By an actual (and now obsessed) customer
Hey there! If you‘re reading this, chances are you‘re searching for the perfect piece of wall art to liven up those blank spaces taunting you at home. Well, let me save you some hair-pulling stress. I‘ve already dug deep on the best canvas print shops out there so you don‘t have to!
In this epic guide, I‘ll share my first-hand experience of decorating nearly every room with Great Big Canvas. You‘ll get the real scoop on product quality, framing choices, order process, pricing, and more based on some very extensive trial and error!
By the end, you‘ll know whether their museum-grade prints are a match for your style and budget. Let‘s dive in!
Why I First Took the Plunge
As a busy mom of three kids under five (send wine), I long gave up on decor beyond function. Then the fateful day came when my friend Kelly hosted book club in her STUNNING living room. I‘m talking designer furniture, tasteful colors, and the pièce de résistance…gorgeous big canvas art prints greeting me from every angle.
I had to know her secret! She gushed about discovering Great Big Canvas and how the artwork "made" the whole room. An obsessive down-the-rabbit-hole Pinterest spiral soon followed. Could these magnificent canvases be the effortless decorator shortcut I desperately needed? I was willing to find out!
The Hunt for the Perfect Prints
Scouring their enormous online catalog, I‘ll admit to getting overwhelmed FAST. Wasn‘t this supposed to simplify matters? But taking advantage of their nifty search filters helped tremendously. I could target color palettes, sizes, orientations, themes and more to hone in on options suiting my mid-century modern vision.
After hemming and hawing for a good three weeks, I finally pulled the trigger on THREE canvas prints for my long-neglected living room. Did I get a bit overambitious? Maybe. But mama needed some pizzazz up in here!
I selected:
-
A massive 60" x 40" abstract floral print with fiery orange and fuchsia tones in a floating wood frame to make a bold statement over the couch
-
A retro-chic 36" x 24" image of hot air balloons over a dreamy landscape in a thin black frame for the reading nook
-
A set of 16" x 20" botanical lithographs in simple white frames to flank the media console
Was I nervous about how well it would all come together? Definitely. But everything from the ordering to shipping process gave me confidence in their expertise. Keep reading to learn why Great Big Canvas had me ooh‘ing and aah‘ing far more than worrying after I clicked submit!
Unboxing the (Expertly Packaged) Prints
Let me tell you…these canvas prints know how to travel! Each piece arrived in a tightly sealed box literally surrounded by cushioning on all sides. I‘m talking thick plastic lining the box walls, reinforced cardboard corner guards, and plastic wrap securing the art within.
Rest assured your precious cargo will make the journey damage-free with Great Big Canvas‘ shipping approach. Even the glossy fronts of each frame came swaddled in protective film I soon delighted in peeling off (yes, I have simple pleasures).
Opening those boxes felt like revealing a present handpicked just for me. Which isn’t far from the truth considering the personalized size, frame and design options!
![Woman holding a framed canvas print unpackaged from box with smile]
^ Actual footage of me unboxing my long-awaited canvas prints!
And let me tell ya…these canvases SHINE in person. The colors …the details…the depth. My photos don‘t do them justice. I swear I stood there staring mouth agape for a good five minutes per print! They took my breath away.
Putting It All Together
Did I immediately start rearranging furniture to stage my Pinterest-worthy living room gallery wall? You betcha! Out came the hammer, nails, laser level and cameraman (husband) to capture every step for the ‘Gram.
And I‘m thrilled to report it took just ONE afternoon for us to transform what was recently a barren, blah space into a damned masterpiece!
Here’s a peek at the FINISHED product:
![Living room with red couch and printed artwork above in frame]
^Behold…my new pride and joy!
The floating frame abstract floral takes center stage, its fiery warmth and organic shapes bringing movement while the complementary colors and bodies of the flanking botanicals balance it beautifully.
I still catch myself staring in awe weeks later. TheWHOLE vibe of the room has elevated exponentially. And did I mention the insane color accuracy? Those vivid hues match the site images PERFECTLY.
