print these files at any size you desire. This approach opens up a world of possibilities for affordable Large Scale Printing. While the digital art files we’ve curated here are just a starting point, they offer a fantastic entry into the world of DIY large scale art. Here are some of our top picks:
- B&W Minimal Square
- ‘Blue Desert’
- B&W Mid Century Modern Abstract
- Botanical Poster
- Yellow Abstract
- ‘Ferris’
- Beach Painting
- ‘Hello Modernism’
- XO Prints Set of Two
- B&W Abstract
- ‘Woman Silhouette’
- Lifeguard Stand
- Matisse Print
- Renee Illustration
- ‘Mountains BW’
- B&W Window
- ‘Layers’
- ‘I Like You Very Much’
- ‘ Hollywood’
- ‘Waves’
- BLM Print
- Power Fist Print
- Woman Painting in Ink
- Seascape
- B&W Shapes
- ‘Palm Tree’
- Abstract Art
- Gosling Island
- B&W Modern Abstract
- Beach Photo
Finding the Right Place for Large Scale Printing
This curated list is just a glimpse of the vast digital art available online. We adore these selections, and they’re versatile enough to complement various home decor styles. Once you’ve chosen your art, the next step is purchasing the digital file, downloading it, and getting it printed. Numerous printing services are available, and you might even find a local option that’s more affordable than the ones listed below. However, here are some reputable services we recommend for large scale printing:
Artifact Uprising: Renowned for their exquisite archival prints and linen-covered books, Artifact Uprising also excels in large scale printing. You can print pieces up to 40″x60″ for around $150.
Aspen Creek Photo: Recommended by Juniper Print Shop (featured in our art selections), Aspen Creek Photo offers high-quality printing services. They can print sizes up to 30″x45″ for approximately $54.
Fedex: Your local FedEx branch provides large scale poster printing starting at $34.99. This is a convenient and budget-friendly option if you need a quick turnaround.
Staples: Similar to FedEx, Staples offers poster printing services, often at a slightly lower price point, starting around $9.99.
WHCC: Another excellent online service, WHCC delivers large-scale prints at a rate of $6.45 per square foot.
Parabo Prints: Parabo Prints offers a range of great products, including large-scale prints up to 36″x45″. Prices are around $25 for color and $20 for black and white prints. They also offer poster rails as an alternative to traditional framing.
Costco: Last but not least, Costco is a fantastic and affordable option. They offer poster-sized art prints starting at just $6.99. Framing options may vary by location, but their print quality and customer service are consistently praised.
When it comes to choosing paper, remember this rule of thumb: abstract and fine art prints generally look best on archival quality paper with a matte finish, while photographs typically look best on paper with a gloss or luster finish.
Framing Your Large Scale Prints: Options and Ideas
Online Framing Services
Once your prints are ready, framing is the next step, and this is where you can get creative and customize your art even further. Here are some of our favorite online custom framing services:
Framebridge: Framebridge remains our go-to online source for custom framing. They offer various framing styles, including float framing, options with or without mats, and a beautiful solid wood collection. They can frame virtually anything, and we’ve consistently had positive experiences with them.
Simply Framed: Similar to Framebridge, Simply Framed provides online printing and framing services, accommodating large sizes and offering more unique frame options (like neon plexiboys). Note that custom framing, especially for larger pieces, can become expensive, so we’ve included more budget-friendly alternatives below. The prices mentioned here are for custom framing up to 30″ x 40″, but some frames can accommodate even larger sizes.
American Frame: If you’re looking to save money and are comfortable inserting your print into the frame yourself, American Frame offers a vast selection of frames that can be custom-made to fit almost any size. Prices vary based on customization (frame type, mat, style, etc.), but they are a great online resource with extensive options.
DIY Framing Solutions
For the handy individuals and those seeking even more budget-friendly options, DIY framing is a fantastic route. While we haven’t personally tried these methods, each of these tutorials provides excellent step-by-step instructions:
Hommemaker – D.I.Why? Making a Frame For Your Large Scale Art In 10 Easy Steps
Yellow Brick Home – The Easier Way To Make a Giant Frame
Apartment Therapy – How To Make a Magnetic DIY Frame For Artwork… In 10 Minutes
Apartment Therapy – How To Build a DIY Custom Floating Frame For Artwork
A Beautiful Mess – Make An Oversized Frame For a Fraction Of The Price
In-Store Framing and Ready-Made Options
Still with us? While these DIY routes might require a bit more effort than purchasing pre-framed art, they offer significant cost savings and greater customization in sizing and framing. However, if DIY isn’t your preference and printing art sounds like a hassle, these retailers offer art, printing, and framing services, simplifying the process:
Target: Target consistently offers a great selection of large-scale art each season. If you find something you love, buy it quickly as popular pieces tend to sell out fast. One of my favorite pieces from Target often receives compliments and looks far more expensive than it was. We also highly recommend this piece.
Minted: Minted has a massive online collection of art and photography from artists worldwide. They also provide framing services in various sizes and styles.
Urban Outfitters: Urban Outfitters sells both prints and frames, featuring an ever-changing collection of eclectic prints that are perfect for boho or eclectic interiors.
West Elm: West Elm’s in-store selection might be limited, but their online assortment is substantial and updated seasonally.
CB2: CB2 is expanding their art collection, offering several excellent large-size options ideal for modern homes and apartments.
Anthropologie: Anthropologie carries a wide range of art (not all large-scale), but they are a reliable source for discovering unique pieces.
Tappan Collective: Tappan Collective is a more upscale option with a curated selection of photography and art.
Uprise Art: While pricier, Uprise Art offers truly beautiful original art pieces that will elevate any space with minimal effort.
Saatchi Art: Saatchi Art boasts a HUGE collection of original art and prints across various price points. Remember Brady’s diptych from his original living room reveal? It’s from Saatchi Art.
We hope this guide serves as a valuable resource for you as you explore large scale printing and art for your home. If you know of any other great printing, framing, or art sources for large-scale options that we’ve missed, please let us know in the comments below! And if you have any questions about the process or anything related to large-scale art, ask away – we’re here to help!
Opening Image Credits: Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: How We Styled Our Living Room and Kitchen To Sell
