Why this conversation keeps coming up
Almost every interior design client asks about prints at some point. They are cheaper, faster to source, and feel lower risk. But the designers who build the strongest reputations are the ones who know how to make the case for original work -- and when original work is worth commissioning versus when a quality print is the right call.
What original commissioned art actually does for a space
A print is a copy of something that exists. Original commissioned art is created specifically for the space it will live in -- the dimensions, the palette, the light, the mood of the room. That is a fundamentally different object. It belongs there in a way that no print can replicate, because it was made to belong there.
For high-end residential clients and commercial spaces like boutique hotels, that distinction matters. It is the difference between a space that photographs well and a space that people feel something in.
The pricing conversation
Original commissioned art costs more than a print. But the framing is wrong when designers present it as a premium add-on. The better framing: a commission is a custom-made object created to the exact specifications of the space. Every other custom element in the room -- joinery, upholstery, lighting -- is specified and made to order. Art should be no different.
When clients understand that commissioned art is bespoke fabrication rather than shopping, the pricing lands differently.
When prints are the right choice
For rental properties, student accommodation, or any project where budget is genuinely constrained and the art is purely functional, quality prints are the right call. There is no shame in that. But do not let a client talk you out of commissioning original work for a space that deserves it simply because they do not understand what they are buying.
What I offer interior designers
I create large-scale original works in acrylic and oils, professionally framed and ready to hang. I can work across an entire fit-out -- multiple pieces at the same scale, in a cohesive palette -- so the collection feels intentional rather than assembled. For boutique hotels, executive spaces, and high-end residential projects, this is the offer that elevates a design from impressive to memorable.
Use the commission enquiry form below to discuss your next project.