Buying Guides
The Easy Way to Choose Art You'll Never Get Tired Of
The best art is art you'll love for years. Here's the easy way to choose art you'll never get tired of—simple rules for timeless art selection.
9 min read
The best art doesn't just decorate—it transports. Learn how to choose art that feels like a window to another place, creating connection and escape rather than just filling space.
How to Choose Art That Feels Like a Window, Not a Decoration
Most art decorates. The best art transports. It feels like a window to another place—a connection, an escape, a view. Here's how to choose art that feels like a window, not just decoration.
Decoration:
Window:
The difference: Decoration is passive. Window is active. Window creates experience.
Windows in art:
The effect: Art becomes portal, not just picture.
What it is: Art that looks like real place, real moment, real view
Why it works:
Best examples:
The rule: More realistic = more like window.
This award-winning piece from Asia demonstrates depth and perspective—the grand forest scene with natural depth creates three-dimensional quality that feels like looking through a window.
What it is: Scenes that show distance, depth, receding elements
Why it works:
Best examples:
The rule: More depth = more like window.
This award-winning piece from North America demonstrates natural light—the night sky scene with natural illumination creates realistic window-like quality with authentic lighting.
What it is: Realistic lighting, natural illumination, authentic light
Why it works:
Best examples:
The rule: Natural light = realistic window.
What it is: Large enough to feel immersive, not just decorative
Why it works:
Best examples:
The rule: Larger = more immersive = more like window.
What it is: Real nature scenes, authentic landscapes, true places
Why it works:
Best examples:
The rule: Real nature = real window.
Why it feels decorative:
Avoid: Heavy stylization, artificial looks, design-focused art.
Why it feels decorative:
Avoid: Flat compositions, no perspective, surface-only art.
Why it feels decorative:
Note: Abstract can be beautiful, but it's decoration, not window.
Why it feels decorative:
Avoid: Art that's too small to be immersive.
Why it feels decorative:
Avoid: Over-saturated, artificial, manipulated colors.
Check for:
The more realistic, the more like window.
Check for:
The more depth, the more like window.
Check for:
The more natural light, the more like window.
For window effect:
Why: Large art feels more like window than decoration.
Best subjects:
Why: Real nature creates real connection.
Art: Large realistic landscape (72 inches wide)
Effect: Feels like window to landscape, not decoration.
Art: Large calm water scene (60 inches wide)
Effect: Feels like window to peaceful place, transports you.
Art: Large mountain vista (54 inches wide)
Effect: Feels like window to inspiring place, creates escape.
For window effect:
Result: Art feels like window, not decoration.
For window effect:
Result: Proper lighting makes art feel more like window.
For window effect:
Result: Framing supports window effect.
For window effect:
Result: Space enhances window effect.
Answer: Not necessarily, but realistic representation helps. The more realistic, the more like window. But artistic interpretation can still feel like window if it has depth, natural light, and connection to real place.
Answer: Abstract art can be beautiful, but it's decoration, not window. Windows show places. Abstract shows design. Both have value, but different purposes.
Answer: 50-80% of wall width for walls, 60-75% for furniture. Large enough to be immersive, not just decorative. Size matters for window effect.
Answer: Yes. Natural, realistic colors feel like window. Artificial, manipulated colors feel decorative. Authentic color = authentic window.
Art that feels like window:
Art that feels decorative:
How to choose:
Remember: The best art doesn't just decorate—it transports. It feels like a window to another place, creating connection and escape. Choose realistic, deep, naturally lit, large, authentic nature scenes. Place them well. Light them properly. Let them become windows, not just decorations.
Your art, your window, your escape.
Browse our complete collection of glaciers photography with 36 prints available.
The best art is art you'll love for years. Here's the easy way to choose art you'll never get tired of—simple rules for timeless art selection.
Art buying doesn't have to be complicated. Here's how to choose simple, beautiful art without overthinking—straightforward advice for people who want great art without the analysis paralysis.
Galleries aren't the only place to buy art. Here's a direct, honest guide to buying landscape art directly from artists, online, and through other channels—without gallery markup or intimidation.