Class up your apartment with real art

We can’t all be refined art critics, or even have an eye for the subtleties of tasteful art.  I only recently discovered that Monet and Manet are two different artists and not a common spelling fluke. Having said that, a complete and utter ignorance of what is deemed ‘good art’ is absolutely no excuse for naked walls.  Or even worse, it is certainly no excuse for that crumpled poster tacked to the wall.

Art is meant to be an expression of your personal taste, as well as a great way to take up all that awkward white space on your walls. If you are able to dress yourself everyday, and have any furniture in your apartment, then you are perfectly capable of decorating your place with legitimate art; and it doesn’t have to cost a billion dollars.

First, take a look around and notice if you already have some sort of a color scheme going on.  What colors do you like, and would like to see more of that color in your home?  Make a list of things you already know you enjoy. Personally, I adore elephants, bright colors, and a lighthearted atmosphere.  I’d start my art shopping with those three specifications as guiding criteria, but will probably change my mind or find other things I like along the way.

Art.com has a massive collection of art, and at every price point.  If you find a piece you like, most have the option to be ordered in a print to keep the price down, and the sizes can vary.  If you have a particularly awkward wall that needs a slender piece of art, you can search by shape as well. I can guarantee you will find just the thing you’re looking for, or didn’t know you were looking for on this site.

Another route I recently discovered and is running neck and neck with art.com as the best art site on the web to deck your place out in true style.  Visit Artsicle.com.  Here you can actually rent high-end, we’re talking the caliber of art that would seriously impress any art snobs who may pop in for a visit.  Simply create an account and get art shopping.  The website will even help you discover what types of art you like by asking you to select your personal preferences out of groups of seemingly random photos.  From there you can select a size, shape, medium, and Artsicle will pull up a bunch of art you should enjoy.

Having the option to rent art is perfect for renters with commitment issues, as well as those severely impassioned art gurus.  You pay by the month so you can always swap it out for something new when you get sick of it, or you move and it doesn’t quite work in your new space. Rates vary per piece, but I found a sweet painting about the size of a pizza box for $35 a month or you can buy it for $1,200 (what!) .  You can snag insurance on your art so you don’t have to foot the bill incase something happens to it. Phew!

Check it out! This is yet another example of the many benefits of renting over buying!