Ballard Designs Wall Art: Designer Catalog Collection

So I’ve been ordering from the Ballard Designs catalog for like six years now and honestly their wall art section is where I probably spend way too much of my client budgets, but here’s what you actually need to know before you click that “add to cart” button at midnight.

The Scale Thing Nobody Talks About

Okay so first thing – their photos are SUPER deceiving. I learned this the hard way with their botanical prints collection back in 2019. What looks massive on the website is sometimes like… maybe 24×36 inches? Which sounds big until you get it on your wall and it’s just floating there looking sad. I always keep a measuring tape by my computer now because I got burned ordering their “Parisian Street Scene” print thinking it would fill this huge blank wall in a client’s dining room and it was basically poster-sized.

The dimensions are listed but your brain doesn’t process numbers the same way at 10pm when you’re scrolling. Print out a newspaper page – that’s roughly 22×12 inches – and tape a few together to visualize the actual size on your wall. Sounds ridiculous but I do this in my own apartment and it’s saved me from so many returns.

Their gallery wall collections though? Those are actually pretty well-sized. The “European Countryside” set I got last spring had like 9 pieces and they give you a template which I know sounds cheesy but it actually works. You tape it to the wall and hammer through the paper. My cat destroyed the template halfway through but I made it work.

Frame Quality Reality Check

Here’s where it gets complicated and why I’m still up thinking about this stuff – their frames are hit or miss depending on what line you’re ordering from. The “Ballard Essentials” frames are… fine? They’re basically what you’d get at HomeGoods but you’re paying extra for the curated art inside. Not gonna lie, I’ve swapped out their frames before for clients who wanted something more substantial.

BUT their wooden frames from the “Artisanal Collection” or whatever they’re calling it this season – those are actually solid. Real wood, proper hanging hardware, the matting doesn’t look cheap. I have their large abstract piece with the chunky natural wood frame in my hallway and people always ask where it’s from. The price jump is like $150 to $400 but you can feel the difference when you’re hanging it.

The gilded frames are hit or miss. Sometimes the gold looks expensive, sometimes it looks like spray paint. I ordered their ornate gold mirror frame piece for a client’s bedroom and had to send it back because it literally looked plasticky in person. But their antiqued silver frames? *Chef’s kiss.* No idea why the quality varies so much.

What Actually Ships Well

Oh and another thing – canvas prints ship way better than framed glass pieces. I’ve had three instances where glass arrived cracked even though the packaging looked fine. Their customer service is decent about replacements but then you’re waiting another 2-3 weeks and explaining to your client why their entryway is still blank.

The canvas gallery wraps are pretty sturdy. They arrive with corner protectors and I’ve never had damage issues. Plus they’re lighter to hang which matters when you’re dealing with drywall and don’t wanna hunt for studs. I used their “Abstract Coastline” canvas trio in my sister’s apartment and we hung them with regular picture hangers, no drama.

The Print Quality Situation

So this is gonna sound weird but I’ve noticed their print quality has actually improved over the years? Like pieces I ordered in 2018 versus 2023 – you can see the difference in color saturation and detail. I’m guessing they switched printers or upgraded equipment or something.

Their botanical prints are consistently good. The “Pressed Herbs” collection has this beautiful texture that almost looks hand-painted in certain light. I have the rosemary print above my stove (probably not recommended but whatever) and the detail in the leaves is actually impressive for a mass-produced print.

The abstract stuff varies wildly. Some pieces look like high-end gallery prints, others look very obviously digital. The “Coastal Abstract” series from last year was gorgeous – you couldn’t tell it was a reproduction. But I ordered something from their “Modern Minimalist” line and it had this weird pixelation thing happening in the lighter areas. Returned it immediately.

Actual Prices vs Waiting for Sales

Okay so funny story – I bought their “Tuscan Landscape” piece full price because a client needed it ASAP, and then two weeks later it went on sale for 40% off. I literally screamed. Now I have a whole spreadsheet tracking their sale patterns because I’m apparently that person now.

They do major sales around Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, and obviously Black Friday. But they also do random “Friends and Family” events where everything’s like 20-25% off. Sign up for their email list but make a separate folder for it because they email A LOT.

