Try This Budget-Friendly Way To Decorate Your Home With Unique Art

In a world flooded with AI images, there's something to be said for the authenticity of a piece of art made by a human. This is particularly true if you're inclined to use vintage decor, like decor from the Victorian Era. However, some may be tempted to turn to, shall we say, artificial means to decorate. This is because they believe that it's the only way they can decorate on a budget. In light of this, there's an argument for introducing them to unique photos and artwork that are in the public domain. The cost? Nothing, except the time it takes to find images and format them into printable form, plus the cost of photo paper and frames.

Sites like Old Book Illustrations and Library of Congress are among the places you'll find public domain images. Other sites, like Project Gutenberg, include not only images, but texts, too. If you love images from vintage Beatrix Potter books, for example, you'll find them on Project Gutenberg. University libraries can also be good places to look when you're ready to make artwork for your gallery wall. Often, they're a clearinghouse for multiple sites. They've usually also vetted the sites, so you can be sure the images you're using are public domain.

To frame the artwork, you'll need a printer filled with quality photo paper. These come in different finishes, but the most commonly used is glossy. Avoid using regular printer paper because the images will not look high quality once they're printed. You'll also need some scissors and the frame you'll put the image in.

Once you've found the image you'd like to use, you'll need to make a print of it. To make a clear, crisp print, the resolution of the image you're working with needs to be 300 dpi (dots per inch). If the image is in RGB color format, you may need to convert it to CMYK. However, with the advances in many modern printers, this isn't always the case so check your printer settings if it will convert the files for you. The photo should also be in a JPG or TIFF file format. 

If your photos aren't up to these specifications, you may end up with images that look grainy or blurry. Lower resolutions, like 72 dpi, and RGB color format are intended for the graphics you see online; therefore, they're not suitable for printing high quality images. If you find an image with these specifications, you can convert the file on your computer or phone with programs like Adobe Photoshop or with online software like Canva. Resolution is especially important if your goal is to make your photos into a giant wall art.

Additionally, some old pieces of art might look faded or the color will look sort of wonky due to their age. If that turns out to be the case with the artwork you've chosen, you may also be able to correct these issues in Photoshop, Canva, or a similar program. Once you make your digital file, send it to your printer, and print the photo out. You may have to trim the finished product with scissors to make it fit into your frame. To create a sharper, more polished look, consider adding a mat to the frame, too. 

Using public domain works to create artwork for your gallery wall doesn't require you to get permission from the original creator or owner of the work to make a print of it. Public domain works belong to no one and everyone at the same time so they are free to use. That said, just because an image is on the internet, or even in an old book, doesn't mean it's free. It most likely will still have copyright protections. Sites like Wikimedia Commons allow the use of their images for free, but some will come with restrictions. For example, you may be allowed to copy an image for personal use but not for commercial use, so you wouldn't be able to use the picture to make a calendar you plan on selling. Always confirm the copyright on the image you want to use before printing it. 

Keep in mind that some online printers, and even some brick-and-mortar shops like the photo booth at Walgreens, may not print your photo if there's any question to its copyright status. This stance stems from the vendor's fears of infringing on the owner's copyright protections. Your best bet is to have proof that you can use the photo before you hit the vendor up to make the print. If you're printing the image from your home computer, this won't be such an issue.