Do your home’s walls look a little bare? Some artwork can go a long way in decorating a home -- and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune!

Real estate pro and stager Terrylynn Fisher says artwork can be an important accessory in finishing off a room. And while purchasing art can be expensive, there are plenty of inexpensive ways to get great art that you can use again and again when staging properties. I recently spoke with Fisher of Empire Realty in Walnut Creek, Calif., for REALTOR® Magazine’s February “House & Home” issue, where she shared with me some of her favorite inexpensive home updates (see Finishing Touches and Easy Solutions for Kitchens and Baths).

One of her favorite affordable artwork solutions for staging: Purchasing high-resolution, professional photographs on CD. The CDs contain 90-plus photographs--everything from architecture, scenery, locations to animals--and can be printed in sizes up to 24’’ x 36’’. The $25 CD has a range of photographs to choose from so she can always quickly find artwork to use when staging her listings and print it at the size she needs. Fisher, who has a Web site featuring tools for staging, sells the Print on Demand Photographs at her Web site, www.StagersLIST.com.

Inexpensive artwork can also be found on sites like art.com and allposters.com.

Hanging photographic art has become a big trend in home decor recently, according to an article from the Associated Press. Black and white photographs, streetscapes, landscapes, and portraits can make walls come to life, the article notes.

Hanging portraits can be a tricky one in staging a home for sale, however. What do you do when a family wants to cover their walls with family portraits when trying to sell their home? Can you make it work or will such artwork surely distract buyers? And is there any other artwork you should avoid when trying to sell a home?

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