Chic and Affordable Art

I am the kind of person that doesn't mind spending money on something that I love and will keep forever.  For me personally, art is one of those things that you should love before you buy.  I am not even sure if I would spend $150 on a piece of art if it is not something that I truly loved and wanted to add to my "forever" collection.  Currently, I am in the middle of redesigning my living room and dining room and I am going to need art for some places in my rooms.  I currently do not have the budget to spend even a small amount of money for collectible art.  I have, however, found a few inexpensive ways to add art to my walls without breaking the bank or feeling guilty if I don't want it in a few years.  Here are some of my ideas:

These are some shell prints I bought a few years ago in Charleston, SC.  It is a collection from Natural Curiosities by Christopher Wilcox.  NOTE: When adding this link, I went to the website and there several really beautiful collections...you should definitely check it out.  The boxed set is called Conchology.  I believe there are about 14 pictures in a box.  Here's the box they come in.  I believe I spent about $55 on the box.

The prints were 14X14 and I chose 6 prints from the box and framed them using the Ikea Ribba Frame in aluminum ($17.99 each).  I actually put the prints over the mat because I thought it looked better than matting them.  I think it turned out rather nice for the price and amount of prints I used.

Here's another use of a larger Ikea Ribba frame in white.  I saw the idea on Little Green Notebook where Jenny shows off the idea of Kristen from K. F. D. Designs.  I just purchased the marbelized paper from Paper Mogo and framed it exactly as Kristen suggests.  I think it is almost the exact design as Kristens...

Mine:

Kristen's:

My husband had a few deer antlers sitting up in the attic and I decided they might look good in my new dining room.  I just hung some gold leafed sconces next to a large mirror over my buffet and propped them up on the sconces.  I love it...and you can't beat the price either...$0.

Oh, and I have one piece of art in my living room that is actually priceless but I thought I would include it in the post.  This piece is an oil painting by my very talented mother-in-law.  She is quite the artist.  She dabbles in watercolor, oil and sculpting with clay (she is getting ready to start a bust of my oldest daughter).  I LOVE this painting she did.  You may not be able to see from my picture but the colors in the duck's tail are gorgeous.



Do you have any great ideas for chic and affordable art?  If so, pass it on!