![Close up photos of framed canvas prints in home]
My only regret is not buying MORE art for the other naked walls! But with an anniversary trip on the horizon, I convinced hubs we need some Italy cityscape prints to memorialize the occasion. Priority mail, here I come!
Okay okay, I know you’re not here just for my decorating play-by-play. Let’s dig into everything that impressed me about Great Big Canvas…
Critiquing Print Quality with an Investigative Eye
With so many canvas print providers out there using buzzwords like “museum-quality” and “archival-grade”, deciding where to buy felt like a shot in the dark. That‘s why I dug DEEP into understand what tangible things set Great Big Canvas‘ quality apart.
Here’s what my sleuthing uncovered from customer reviews, forum posts and their own crazy-impressive product guides…
They print with 12-ink printers. The industry standard is 8. This expanded color reproduction allows for over 281 TRILLION possible color combos. Beat that, competitors!
Inks are UV-resistant. We‘re talking fade-and-moisture-resistant for an estimated 60-80 years with moderate indoor lighting. I don’t know about you but I don’t plan on kicking the bucket anytime soon to test that claim!
Proprietary canvas is thick and durable. At 12 oz it‘s hefty enough for that expensive, luxury feel. None of that flimsy, cheap bedsheet nonsense from bargain sites!
Coatings add serious protection. Every print comes coated in protective layers like acrylic varnish. Brush stroke impressions can add even more durable texture resembling real oil paintings.
100% cotton, acid-free canvas. Only the good archival stuff that won’t yellow or deteriorate for their great-great-grandkids to enjoy!
It’s responsibly produced. From FSC-certified timber wood stretcher bars to recycled cardboard packaging, their sustainability initiatives impressed me.
Oh and ART quality? Every image in that giant million-plus catalog has been curated and licensed to meet high standards. I discovered some seriously incredible photographers and modern artists I now follow online thanks to GBC!
Framing That Dazzles…or Disappears Seamlessly
I‘ll admit it…I wrongly assumed frames were an afterthought. But Great Big Canvases‘ quality options add real oomph that completes a gallery print. As you saw in my little living room gallery, I deliberately picked three distinct frames to accentuate each piece.
Here’s an overview of what they offer:
Basic Wood Frames – Simple, affordable molded wood composite in various color finishes from light to dark.
Premium Wood Frames – For big ballers wanting next-level ornate frames handcrafted from Italian wood using old-world techniques. We‘re talking crushed velvet textures, silver leaf, the whole shebang!
Floating Wood Frames – My personal fave for their modern elegance! Ultra-thin wood profiles seem to float off the wall and spotlight the art while taking up barely any visual space. That flawless-looking gallery style for the win!
Custom Framing – Go FULL custom with matting, specialized UV-protectant glass, custom stain matches…you name it! Perfect for costly originals needing that extra shielding.
GBC frames are super secure too thanks to hidden hardware that’s simple to install yet keeps everything astonishingly level. None of those rickety, sticking out pieces getting caught on clothing like the cheapo Amazon frames I’ve bought.
I‘ve had compliments just on the FRAMES alone. So trust when I say it’s worth coughing up a few extra dollars to pick something complimentary. It makes ALL the difference!
Sweet, Sweet Customer Service
I‘ll be real…I had ZERO clue what I was doing starting out. "What size should I buy? How do I hang them? What about lighting?" My barrage of questions could overwhelm even the most patient rep.
But right from my very first call, the Great Big Canvas customer service team welcomed my design dilettante-ness with open arms. No question was too silly or small – they walked me through measuring tips, style recommendations for my goals, perfect pairing combinations of frame types and art…and then some!
I now have a direct extension for my fave rep Danielle (she just gets me). But every single team member I‘ve interacted with know their stuff BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS. It’s clear they use the product personally and have actually decorated their own spaces with what they sell. Makes all the difference!
Rest assured if confusing art jargon or installation gives you a headache, their stellar humans have your back. Reach out anytime by phone, email or even social for advice. Tell them Nancy with the botanicals and hot air balloons sent ya 😉
Cost Breakdown: Invest Now, Enjoy for DECADES
Hear me out. I know plopping down hundreds or even thousands for art FEELS painfully expensive on a pricey home decor spree. But I swear these prints are a long-game INVESTMENT that only appreciate over time!
