At Home Metal Wall Art: Store Collection & Reviews

Okay so I spent like three weekends diving into At Home’s metal wall art collection and honestly I need to tell you what’s actually worth it because their website photos are SO misleading.

What At Home Actually Has Right Now

So first thing, their inventory changes constantly which is annoying but also means you can find random amazing pieces. Last time I was there they had maybe 40 different metal wall art options ranging from those basic “Live Laugh Love” style pieces (skip those) to actually interesting geometric designs and some surprisingly good abstract faces.

The price range is wild too, like $15.99 for small pieces up to about $129 for their larger statement walls. I grabbed probably six different styles to test in my studio space and also used three in a client’s dining room which gave me good real-world feedback.

The Geometric Collection Stuff

Their geometric metal art is where they’re actually doing something right. I picked up this hexagon cluster piece that was around $49.99 and the metal quality surprised me. It’s not gonna be heirloom quality but it’s sturdy enough that when my dog knocked into it with his tail it didn’t bend or anything.

The finish on the geometric pieces tends to be either matte black or this gold-ish bronze. The gold reads more brass in person which I actually prefer. The matte black one I got has held up really well, no chipping after two months on a high-traffic hallway wall where it gets bumped semi-regularly.

Oh and installation on these was super easy, they have these sawtooth hangers already attached. Took me maybe five minutes to get it level.

Sizing Reality Check

Here’s something annoying – their size descriptions are including the negative space BETWEEN elements. So that geometric piece listed as “24 inches” is actually more like 20 inches of actual metal with gaps that make up the rest. Measure your wall space and subtract like 15% from their listed dimensions to get what you’re actually working with.

Abstract Faces and Figure Art

This category is hit or miss. They have these line-drawing style face profiles that are everywhere on Instagram right now. I tested two of them and here’s the thing – the thinner wire ones look cheap in person. The lines are too thin and they read as flimsy even though they’re not gonna fall apart or anything.

BUT they also have some thicker profile designs where the metal is maybe quarter-inch thick and those actually look expensive. I put one in a client’s bedroom and she thought I spent like $300 on it. It was $39.99. The weight makes such a difference, so if you‘re looking at these online try to zoom in on the product details where they sometimes list the metal thickness.

At Home Metal Wall Art: Store Collection & Reviews

Wait I forgot to mention – some of their face designs come in sets of two or three. The sets are usually a better deal but make sure you actually want multiples because returning stuff to At Home is kind of a hassle with their receipt requirements.

The Botanical Metal Pieces

Okay so funny story, I originally dismissed these because botanical metal art can look really dated and country-farmhouse which isn’t my vibe. But they have some newer designs that are more line-art style leaves and branches that actually work in modern spaces.

I grabbed this eucalyptus branch design that’s about three feet tall for a narrow wall space between two windows. It was $34.99 I think? The metal has this brushed finish that catches light really nicely. My only complaint is the leaves are hand-welded and you can see some messy spots if you look close, but from normal viewing distance it’s totally fine.

The installation on the tall botanical pieces needs two hooks because they’re weighted weird. Learned that the hard way when mine tilted after a week on one nail.

What Doesn’t Work From This Collection

Their palm leaf designs look plasticky even though they’re metal. Something about the stamping pattern they use just reads fake. I returned one after getting it home.

Textured and Layered Wall Art

This is where At Home surprised me the most. They have these multi-layer pieces where different metal elements are stacked to create depth. There’s one I used in my own living room that has like four layers of geometric shapes in different finishes – copper, black, silver, and this oil-rubbed bronze color.

It was $89.99 which felt steep for At Home but honestly the dimensionality is really good. Each layer is mounted on these little standoffs so there’s actual shadow and depth happening. When light hits it throughout the day it looks completely different.

Installation was more involved though, had to use the provided wall anchors and make sure it was going into a stud because it’s heavier than expected. Maybe 8 pounds? Took me about 15 minutes and I had to redo the leveling once.

Finish Quality on Layered Pieces

The mixed metal finishes are actually sealed pretty well. I was worried about the copper oxidizing or the silver tarnishing but after two months in a room with lots of natural light everything still looks the same. They must use some kind of coating.

The Word Art Situation

Look I know people have opinions about word art but sometimes clients want it so I’ve tested a few. At Home has moved beyond just “Blessed” and “Gather” thank god. They have some more interesting quotes and even customizable options sometimes.

The metal word art that’s script style tends to be really thin and lightweight. That can look elegant or cheap depending on the specific piece. I found that the ones with a backing plate look more substantial than the ones that are just floating letters.

Oh and another thing – the painted word art chips easier than the bare metal designs. I had a white painted “Home” sign that got a chip just from normal handling during install.

Large Statement Pieces

Their pieces over 36 inches are where you gotta be more careful. I looked at this huge circular mandala-style piece that was like 48 inches and $129. In the store under their lighting it looked amazing but I was worried about the finish consistency.

At Home Metal Wall Art: Store Collection & Reviews

I didn’t buy that one but I did get a large rectangular abstract piece that’s maybe 40×30 inches for a client’s entryway. The scale is great for big walls but you really need to see these in person because the photos make them look more detailed than they are. This is gonna sound weird but take a photo of it in the store on your phone and text it to yourself to review later because your eyes and brain work differently in the store environment.

