Visualizing Your Fine Art Photography Print

Part of the enjoyment in choosing a unique fine art photography print for your home or office is visualizing how the print will fit into your décor. What size is appropriate? Which medium should you choose? Do the colors need to match your space?

The tips and comparison photos below will help to guide you through the visualization process, with some photos that give you an idea of scale.


Does your print need to match your color scheme?

It will certainly look beautiful when it does, but it really depends on your personal tastes. In general, my advice is no, your new print does not always need to perfectly match your sofa and carpet to still look amazing in your space, as there are other ways to blend your print into your décor.

Accessories like accent pillows, throw blankets, bowls and table lamps which include colors that compliment your print are easy to find and will help to harmonize the color palette in your room.

If you would like to learn more, here is an in-depth article on blending nature photography prints and home décor.

These accent pillows and coffee table accessories contain colors found in the mountain print, and help to tie the room together by keeping the color palette cohesive.

At the end of the day, it's most important to hang art on your wall because you find it beautiful and satisfying. It's your wall, and you need to love it.


Which medium should you choose?

One very important consideration when choosing your print medium is determining if large windows or other bright sources of light may cause reflections or glare on your fine art print, which can be distracting during certain times of the day when light is streaming in through the windows.

If you feel that may be the case, I would highly recommend considering a Lumachrome® TruLife® acrylic print. The reason is that this advanced acrylic has an invisible coating that virtually eliminates unsightly reflections and glare from bright light sources like windows.

ChromaLuxe® HD metal prints are an excellent option for rooms where bright window light is less of an issue. They are also waterproof and perfect for high humidity rooms like bathrooms.

This page called 'Print Styles' provides a full explanation and comparison of the print mediums that I offer.




How Big Should You Go?

The general rule when investing in fine art photography prints remains the same- bigger is always better. The most common mistake when purchasing art is buying a piece that is too small for the room, leaving the wall feeling empty.

Your goal will usually be to choose an appropriate size that will become an eye-catching focal point.

Neutrally colored walls and furniture are the perfect opportunity to add a nature print with a pop of color. Note that the 40"x60" print is a more appropriate size over this wide sofa, as a smaller print would become lost on this large wall.

The truth is that small photographs, even if they are beautiful, lack any real impact and tend to be very forgettable. But when that same photograph is produced in a suitably large format, it has the power to transform the room.

It instantly makes a bold statement and becomes the main point of focus and conversational topic with your guests.

Gallery walls are a perfect opportunity to group together prints with a similar theme or color palette.

A general rule when hanging art over a mantle, sofa, headboard, or other furniture piece is to purchase a size that is roughly two-thirds to three-quarters the width of the furniture, or slightly larger.

A six-foot-wide print is perfect over an eight-foot sofa, whereas a three-foot-wide print over the same sofa would look completely lost.

This king-size bed gives you an idea of the scale for these larger prints. Bigger is almost always better.

Additionally, tall, narrow walls generally look better with an art piece of similar shape, like a vertical (portrait-oriented) print; whereas horizontal walls are generally more aesthetically pleasing with a landscape-oriented art piece.

This tall, narrow stone wall above the fireplace is the perfect location for a print with similar dimensions.

When it comes to placement, one of the biggest mistakes is to mount the artwork too high on the wall. Generally, on an otherwise blank wall, the center of the art piece should be at about eye level (for an average 5-foot 6-inch person) when standing in the room.

If mounting over furniture or a mantle, the bottom edge of the art should be approximately 6-12 inches above the top of the furniture. Remember that these are general rules and a little tweaking may be necessary for different situations.


Accent lighting

One of the biggest factors in getting the maximum visual impact from your new fine art print is to add some accent lighting, which will make a world of difference in giving your new art piece the attention it deserves.

Remember that Lumachrome® TruLife® acrylics and Fujiflex® metal prints have reactive properties that make them come alive when illuminated with good quality lighting.

I highly recommend that all print owners consider accent lighting, and my comprehensive article 'How To Light Photography And Artwork' covers all the bases about illuminating your art.


Still Unsure? Get A Free Mockup

Sometimes visualizing what your new print will look like in your home or office can be difficult. I fully understand this dilemma and want to ensure that all of my customers are confident that the print and size they are considering will look absolutely stunning on their wall when it arrives.

It is for these reasons that I am proud to offer personalized 'mockups' to help you visualize your choices FIRST. And the good news is that it is FAST, SIMPLE and absolutely FREE.

Here is a step-by-step guide to find out how you can get a free mockup of your chosen print on a wall in your own home.





← Previous: Panoramic Landscape and Nature Prints
Next: Bierstadt, Luminism, and Landscape Photography →