Yes you can find cheaper prints…if you don‘t mind questionable quality that deteriorates and color-shifts in a couple years. What’s even the point then??
Great Big Canvas uses the cream of the crop materials, inks and manufacturing. The colors will still WOW decades from now thanks to those fade/UV-resistant archival finishes.
Take my word for it…you get what you pay for! But know there are always promo codes and sales if you time it right. While holidays jack up pricing, I saved 15% ordering in a seasonal lull. Just be sure to sign up for emails so they can nudge you for the next sitewide deal!
Average Pricing Breakdown
-
Smaller prints in the range of 8” x 10” or 12” x 16” tend to run $50-$100+. I treat these as splurge impulse buys all the time!
-
The 20-30 inch sizes I bought for my console run closer to $150-$250. Great for filling focal points without draining the vacation fund!
-
Stepping up to the bold 40-60 inch statement makers I chose can hit $300 on up. I save these showstoppers for key rooms and focal walls I want to dramatically transform.
-
And then there‘s the MASSIVE mural-sized options topping out at 10 FEET or more! We‘re talking four-digit territory. I’ll stick with my sweet spot 30-40 inch prints for now. Leave the sky-high murals to the Rockefellers!
I know what you’re thinking…that’s a freakin’ lotta coin! But here’s some additions to consider before choking:
-
Costs go DOWN per sq. inch for larger sizes due to fixed framing labor and materials costs. So think big for your statement installations!
-
Framing can tack on a good $75-300+ per piece. Go frameless or floating wood to keep things affordable.
-
Add-ons like custom stain matching, matting and microscopy glass come at a premium too for those wanting archival level treatment.
-
Multi-piece bulk orders can unlock tiered 10-25% discounts. Just sayin’…
So what might seem astronomical for ONE canvas drops substantially when buying multiples. For less than a lavish day spa package, I scored THREE museum-worthy works with smart choices!
Who Are Great Big Canvas NOT For?
After all this booty-shaking praise for GBC, you may be wondering…
‘What’s the catch, Nancy? Surely no product is THAT perfect?‘
And you know what? Fair call out! Great Big Canvas does come with a few downsides depending on your art priorities:
Not for bargain hunters. Are they the CHEAPEST prints? Nope! There are lower quality spots catering to barebones budgets. I view their products as investments in my home and happiness.
Not for original art seekers. GBC licenses reproduction prints rather than directly representing niche artists. Support elsewhere if hungry to discover rising creator talents!
Not for custom photographers. They don‘t print personalized uploads beyond names/dates for existing templates. Go direct to locales like Shutterfly, Snapfish or WHCC for creative control.
Not for heavy DIY-ers. Prefer stretching and stapling canvas yourself to cut costs? You’ll save more at Utrecht Art Supplies or Jerry’s Artarama with pro bulk materials.
See what I mean? This absolutely stellar company still can‘t be ALL things to ALL art-loving people!
Their specialty of accessible, curated designs in durable printable form caters more to taste-making visual lovers rather than hands-on makers. Know which camp you fall into before buying!
Summing It All Up…
Still with me? If your eyes haven’t fully glazed over by now, hopefully they‘ve instead lit up with excitement about the transformative magic of Great Big Canvas!
In case my exuberant gushing wasn’t clear enough, I can’t get enough of these magnificent prints to decorate the crap out of every wall, hallway and weird nook that needs an instant face lift without demolition dust.
Yes, the sheer scope of designs feels overwhelming at first (pro-tip…USE THOSE SEARCH FILTERS). But once you settle on a few fitting pieces, the buying experience is stupid simple.
Just know what sets this provider apart (archival everything, color accuracy, protective finishes) and what niche they don’t accommodate (budget buyers, original art discovery) before adding pieces to your cart.
Then prepare your eyeballs for pops of museum-worthy vibrance and textures blessing your bare walls the moment you tear away that sleek shipping box. Just promise you’ll come back to thank me later!
XNancy
