Ethan Allen Wall Art: Furniture Store Designer Collection

Okay so I just spent like three weeks deep-diving into Ethan Allen’s wall art collection because a client wanted to furnish their entire brownstone and honestly, I went in thinking it was gonna be just overpriced furniture store art but…there’s actually some stuff worth talking about.

What You’re Actually Getting With Ethan Allen Wall Art

So first thing – this isn’t like HomeGoods where you’re digging through mass-produced canvas prints. Ethan Allen works with actual artists and their design team curates pieces that are meant to coordinate with their furniture lines. Which sounds like a marketing thing but it actually matters when you’re trying to pull a room together and don’t wanna hire someone like me to do it for you.

The collection splits into a few categories and I’m gonna be real with you, some are way better than others. They’ve got original paintings, limited edition prints, photography, and then these mixed media pieces that are…okay the mixed media stuff is hit or miss. I ordered one for my own living room last month and it looked completely different in person, ended up returning it.

The Price Thing Nobody Talks About

Look, their art ranges from like $200 to several thousand. The original paintings obviously cost more but here’s what I figured out – their mid-range stuff (around $400-800) is actually the sweet spot. You’re getting quality framing, proper mounting, and designs that don’t look like every other furniture store piece. My neighbor has that big abstract blue piece everyone gets from West Elm and when I hung an Ethan Allen coastal landscape next to…wait, not next to hers, but you know what I mean, the difference in color depth was pretty obvious.

How to Actually Shop Their Collection

So you can’t just walk into a store and see everything. Most locations have maybe 30-40 pieces displayed but they’ve got hundreds online. Which is annoying because you gotta do this weird thing where you browse online, tag what you like, then call your design center and ask them to pull similar pieces for you to see in person.

Here’s what I do: I screenshot everything I remotely like from their website, throw it in a folder on my phone (yes I have folders for different furniture stores, don’t judge me), then I actually go to the store with those screenshots. The design consultants can usually find something similar in their warehouse catalog or tell you when pieces are coming in.

The In-Store Experience

Okay so funny story – I was at the Ethan Allen in Danbury last Tuesday and this design consultant named Michelle basically gave me a masterclass in their framing options. Apparently you can customize almost everything? Like if you see a print you love but hate the frame, they’ll reframe it. Takes about 3-4 weeks but it’s included in the price for most pieces over $500.

They’ve also got this thing where they’ll do room mockups with the art. Bring in photos of your space or just show them on your phone and they’ll use some software to show you how different pieces look. I was skeptical but it actually helped my client avoid buying this massive triptych that would’ve overwhelmed her dining room.

What’s Actually Worth Buying

The landscape paintings – specifically their coastal and countryside collections – are legitimately good. They work with artists who understand color theory and composition. I used one of their misty harbor scenes in a client’s bedroom and it photographs beautifully, doesn’t fade even though it gets afternoon sun.

Their abstract collection is where things get tricky. Some pieces are gorgeous, complex, layered work. Others look like someone’s first attempt at pouring paint. You gotta see these in person because the online photos don’t show you the texture and depth. Or lack of it.

The Framing Quality

This is where they actually shine compared to like, buying art on Etsy or wherever. The frames are solid wood, proper joinery, and the matting is acid-free which matters if you’re spending real money. I’ve bought cheaper framed art that warped within a year but the Ethan Allen pieces I installed three years ago still look perfect.

They use real glass too, not plexiglass, which gives you better clarity but also means you gotta be careful during installation. Speaking of which…

Installation Tips Nobody Tells You

So Ethan Allen will install for you but they charge like $75-150 depending on the piece size. I always do it myself or have my regular installer do it because their scheduling is terrible. Waited three weeks once for them to hang two prints.

Their hanging hardware is actually really secure though. Most pieces come with D-rings properly positioned and they include the appropriate wall anchors. But here’s the thing – measure twice, install once, because their art is heavy. That pretty botanical print I thought would be lightweight? 35 pounds. My client’s husband tried to hang it on a basic nail and…yeah, that didn’t end well.

The Sizing Situation

Okay this is gonna sound weird but Ethan Allen’s size categories run slightly larger than industry standard. When they say “medium” they mean like 30×40, not the usual 24×36. Which is great if you’ve got wall space to fill but I’ve had clients order pieces thinking they’re getting something smaller. Always check the actual dimensions, not just the size category.

