What do you have on your lounge walls?

[dippingmytoeinagain]

I'm looking for some inspiration as the walls in my lounge are currently very dull and empty. I have a mirror above the (fake) fireplace and that's it. Two very blank walls, apart from some slightly awkwardly placed wall lights. I already have quite a few family pics on the bookshelf and have other family pics in another room, so don't want to go for any more in this room.

But...some of the art in the affordable shops looks so bland and same-y. I don't like the inspirational quotes stuff. My budget is limited but for something I love and will look at for years to come I will happily spend a little more.

The style of the room is quite old fashioned classical, walls are off white, sofa dark green, carpets mid beige, curtains to be changed so that could help I guess.

So, any ideas? What do you have on your walls? Thanks everso!

I have an eclectic mix of original paintings. There are many schemes to buy Art from Galleries on HP. I have bought four pieces that way. All Art galleries have the scheme.
If I was short of cash I would take some photos myself and get them blown up to poster size at boots. Then use some lovely IKEA frames it put them in. Or black and white or Sepia prints of my children or home town.
You could buy a flower press and in the Summer press flowers and then make them into a picture. I am sure IKEA have box frames. Or buy some pretty artificial flowers and put them in a box frame.
You could frame some of your child's drawings as well. Give them several pieces of A4, pencils, crayons, paint ( poster paint in dry tubs is best as it doesn't dry out so much and can be re wetted) see what happens and use those to frame nicely. They honestly can't be worse than some of the stuff I have seen for sale.
I also went to the local Art College degree exhibition and bought a few works of students. No one has turned out to be an early David Hockney as yet... But you never know.

Craft fairs often have photographers & artists there. I have bought several things from this source, usually very reasonably & often if you speak to them they can make something specific for you. My favourite thing is a picture of my 3 DS taken from an ordinary snap & reduced to 3 colours it looks like a Warhol print of them.(my BIL did this as a gift but notonthehighst or other websites do similar).

I have an acrylic of a photo my DP took. He exhibits sometimes and has an online gallery.

Craft fairs are a good idea. Also see if your local college or uni does a student exhibition in May or June.

Thank you all - some good thoughts in there. I guess I need to be patient too - I suppose something will catch my eye when I least expect it!

It's worth waiting for the right piece.
I've PMed you a link to DPs work.

Have you tried local galleries? Seaside towns and tourist towns always seem to have a few galleries.

I've got various prints and pictures,all bought from antique auctions,the most I've paid is £30 for a framed Cecil Aldin print. I recently bought a huge folder full of prints and pictures for £30,there must be over 100 pictures in there. I'll keep what I like and sell the rest. Dh is a talented photographer so we have a lot of his pictures up too mainly black and white ones.

I actually have an online place where artists put up their artwork and you can get prints so that you can custom frame it yourself to decorate your room. I started the website to give back, it's mainly for charity and to help artists grow. See Allfanart and hope a win win for us

i have an oil painting a friend did of the DCs; he painted from a photo I had given him.
It looks beautiful and would be the one 'thing' I would save, should the house go up in flames.
I agree with others who have said to just take your time. You will one day see something, or get an idea and think 'Yes!'

Nothing at the moment! Have been looking for a while.

I like Gustav Klimt so am tempted by some prints of sections of some of his work. I love this one www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00NXZ0XSI/ref=aw_wl_ov_dp_1_1?colid=2XCLEI1604C4X&coliid=IM6DVRK6ICZT6#immersive-view_1425257301930 but not sure whether it would look ok or really stupid in a room with very pale silver grey walls and a plum feature wall.

Also tempted by this one too but not sure why (another section of a Klimt piece) m.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/art/50149720/

I'd still need other walls boosting aswell though,although maybe ickle shelves with something on would be ok?

I'm not a fan of art per say, but love poster art or word art. I often browse poster and print websites for things I like and then frame them. I've got an original vogue cover framed, an old naval poster, a car advert, some wartime stuff. Nothing I've ever seen in other homes and always act as good talking points. Cheaper to do and more personal!