Living room wall art

[EllaMenOhPea]

Ok, so I'm totally clueless, but our living room needs some pictures, and I don't know where to start! I want to do a photo gallery in the hall, and also some photos on the mantelpiece so I want to steer away from photos.

Our walls are F&B Elephant's breath, Pelt on the chimney breast and Brassica in the alcoves.

I don't know whether to go for a print of a famous piece (or is that really naff?) I think the fake 'art' you get at Ikea & Dunelm Mill etc is really naff, and I can't afford anything 'real' so am really stuck - help!

elephant breath.... is that for real

go for a print you like and matches the breath of an elephant rather than one that's just famous.

I love art deco stuff and have a few pieces that I just like but hadn't seen before or have meaning to me.

yes it seems so obvious doesn't it?

So I I chose Van Gough's Sunflowers because the yellow goes well with the purple I'm not going to look like an idiot who just chose Sunflowers because the know nothing about art --which clearly I d

Strikeout fail which clearly I don't

I want to know how people furnish their houses with art. Proper art costs thousands. Cheap pics you used to getfrom Athena. Where do you get art from?

knickernicker - you need to be in the know

BIL has loads of art on his walls - he's very pally with local artists/art students...

...you need to start making friends in arty circles

Also art degree final year exhibitions are a not too expensive way to pick up up-an-coming art and you never know your purchase may be worth 1000's in years to come!

If you're after cheap prints V&A have a fab selection.

Posters are cheap ways of getting things you like on your walls.

Have a look at a site like www.allposters.co.uk/. They're standard sizes so easy to get frames to fit.

Prints can also be very reasonably priced. I've got a couple from This gallery because they remind us of holidays we spent in the area. Check out local galleries, or search online.

I like some of the stuff that John Lewis sells tbh. Bollocks to anyone who sneers because you've got something popular and mass produced on your walls. All that matters is that you like it and it makes you happy.

Prints and posters needn't cost the earth
In a nice frame they can look much more expensive.
Personally I like less well known stuff as it's a bit more interesting. I'd always go for something I like, rather than something that matches my decor so it might take a while to find that.
Cheapest is usually Posters or prints - loads here www.artrepublic.com/
Or www.easyart.com/
or art.co.uk
For paintings /canvas - Try local artists, student art shows, local art shows, local galleries, street art shows.
Or student art
or more student art

look at museum websites, british museum have some fab prints

\link{http://www.britishmuseumshoponline.org/art-prints/icat/art_prints\here}

Have a look at Etsy and Folksy.

we've had stuff from here before. We treated ourselves to an original from Ron Lawson before Christmas, I love it.

Art.co.uk is great.
Sign up and create some galleries. Just stuff you like, no opinion on ehether or not it is respectable art or not!!
Before too long, it will be suggesting paintings similar to what you,ve already put in favourites, but less well known perhaps.
When ive decorated the walls (stripped the wallpaper :`( & repainted) then i will buy four posters just because i love them