Hanging Large Pieces

Anything over 30 inches needs proper wall anchors or stud mounting, don’t try to use just nails. I use those heavy-duty picture hangers rated for like 50 pounds even if the piece is lighter. Better safe than having it crash down at 2am and scaring the crap out of you.

Finish Options They Offer

The most common finishes are matte black, oil-rubbed bronze, gold/brass, silver/chrome, and copper. The matte black is the most versatile honestly and hides imperfections in the metalwork better. The shiny finishes show every weld point and rough edge.

I’ve noticed their gold is inconsistent between pieces even in the same style. I bought two “matching” geometric pieces for a client who wanted a pair and the gold tones were slightly different. Not super noticeable unless they’re right next to each other but worth knowing if you’re trying to create a matched set.

The copper develops this weird spotting over time, not sure if that’s intentional patina or quality issues. Happened on a piece in my bathroom so maybe moisture related?

Comparing to Other Stores

I’ve also looked at similar stuff from HomeGoods, Hobby Lobby, and West Elm to give you context. At Home’s quality sits between HomeGoods (cheaper, more hit or miss) and West Elm (way more expensive, definitely better quality but like 4x the price).

For the price point At Home is working at, their metal art is actually a pretty good value. You’re not getting gallery-quality pieces but for decorating rental properties or your own home on a budget it totally works.

West Elm’s metal art has better welding, more consistent finishes, and comes with better hanging hardware. But you’re paying $200+ for pieces that serve basically the same visual function as a $50 At Home piece from across the room.

What to Check Before Buying

Always inspect the actual piece you’re buying if you’re in store. I’ve seen quality variations even within the same design. Look for rough weld points, uneven coating, bent elements, scratches in painted finishes.

Check that all hanging hardware is attached securely. I had one piece where the sawtooth hanger was barely attached and came off in my hand when I picked it up.

If buying online which I don’t really recommend for this stuff but sometimes you gotta, read the recent reviews sorted by date because their suppliers change and quality can shift. A piece that was great six months ago might be different now.

Return Policy Reality

At Home technically has a return policy but you need your receipt and it needs to be in resaleable condition. The packaging on metal art is usually minimal so saving it isn’t hard, but keep your receipt because they won’t look it up for you even with a card.

Installation Tips Nobody Tells You

Most of their pieces come with basic sawtooth hangers which are fine for lighter items but I replace them with D-rings for anything over 3 pounds. More stable and easier to get level.

Use a level obviously but also step back like 10 feet after you think it’s right because what looks level up close can look tilted from normal viewing distance. Something about the design elements throws off your perception.

For textured pieces with multiple layers, be aware that they stick out from the wall more than you expect. I’ve had clients bump into them more than flat art. Leave clearance if it’s near a doorway or high-traffic path.

Oh and if you’re hanging above furniture, the rule is the art should be 60-65% the width of the furniture. At Home pieces tend to run smaller than you think so sometimes you need to do a grouping of multiple pieces to fill the space properly.

Best Sellers Worth Getting

That geometric sunburst design they keep restocking is popular for a reason, it’s like $44.99 and works in so many spaces. The scale is good for medium walls and the dimensional quality looks expensive.

Their abstract line art faces in the thicker metal versions are solid, especially the profile ones that are more artistic than trendy.

The layered leaf designs in matte black are surprisingly versatile, work in both modern and traditional spaces.

What to Skip

Anything that’s trying to look like wood or has wood elements combined with metal feels cheap. The wood is that thin printed stuff that peels.

Super thin wire designs that are trying to be minimalist just look unfinished in person.

The painted white pieces chip too easily unless you’re putting them somewhere they won’t get touched.

Mirror combinations with metal frames are hit or miss, the mirrors are usually pretty low quality and the metal frames can’t compensate for that.

Styling Multiple Pieces Together

If you’re creating a gallery wall with At Home metal art, stick to either all the same finish or max two finishes. I did a wall with black, gold, and silver mixed and it looked chaotic.

Their pieces work better with some breathing room between them rather than clustered tight. The dimensional quality needs space to cast shadows and create visual interest.

I usually do odd numbers – three or five pieces rather than pairs – and vary the sizes. At Home’s sizing increments work well for this, they jump from like 12 inches to 18 to 24 to 30 which creates nice variation.

My cat knocked down a whole arrangement once while I was watching Succession and honestly it helped me realize the spacing was too tight anyway, sometimes chaos teaches you things.

Seasonal Availability

At Home rotates their inventory pretty aggressively. If you see something you like don’t wait because it might be gone next week. But also their core geometric and abstract designs seem to stick around or get restocked regularly.

They bring in more decorative seasonal stuff around fall and holidays that’s pretty hit or miss quality-wise. The permanent collection is generally better made than the seasonal additions.

Online vs In Store

In store selection is way better than online from what I’ve seen. Their website has maybe a third of what’s actually in stores. Plus you can inspect quality in person which really matters for metal art where finish consistency varies.

The store displays are actually pretty helpful, they show the pieces at proper height on walls with furniture context which helps you visualize scale better than website photos.

If you’re ordering online definitely check the dimensions carefully and maybe order two options to compare knowing you’ll return one, because the photos really don’t capture the actual look accurately.

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