If you want to decorate your house properly, then you should consider buying some paintings to put up. Don't buy photocopies of famous works – there are plenty of modern (and alive) artists who could use your support. If you want a good original painting, you should go to an art show and view the paintings there. However, there are many things you should think about before you go shopping for art. If you don't figure them out in advance, you could end up making a purchase that you regret later.

First, you should set a price for what you are willing to spend on a painting. Figure out your budget – maybe it's just $50, or maybe you're willing to spend several hundred dollars on a painting. You may not find something within your budget, but you should never buy anything that is even slightly above your budget. It can be tempting if you see a painting that strikes your fancy, but if you can't afford it then you shouldn't buy it. Get the business card or web site of the artist, and check back at a later date to see if they have any other work (or even the same one) for sale.

Next you need to consider the style of the décor that the painting will compliment. Do you have a specific decoration scheme that you stick with for your house? If so, you'll want to find a painting that complements the current style that you have already established. Even if you find a beautiful painting, it won't look so beautiful if it doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of your style. If you've got a modern décor, then you should look for a painting with modern sensibilities. Maybe you've got country style decorations. Then it could be appropriate to get a painting that depicts countryside, or cowboys, or anything else that would fit in.

This may not be quite as important to you, but you should also look at whatever information the artist provides about him or herself, and the painting. Oftentimes artists will put a pamphlet or a note card with their paintings, telling the story of its creation, and any events that inspired it. Sometimes you will find moving stories that help you understand the painting better. Other times you will find stories that deter you from buying the painting – maybe it was originally part of a hired contract that fell through, and so not much original creativity was put into it. To establish a good art collection, you should know as much as you can about the history of the painting, and about the artist who made it.

You shouldn't rush the process of buying art. Instead you should establish what exactly you want, then keep your eyes peeled for anything that fits those needs. If you go to enough art festivals, galleries, and shows, you'll eventually be able to find a nice painting that complements your home. But be careful – once you discover the joys of shopping for art, it can be difficult to quit.