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Where to Buy Vintage Art Online and How to Print Digital Art

Where to buy vintage art online and how to print digital art + picture frame recommendations for a designer look on a small budget.

Just like no closet is complete without a little black dress (I’ll always stand by that one), no room is ever complete without at least one piece of vintage art. Facts.

Art is a popular topic around here (and it’s trending BIG TIME)… whether you DIY wall art yourself or design an entire room around 1 inspired art piece, I’ve had an ongoing love affair with it here for a very long time. 

But I realized I’ve never shared some of my favorite vintage art shops and resources in one place.

vintage wall art in a boho cottage gallery wall featuring a hat, flowers, and owl and butterfly art

How to Find Vintage Art Online

Check Archives

I’ve mentioned my secret to finding free printable wall art online before, but searching through archives for the perfect art does take a lot of time. 

However, if you’re willing to devote hours sifting through literally millions of images in public domain archives to find the perfect digital art file, it’s totally free and can be a fun treasure hunt. Just make sure they’re high resolution at 300 dpi.

Search for Free Vintage Art Printables on Blogs

You can also simply search “Vintage Art Printable Blog” in Google, toggle to the “images” tab, and find hundreds of blogs that offer free downloads of art they’ve already curated for you. Some do require you to subscribe to email lists (like my own printable library) to get access. 

Purchase Vintage Artwork from Online Shops

There are SO MANY great vintage art online shops out there now where you can buy a download for as little as $2 to have printed and framed in an hour! Many shops sell digital images you can print yourself on your home printer, send the files to a local print shop, or order from a professional printer for specialty canvas prints. 

If you want it quick and simple… here are some of my favorite vintage digital artwork shops so you can find the best option for your style. 

still life vintage art on a kitchen shelf

Where to Buy Vintage Art Online

There are way too many beautiful online shops to list for buying vintage art, but these are my absolute top favorites where you can buy just the downloadable digital files instantly and inexpensively. 

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vintage map of Stockholm framed in a breakfast nook

How to Print Digital Art

If you’ve never done more than prints at home from your personal inkjet printer, it can be really confusing where to get high quality prints inexpensively. I’ve tried many, and these locations are my go-to art printing spots.

Where to Print Etsy Downloads and Digital Art at Low Prices

framed printed art on a kitchen counter

Depending on what is available in your area, you can usually upload your digital art files to the photo or print services pages at any of your local stores listed above and pick them up same day if ordered by 2pm.

Keep in mind that “big box store” local printers like an office supply store or pharmacy don’t always have the best results for fine art prints. But they have the most competitive prices, if you’re on a budget.

  • For small printsize – I often have my art printed at Staples or Office Depot on matte cardstock for 8×10 or smaller for about $1. 
  • For medium/large sized prints – For 11×14 or larger, I usually order through Walgreens Photo for same day pick up on photo paper. (Check their coupons page for a discount code. They almost always have one available to use.)
  • For extra large / oversized prints – Some Staples and Office Depot locations will allow you to print art onto engineering blueprints starting at $1.89. There are some locations that have a policy against this for some reason. As an alternative, you can use Overnight Prints for inexpensive large scale art on engineering blueprints. 
winter art printed in a thrift store picture frame

Where to Get the Highest Quality Print

For a specialty piece of art, it’s best to order digital art prints on fine art paper, archival paper, or giclee print using pigment-based inks, especially for larger size high-quality prints. These online printing services often have a slower turnaround time and additional cost, especially for prints with a slight texture added or deckled edge. But it is the best way to get a fine art image printed in vivid color for higher quality custom artwork to use as home decor. 

vintage wall art framed in a bathroom

Favorite Vintage Style Frames

Adding a vintage style picture frame (or even better adding a mat along with it) can make a simple $3 art print look upscale and authentic. I find gorgeous vintage picture frames at the thrift store all the time, but if you don’t like waiting around to find the perfect one in a thrift hunt, I love these frames too.

vintage style picture frames

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15

Got any other vintage art shops and art printing places you’d add to the bunch? I know there are many more out there and more are being added all the time with vintage art trending now more than ever in the past decade.

Frequently Asked Questions

How high should I hang a picture on a wall?

Generally, interior designers suggest pictures should be hung 57″ from the floor to the center of the picture frame, approximately at eye level.

Is there an easy way to hang picture frames?

Yes! I’ve sworn by the “toothpaste trick” for years! Dab a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto the nail hooks on the back of a picture frame. Holding a level along the top of the frame, press the picture frame in place on the wall where you want to hang it. The toothpaste will be left on the wall so that you know exactly where to drive in the nails.

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25 Comments

  1. This is fantastic! Thank you so much for making a daunting experience sooo easy! I can’t wait to dig in and get started on my own collection

  2. Thanks for these sources! I’m familiar with several of them, but not all. More to explore!
    I have a lot of vintage art in my house, and have had really good results with Zazzle. Not overnight, but relatively quick to print and ship. Thanks for sharing your ideas!

  3. Lauren,
    OMG- what a thorough and in depth sharing of this amazing part of decor and style. I sent a question earlier to you so ignore as I think you covered it all right here. Thank you!

  4. I love using iprintfromhome.com if I don’t need the print immediately. They have basically any size you could need, and a variety of different papers, which can take the look to different levels (they will send paper samples), and as an artist I appreciate this. But certain papers do cost more. I have ordered many times from them and have always been well pleased. (Bonus: it supports a small family business!)

  5. Thank you so much for this Awesome info! I’m looking for larger art and it’s so very expensive… this should do the trick. If not, I’ll go with the shower curtain idea! I love your creativity!