So you want to start and art collection. You have a new apartment, a new home, or a newly painted wall and it’s begging for decoration. You’ve passed the phase in life where your walls are covered in posters of inspirational quotes or cult classic movies. You’ve started to hang pictures of your friends and family, even an artsy mirror you picked up at the flea market. You are ready to start collecting art, but you have no clue how to start. It’s actually less daunting than it sounds.

Start With What You Like

The White Stagg by Megan Buccere $370 on Zatista.com

Hush, Untitled, 2011, acrylic paint, screen Print, spray paint, ink on wood. Image via New Image Art on flavorwire.com

First, familiarize yourself with art. If you are just starting a collection you may have no idea what kind of art you like. Travel to a local gallery or peruse Zatista’s on-line art categories. Maybe you will have an affinity for neoclassical art or acrylic paintings or artwork that uses a lot of muted colors, but you won’t know until you check it out. I used Pinterest — creating a board and continually pinned art I found appealing or inspiring — to familiarize myself with the art I want in my collection. I quickly realized I enjoy surrealism like Hush and Buccere’s pieces above. Now I keep my eye out for new artist and pieces within that realm. While it’s great to be open to different types of art, narrowing your field to start a collection can make it less of an overwhelming process.

Stick With Original Art

Tree of Life by Jeremy LeMahieu $1,400 on Zatista.com

Before you create the a wall of Ikea and Target artwork in your house (like everyone else does), make an effort to look for original art. (I once had a Pier One painting on my wall, but after collecting original art, it became obvious that original artwork is more personal. Like getting a one-of-a-kind dress, no one else will have and it will feel like it was made for you.) Original art is about choosing a piece you love and find meaning in it whereas picking up reprints is about decorating a white space. Buy art because you want to look at it, not because you don’t want to look at the wall!

Do Judge a Piece By Its Price Tag

Luxury Cores by Will Eskridge $120 on Zatista.com

For some, starting a collection is about an investment, but picking art by the price tag can lessen its artistic value. Founder of Big Deal Arts Advisory, Ginger Porcella told USA Today, “I always tell people that if you really like it, buy it, whether it is $50 or $500.” Browse art and find pieces within your price range, but make sure your love of the piece comes before the cost.

Collecting art is not just for people with million dollar estates and an affinity for Picasso. Original artwork is now more accessible than ever. Start slow and small, building your collection as you build your life. Don’t buy thirty pieces right off the bat and call it a day. Buy a few, follow some artists, check out new ones, and buy a few more. You will create a well-rounded collection you can enjoy and admire even if you move ten times. If you create a collection, you’ll always have pictures to hang, not walls to cover up.