Royalty-free photography sites are libraries of free images donated by professional
photographers for personal or even commercial use. These digital treasure troves host a
plethora of high-resolution images, perfect for printing and adorning your walls.
(especially when put to paper in
giclée quality!). From captivating landscapes to abstract masterpieces, there's something to suit
every style and space.
The images on these sites are free of charge and legal to print, but you can still say
thank you by sharing thanks on your social networks or even making a donation. After
all, a small thank you is well worth a beautiful photo that brings artful intrigue to
your walls. Get started on your journey with our curated list of favorite sites below,
and bring a touch of artistry to your home decor effortlessly.
Unsplash →
Our pick for modern photography, filled with thousands of options.
Dupe Photos →
A trendy library of free images shared by photographers. (Don't forget to tag them!)
Several decor companies take classic works of art, print them, and sell them at high dollar. But what you might not know is that the same framed Monet print being sold for hundreds is a free download that can be printed completely legally. That means you can bring that Degas or Klimt you've always wanted home by simply printing and framing an image that's available for everyone.
What is public domain? As you peruse through these timeless works of past centuries, just make sure to look for those that are marked copyright-free or, more commonly, public domain. Works of art most often become public domain once their copyright expires or when an artist deliberately gives up or forgoes copyright.
The Met →
New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, iconically nicknamed the Met, has made its archives available to the public.
The Getty →
Los Angeles' celebrated Getty Museum has also made thousands of public domain works available for a broad range of uses.
A well-designed poster print is a welcome addition to any at-home wall art collection. With a little bit of searching you can find some of the many free collections that pop up from time to time for digital download. One of our personal favorites is the Travel Poster Collection from The Library of Congress. You should have no trouble finding a frame thanks to the standard sizing of these posters!
04
From our Designers
When it comes to filling our walls, we love mixing framed photography with art to create
an elevated yet personalized look.
Still, we know finding eye-catching art that suits your style can be a difficult task.
So as a little gift from us to you, we asked our Creative Team to create and curate art
that you can enjoy as
free downloadable prints.
These files are ready for print and pair perfectly with our
Large Format Prints
and our collection of
custom Frames —
designed to wow your walls.
Below is a sneak peek sharing the different designs —
head to the link to download your dream gallery wall or coffee table book.
A little bit of "wallpaper" can go a long way. And that's where patterns, textures, and florals can come in! Framing these little pockets of patterning creates unique dimension, serving as a beautiful accent that helps room decor and even other pieces in a gallery wall pop. Look to any of the sources we've listed above: each has its fair share of options. We're especially partial to florals (as if you couldn't tell!), so we're including a few favorites — just in case you love them as much as we do.
Martin Schongauer
It should be less than surprising that we still think your own photos are the best choice for your walls. After all, nothing can match the meaningful nature of the moments you love looking back on. Plus, using your own photos doesn't mean you can't still create some interesting visual effects. With the widespread availability of filters, it's simple to reinvent your photos in ways that bring a little something extra to your walls. From Instagram filters to Lightroom presets, VSCO presets, and beyond, there's no shortage of possibilities to create something truly unique from your own camera roll.
Once you've found the piece you want to put in print, it's time to make sure you're taking the simple steps that ensure a quality print.
Quality Makes All the Difference
Not every print is created equal. That's why our Large Format Prints and Framed Prints are always rendered in true-to-life, giclée quality — the standard for fine art printing. You can learn more about what makes our process so special in our guide to giclée printing.
Always Use the Highest Resolution
Many sites will give you options for the size of the image you're downloading. Always choose the largest and highest-resolution option. Then, make sure to open the file and confirm that the resolution is at least 150 dots per inch (300 is ideal). Check out our guide to enlarging photos if you don't know how!
Cropping Can Go A Long Way
Especially with classic works of arts that don't adhere to standardized dimensions, a little bit of cropping can go a long way in terms of avoiding the extra costs that can come with custom framing. In our editor, you'll be able to size, crop, and mat the image without much effort.
Don't Sweat It at Checkout
We always do our due diligence to make sure the photos we print belong to those who have the rights to print them. In fact, when you go to add your new frame or print to your cart, you'll see a message pop up asking you to confirm this. As long as the image you've chosen is copyright-free, you're safe to say "yes, they're mine!"