Their clearance section is where you can find actual deals, but it’s stuff they’re discontinuing so if you see something you like, you gotta grab it. I found their large “European Architecture” print for $89 down from $340 and it’s hanging in my office right now. Sometimes the clearance stuff is there because it’s ugly, but sometimes it’s just last season’s color palette.

The Custom Framing Option

Wait I forgot to mention – they have this custom framing service that’s actually not terrible price-wise compared to going to a local frame shop. You can send them your own art and they’ll frame it with their catalog frames. I did this with some vintage postcards I collected in Paris and used their simple black gallery frames. Came out to like $180 for three pieces which honestly isn’t bad.

The turnaround is slow though, like 4-6 weeks. So don’t do this if you need something quickly. And you’re shipping your art to them which always makes me nervous even though they say it’s insured.

What Works in Real Rooms

Their oversized pieces (like 40×60 or bigger) are actually where they shine. I put their massive “Abstract Neutrals” canvas in a client’s living room with 12-foot ceilings and it finally made the space feel grounded. These big pieces are expensive – we’re talking $500-800 – but you’re not gonna find that size cheaper unless you go the Ikea route, and Ikea’s large art is very obviously Ikea.

For dining rooms, their still life collections work really well. Food art in dining rooms is kind of expected but their “French Market” series doesn’t feel cliché. The colors are muted enough that they don’t compete with table settings and stuff.

Bedrooms are tricky because their art tends to be more formal traditional style. If you’ve got a modern bedroom, their stuff might feel too stuffy. But for traditional or transitional spaces? Perfect. I used their “Serene Landscape” diptych above a client’s bed and it completely elevated the room.

The Styles They Actually Do Well

Ballard Designs is really good at: traditional European scenes, botanical prints, abstract coastal vibes, and architectural drawings. They’re not great at: modern geometric stuff, pop art, photography prints, or anything too contemporary.

If your style is farmhouse-meets-European or like coastal grandmother aesthetic or whatever we’re calling it now, you’ll find tons of options. If you’re into mid-century modern or industrial or Scandinavian minimalism… maybe look elsewhere. I mean they TRY to do modern but it always feels like traditional trying to wear modern’s clothes.

Their black and white photography collection is actually pretty weak compared to their paintings and prints. The contrast always looks off to me, very flat. Stick with their color pieces or their sketches and drawings.

Mixing Ballard with Other Sources

Here’s what I do and what works – I’ll use Ballard pieces as anchor art and then mix in stuff from Etsy, local artists, or vintage finds. Their art is polished and professional-looking which means it can handle being paired with quirkier pieces without the whole wall looking chaotic.

I did a gallery wall last month using two Ballard botanical prints, three vintage seed packets I found on eBay, and a small original watercolor from a local artist. The Ballard pieces made everything else look more intentional instead of random.

Hanging Hardware Real Talk

Most of their pieces come with wire hanging systems on the back which I personally hate because getting them level is annoying. I usually switch them out for D-rings or sawtooth hangers. The wire thing works fine if you’re hanging on a picture rail or using those monkey hook things, but for standard nail-in-wall situations, it’s frustrating.

Their heavier pieces (anything over like 15 pounds) need proper anchors. Don’t trust the little nails they sometimes include. I use heavy-duty picture hooks rated for 30+ pounds because I’m paranoid about art crashing down at 3am. Happened once with a client’s mirror (not Ballard) and I’ll never forget that phone call.

Return Policy Worth Knowing

You’ve got 30 days but you’re paying return shipping unless it’s damaged or defective. Return shipping on a large framed piece can be like $40-60 so factor that into your “let me order two and see which one works” strategy. I’ve done that exactly once and the return shipping costs made it not worth it.

They’re pretty good about quality issues though. I had a piece arrive with a scratch on the frame and they sent a replacement without making me send the damaged one back first. Just take photos of any damage before you fully unpack everything.

Also their shipping is expensive upfront – like $30-80 depending on size – which is annoying but at least it’s flat rate per order so if you’re buying multiple pieces it makes more sense.

Okay so bottom line before I finally get off this couch and go to bed – Ballard Designs wall art is good for traditional and transitional spaces, their quality has improved, wait for sales unless you’re desperate, and pay attention to actual dimensions because their photography is deceptive. The botanical prints and large abstracts are their strengths. Skip the modern geometric stuff and most of their photography.

And measure your wall space twice before ordering anything because returns are a pain and expensive.