How to Furnish Your Home with Prints

Art is the quickest way to furnish a home with personality. It transforms a house into a home and our house is filled with art.

A well-chosen original or print in the right frame can anchor a room, connect colours across textiles and echo the architecture so the space feels intentional rather than improvised. The challenge is making hundreds of aesthetic and technical decisions with confidence. This guide sets out a practical path, from selecting subjects and print processes to choosing frame materials, mounts and glazing. It also covers scale, layout, hanging and lighting so that every room gains a coherent visual rhythm. If you prefer a streamlined workflow, start with art printing online where you can configure print, paper and bespoke framing in one session, then preview the result before you order.

Start with a plan: brief, palette and placement

Begin by writing a brief for the house. Decide what each room needs to feel like, then translate that into subject matter and colour. Kitchens and family rooms favour energy, so abstract prints, typographic pieces and bold photography work well. Bedrooms and studies benefit from quieter palettes and slower images, such as landscapes or botanical drawings. Pull tones from existing materials, for example, a warm oak floor or a slate hearth, and repeat them in the artwork so the eye reads a consistent palette.

Identify the wall positions early. Note available widths between doors and windows, the presence of sockets and radiators and any furniture that competes for attention. Measure, then list a target size for each location. Planning prevents buying a beautiful piece that is either too small to matter or too large to breathe.

Choosing prints and papers that suit the room

Select media that match the use and atmosphere. For living spaces with varied light, giclée prints on fine art paper are versatile. Cotton rag papers give a velvety surface that flatters paintings, drawings and watercolour reproductions. Baryta papers carry a subtle sheen and deep blacks that suit monochrome photography or graphic art. If you prefer a classic photographic look with a soft lustre, consider C-type prints on RA4 papers.

Balance finish with lighting. Matte papers minimise glare and are forgiving in rooms with multiple windows, while semi-gloss options deliver higher contrast if reflections can be controlled. Think about the subject scale as well. A large painterly print can calm a busy room, whereas a sequence of smaller photographic studies adds movement along a hallway. When ordering, keep files at print size and a sensible resolution, and ensure embedded colour profiles are correct so that what you preview translates cleanly to paper.

Frame materials, profiles and colours

The frame is not a border, it is part of the composition. Solid wood frames in oak, walnut or painted finishes provide warmth and texture. Aluminium frames give a crisp, contemporary line that works in minimal interiors or high-humidity spaces such as kitchens. Profile depth matters. A deeper rebate adds presence on the wall, especially for large works, and allows for spacers or float mounts.

Colour choice should support the art, not overpower it. Black frames sharpen graphic pieces and monochrome photographs. Natural oak pairs with earthy palettes, botanical prints and Scandinavian schemes. White frames lighten dense compositions and keep attention on colour and brushwork. If in doubt, match the frame value to a dominant tone in the artwork or to the furniture finish nearby so the whole vignette feels intentional.

Mounting styles and glazing for longevity

Mounting affects both aesthetics and preservation. A window mount creates breathing room around the image and protects edges during handling. Choose acid-free, conservation-grade boards in a tone that complements the paper white. A narrow mount feels contemporary and graphic, while a wide mount creates formality and gravitas. Double mounts add a slim line of contrast that can pick up an accent colour in the room.

Consider float mounting for works with deckled edges or textured papers. The artwork is raised on hidden supports, then framed with a spacer so the sheet appears to hover. For deep, sculptural objects or thick papers, a box frame achieves a similar effect with more air around the piece.

Glazing is not an afterthought. Standard glass is economical, though heavier and more reflective. Acrylic is lighter and safer for children’s rooms and stairwells. If the wall receives strong daylight, specify glazing with UV filtering and low reflection so colours remain stable and viewing is comfortable throughout the day.

Scale, layout and the architecture of the wall

Scale is the most common error in domestic hanging. Aim for prints that occupy between one-half and two-thirds of the wall area above a key item of furniture. Over a sofa, the frame width should be at least half the sofa length. In a dining room, keep art clear of chair backs and lean into panoramic formats that echo the table.

For clusters, consistency brings harmony. Keep gaps between frames equal, typically 5 to 7 cm, and align either the centres or the bottom edges, depending on the furniture line. A gallery wall benefits from a unifying element such as identical frames or a repeated colour family. Start with a central anchor piece at eye level, then build out in a loose grid. For corridors, a procession of same size frames creates rhythm and helps the space feel longer and calmer.

Hanging height, fixings and lighting

Correct height is vital. A simple rule is to place the centre of the artwork near eye level, roughly 145 to 155 cm from the floor, then adjust to align with nearby mirrors or door heads. In rooms where people are often seated, such as living rooms, drop the centre slightly so the art reads naturally from the sofa.

Use reliable hardware. For small frames, a single centred D ring and picture hook is adequate. Larger frames need two D rings and a pair of hooks to prevent drift. On plasterboard, use wall anchors rated for the frame weight. In children’s rooms or high-traffic areas, consider security fixings that lock the frame to the wall.

Light transforms art. Fit dimmable ceiling spots to wash the wall rather than blast the glass. Picture lights can add intimacy in a formal room, while track lighting lets you adapt as the display evolves. If you upgrade glazing to a low reflection finish, you can light more strongly without visible glare.

Room-by-room strategies

Hallways benefit from repetition and a sense of journey. Choose a sequence, for example, a set of coastal sketches or family photographs in a limited palette, framed identically for rhythm. Kitchens need robust frames and glazing that can be cleaned easily, so aluminium with acrylic works well. Bathrooms suit small pieces and sealed frames kept away from direct steam. Bedrooms encourage softer papers, gentler palettes and frames in natural woods or painted finishes that sit quietly with textiles. In home offices, energise the desk wall with bold prints that keep your field of view alive during long calls, then place calmer pieces behind you for a refined video background.

Ordering online with confidence

An online ordering system streamlines decisions that might otherwise feel complex. Configure size, choose a fine art paper, select mount and frame, then preview the proportions in real time. Check that the external dimensions fit the measured space and that the mount width looks balanced. For large or colour critical pieces, order a small proof first to validate tone and paper texture, then complete the final order. A single platform that offers premium papers and bespoke framing keeps the workflow neat and ensures every component is specified for longevity.

Conclusion

Furnishing a house with frames and paintings is a design project that rewards methodical choices. Define the mood, select prints and papers that suit the room, then specify frames, mounts and glazing that protect the art while complementing your architecture. Get scale and layout right so each wall contributes to the flow through the home. Hang at considered heights, light with care and use robust fixings so everything stays perfectly aligned. With a clear plan and a reliable online toolkit, your rooms will display art beautifully and feel complete every day.