If you’re struggling with what kind of art to put on your walls, I’d suggest that the first step is strategic shopping trips. Depending on where you shop, you’ll find a different subset of all the wall art options to consider. Let’s tailor your shopping excursions to your tastes!

In the first article of this series on Where to Buy Art, I talk about the kinds of art you’re likely to find at a home store. Now let’s talk about antique store art.

Some people can walk into antique stores and take it all in at once. I am not one of those people. I tend to get overwhelmed by the magnitude of choices, so I focus on shopping for one particular piece at a time. When I’m looking for wall art at an antique store, I home in on the walls and partitions, as you might assume. But don’t let your survey stop there—sometimes you can also find stacks of art on the sales floor or hidden in a vendor’s stall. Here are several styles of art you may encounter.

Folk Art

Folk art is handmade art that I think of as “antique mixed media.” By my definition, folk art covers a wide variety of things that wouldn’t qualify as high art per se, but can be attractive nonetheless. Stained glass, woodworking, tramp art, homemade tapestry, and painted tiles could all fit into this category. Folk art is usually rooted in family and folk tradition in terms of its techniques and style. Essentially, it’s art that people made for their own use in their homes. Antique stores have thousands of examples from the past.

This style is a good fit for casual rooms. If you search patiently, you can find just the right piece in an antique store for almost any tone you want to express, from quirky to sentimental to outrageous. The honest quality of folk art has made it an ideal staple in minimalist decor, which often needs a touch of warmth and personality to balance out the spare furnishings.

Historical Realism

Historical realism is probably the most classical idea of art for many of us. These paintings portray scenes from history (think The Coronation of Napoleon by Jacques-Louis David), portraits of rulers and other notable figures (Queen Victoria, for instance), or scenes from the Bible or mythology (like Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam).

But historical realism isn’t limited to famous figures or giant canvases of major battles. Antique stores often have historical realism paintings or prints of “regular people” in the middle and upper classes from long ago.

If you choose to decorate your walls with this style of art, be intentional about where you hang the pieces. First, you may not want to hang a historical portrait where you’ll feel like the subject’s eyes are constantly watching you. Do you really want Mary Queen of Scots glowering at you from above the mantel when you’re trying to relax on your sofa, or staring at you in the dining room while you eat? Better to hang her portrait next to a window or in a hallway instead. For a touch of subtle humor, however, you might consider hanging a formal historical portrait in your powder room or bathroom.

Second, large paintings depicting battles or other epic scenes tend to command a lot of attention. If you have a large entryway or a blank wall in your formal dining room, try hanging a historical painting there. Not only will it fill the wall space, but also it will add a strong focal point that draws interest from across the room or from across the house.

Impressionism

Impressionism is one of the most popular styles of fine art these days. What began as a controversial 19th-century movement in reaction to conventional realism is now ubiquitous in modern culture. Monet’s Water Lilies series is a famous example of Impressionism’s popular appeal. Take a look at the example from his series below.

Notice how the loose, intentionally visible brush strokes in the painting give greater emphasis to lighting and color than to precise lines or contours. This creates a soft-focus image that is relaxing and pleasant to look at. For Monet, as well as for other Impressionist artists, expressing a particular mood was more important than depicting an accurate representation of the subject. From a decorator’s perspective, Impressionism’s gentle variations of light and dark create a subtle illusion of more space. So if you want a room to feel more expansive, try hanging an Impressionist painting or two on the wall.

Be careful, though, not to go overboard with this style in your home. Too many Impressionist paintings in a small space can feel excessive. A single Impressionist piece, however, is a welcome addition to almost any room. Many Impressionist pieces are versatile enough to be used in contemporary, traditional, or period style rooms.

Antique stores may have Impressionist style pieces by lesser known or more recent artists that are in an affordable range. You can also look for prints of famous Impressionist pieces.

Pop Art and Art Nouveau Posters

Antique stores are also good places to find Pop Art and Art Nouveau prints. Although art scholars might dislike my lumping these two styles together, I do it because they serve similar functions in home decor.

The Pop Art movement, which emerged in the mid-19th century, fully embraced commercialism and advertising as a reflection of the human condition and a worthy category of art. The classic example of this is Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans series.

Many commercial posters from the late 19th and early 20th centuries used the Art Nouveau style. The Art Nouveau movement emphasized natural forms and hand craftsmanship over mass production. (Ironically, though, some of these posters promoted mass produced products!) In my opinion, the most famous Art Nouveau posters have a high contrast graphic quality that’s akin to 20th century Pop Art.

Either of these styles look great in contemporary and eclectic decor schemes. They bring bold color and higher energy into the space. Since Pop Art and Art Nouveau posters do not add depth to a space, I suggest placing them above a console table or leaning them on a shelf where they can be paired with coordinating accessories. The surface and accessories will supply the three-dimensional elements missing in the art.

Unlike the sentimental signs I discuss in the home store article, these art prints may, at least on the surface, appear to celebrate crass commercialism. Strangely though, with the passing of time, they appear quaint and nostalgic rather than edgy. Who knows, maybe in the future we’ll have Facebook and TikTok logos hanging on our walls and admire them with affectionate nostalgia for the good old days. (I hope not, but you never know.)

Art Shopping, Anyone?

Although you can find other art styles in antique stores, I hope these examples help you get started in your exploration. Got questions about how to fit any of these styles into your home decor? Leave me a comment below!