TL;DR
Get decor and gifts delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Veranda published advice from interior designers on buying art, including researching prices, setting a budget, assessing a room and buying work that appeals personally. The report also recommends exploring local dealers, artists, auctions and consultants, particularly when provenance matters. It offers guidance, not a new market study or guarantee of investment returns.
Veranda has published a guide to shopping for art built around advice from interior designers, who recommend researching available work and prices, assessing the space and budget, and choosing pieces that reflect the buyer’s own taste. The advice matters to homeowners because it gives practical ways to approach a purchase that can be personal, costly and difficult to evaluate.
New York designer and shop owner Katie Leede advises buyers to look at sites such as Artnet to survey available work and get a sense of market values. She also recommends speaking with gallerists, researching upcoming auctions and reaching out to artists. Leede says buyers may be able to make an offer through an auction house the day after a work fails to meet its minimum bid, though whether an offer is accepted depends on the sale.
Designer Hattie Sparks Collins says the process should begin with the room: buyers can consider the available wall space and layout before deciding what to spend, with advice on framing and hanging art offering a useful next step. She suggests weighing a reproduction print with a custom frame against an original, then narrowing choices by subject and medium, including options for oversized art prints. Art need not match a room’s palette, she says, but can complement it.
Other designers stress personal preference and informed sourcing. Joy Moyler advises buying work a person wants to see every day and using its colors to guide frame and mat choices. Stewart Manger recommends art consultants for buyers making a significant investment, saying they can help verify provenance with artist foundations. Auction-house specialists can also advise on works from different eras and in different mediums.
A Practical Route Into Art Buying
The designers’ suggestions address two common hurdles: knowing where to look and deciding what is worth paying for. Researching galleries, artists, dealers and auction listings can broaden a buyer’s options, while setting a budget and measuring the intended space can reduce the chance of making a purchase that does not suit the room.
The guide also distinguishes buying art for a home from treating every purchase as an investment. A consultant’s help with provenance may be useful when a buyer is spending more, but the report does not promise that a work will rise in value. Its emphasis on choosing something personally meaningful offers a different basis for a purchase: the art’s place in the buyer’s daily life.
Popular right now
Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), Wireless Over-Ear Noise-Cancelling Headphones, Hazelnut Taupe
Dreame H12 Pro Wet and Dry Vacuum Mop
Bose QuietComfort True Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation, Black
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Room Planning to Research
The Veranda report presents advice from eight designers and covers both practical planning and ways to find art. Its recommendations range from viewing work online and visiting galleries to buying directly from artists, local dealers and auction houses. Designer Christina Nielsen says building relationships with dealers and vendors takes time, but can help create a reliable list of sources.
The report names examples including Patrick Mele—The Shop in Greenwich, Connecticut, Kenny Ball Antiques in Charlottesville, Virginia, and George Home in Washington, Connecticut. It also mentions sources at different price points, including Artnet, eBay, Wendover Art, Pad London Design + Art, Williams Sonoma and RH. These are examples cited by the designers, not an independent ranking or endorsement.
““Remember that if a piece at an auction doesn’t meet its minimum bid, you can still make an offer on it through the auction house the following day—and sometimes get a great bargain!””
— Katie Leede, New York designer and shop owner, as quoted by Veranda
Prices and Provenance Need Checking
The report offers designers’ advice but does not provide price data, independent market analysis or a comparison of sellers. A search on a marketplace can help a buyer see listed works and prices, but it does not by itself establish authenticity, condition or fair value. Those details vary by piece and seller.
The source also does not specify how much buyers should budget, or set a threshold for when they should hire a consultant. Leede’s auction suggestion is a possibility, not a guarantee of a lower price. Buyers considering a costly work may want to ask about documentation, condition, fees and return terms before committing.
Plan Before Making an Offer
The next step for a buyer is to identify the space, establish a spending limit and compare works from several sources. The designers’ advice points toward checking dimensions and framing needs, considering how a piece relates to a room, and asking sellers for relevant documentation. Those planning a major purchase can contact an art consultant or auction-house specialist about provenance and the buying process.
Veranda’s report does not announce a new event or a forthcoming market milestone. Its guidance is intended for readers preparing to buy; any specific price, availability or authenticity claim should be checked with the seller or a qualified specialist.
Key Questions
How should a first-time art buyer begin?
Start by assessing the space and setting a budget, then explore artists, galleries, dealers and online listings. The designers quoted by Veranda also advise narrowing choices by subject, medium and personal taste.
Does art need to match a room’s colors?
No. Hattie Sparks Collins says art need not match a room’s color scheme, but should complement the space. Joy Moyler suggests using colors in the work to guide frame and mat choices.
Where can buyers look for art?
The report cites galleries, local dealers, artists, auction houses and online platforms such as Artnet and eBay. The sources differ in the works they offer, so buyers should check details directly.
When might an art consultant be useful?
Stewart Manger recommends consulting an expert when making a significant investment, particularly to help verify provenance. The report does not set a spending amount at which a consultant becomes necessary.
Is buying art at auction always a bargain?
No. Leede says a buyer may make an offer after a work fails to meet its minimum bid, but an offer is not guaranteed to be accepted or to represent a bargain. Check the work’s details and any applicable costs before bidding or making an offer.
Source: veranda.com
