There are many factors that may influence your choice of art for your home. Of course the first thing to consider is cost! Check out the local galleries, get an idea of what's out there. Also check out places like Amazon and eBay. Many towns have art fairs and art shows - check the calendar of nearby towns. Perhaps local colleges and universities will have some great items!

Go and see as much art as you can - you need to learn what you like, what strikes you, and what sort of options are out there. Don't just settle for the first dogs playing poker paining you find at the neighbor's garage sale.

Think about where the piece will be placed. What are the size restrictions? What colors will work well with the theme of your home? Brighter/lighter colors may make a room seem larger - and darker colors may have the opposite effect. Which do you want? How will the light fall on it? Do you want to have some sort of lighting to highlight it? Are there practical considerations - like, for example, some way it could be damaged by sun or weather? Or pets or children? That may influence how much you want to spend!

Next think about genre - do you want a painting? Photography? Abstract? There's many great options out there including amazing large print photography of nature or landscapes. Historic prints. Is there a theme to your room that artwork could enhance?

When the time comes to buy something - don't be afraid to bargain!