Transitioning from college life, where “hanging art” meant tacking movie posters to your dorm room’s walls, to adulthood, where decorating with class requires careful thought and planning, is a difficult one. Given infinite resources, the easiest path to entering the art world is to purvey your local art gallery, spending some time learning what you like, and purchasing some pieces to adorn your walls. However, for those just transitioning out of college or bachelorhood, replacing that Baywatch poster with a several thousand dollar piece of art is a serious step. So what alternatives remain?

Thankfully, there are options and choices for covering one’s walls that don’t require massive financial outlay, one being prints, or copies, of existing paintings or photography; however, visiting a few art galleries can still be a great way to figure out what you like, and give you some ideas on how you’d like to adorn your home. Do you prefer abstract art? Nature scenes? Black and white photography? Once you’ve settled on a style, consider how you’d like the art to appear. Forget about glossy rock-band posters, and focus on canvas prints. While you probably think of canvas as being expensive and for one-offs only, modern technology has made canvas printing feasible for all budgets, whether it be a copy of a classic painting or your family photos.

Since my wife is a photographer, her and I decided to cover the living room in some of her shots taken from our various travels. We printed one such photo, of the Saint-André cathedral in Bordeaux, on 16″ by 20″ canvas measuring .75″ deep, ordered from Easy Canvas Prints. On the wall, the three-dimensionality of canvas is unsurpassed, with the wrapped edges lending extra life to the photo. So, pull down that old “Trainspotting” poster, and add some character to your living space; canvas prints are a great way to instill traditional, old-world class to your home without breaking the bank.