Oh and another thing – their oversized pieces (anything over 50 inches) usually ship differently and take longer. One of my clients ordered this gorgeous six-foot abstract for above her sectional and it took almost eight weeks to arrive. Plan ahead if you’re working with a deadline.

The Collections Worth Paying Attention To

So they rotate collections seasonally but there’s a core group that’s always available. The “Modern Artisan” collection is probably my favorite – it’s got this mix of contemporary and traditional that works in so many spaces. Used pieces from that line in everything from a minimalist loft to a traditional colonial.

Their photography collection is underrated. Real photographers, limited runs, and the printing quality is exceptional. I have one of their black and white architectural pieces in my office and the tonal range is beautiful. My cat knocked it off the wall once (long story, involving a moth and poor decisions) and the frame held up perfectly, just needed to touch up the corner.

What to Skip

The metallic wall sculptures…I wanna love them but they’re overpriced for what you’re getting. You can find similar pieces at CB2 or even Target’s Studio McGee line for way less. Same with their word art and typography pieces – cute concept, not worth the Ethan Allen markup.

Also their “trendy” pieces, like anything that’s super on-trend right now? Skip it. You’re paying premium prices for something that’ll look dated in two years. Stick with their classic collections if you’re investing real money.

How to Get Deals

Okay so they do sales but they’re not like the constant “everything must go” sales other furniture stores run. Usually it’s twice a year – summer and after Christmas. You can get 20-30% off which on a $800 piece of art is actually significant.

But here’s the secret – ask about floor samples. If they’ve had a piece displayed in the store, they’ll often discount it 40-50%. I got an incredible mixed media piece for my entryway for like $300 that was originally $695 because it had been hanging in their showroom for six months. There was one tiny mark on the frame that I covered with a touch-up pen.

Also if you’re buying furniture from them, bundle your art purchase. They’ll often throw in free delivery for the art if you’re already getting a sofa delivered. Saved my client $200 doing this last spring.

Custom Commissions

Wait I forgot to mention – they’ll do custom work through certain artists in their network. Takes forever, like 12-16 weeks minimum, and it’s expensive (starting around $2000) but if you want something specific for a space, it’s an option. I had them commission a piece for a client’s stairwell that needed weird dimensions and it turned out beautifully.

Comparing to Other Furniture Store Art

Since we’re already here talking about this…how does it stack up against other options? I’ve bought art from Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, RH, all of them.

RH’s art is more expensive and honestly not always better quality. Their aesthetic is very specific though – if you want that restoration hardware look, you gotta buy RH art. Ethan Allen is more versatile, works with different design styles.

Pottery Barn’s art is cheaper but you can tell. Thinner frames, less interesting compositions, and everyone has the same pieces. I see that palm leaf print in every third house I walk into.

Crate & Barrel sits somewhere in the middle. Good quality, decent prices, but their collection is smaller and skews more modern. Ethan Allen’s got more traditional options if that’s your thing.

The Online Ordering Process

So if you’re gonna order online instead of going to a store, here’s what you need to know. Their website is…fine. Not great, not terrible. You can filter by color which is actually super helpful when you’re trying to match existing decor.

Shipping takes 3-6 weeks for most pieces, sometimes longer for custom frames. They’ll give you tracking info but it’s not always accurate. I’ve had pieces show up early and pieces that took an extra two weeks with no explanation.

Everything ships really well-packaged though. Lots of foam, corner protectors, the whole thing. Only had one piece arrive damaged in like 40+ orders and they replaced it immediately, didn’t even make me ship the damaged one back.

Styling Tips for Ethan Allen Art

Okay so you bought a piece, now what? Their art tends to be pretty bold, so you gotta be thoughtful about placement. I see people making this mistake all the time – they buy a gorgeous oversized abstract and then surround it with a bunch of other stuff and it gets lost.

Give Ethan Allen pieces room to breathe. If you’re hanging a large piece, keep at least 6-8 inches of clear space around it. Don’t crowd it with shelves or other art right up against it.

Their landscapes work really well in groupings though. I did a gallery wall with three of their smaller coastal scenes and it looked amazing. Just keep them all in similar frames – don’t mix their modern black frames with the traditional gilt ones, it looks chaotic.

Lighting Matters More Than You Think

This is where I see the biggest difference in how art looks. Ethan Allen’s pieces are designed to be properly lit – either with natural light or picture lights. I installed one of their textured abstracts in a client’s basement with terrible lighting and it looked flat and boring. Moved it upstairs to a room with big windows and suddenly it was this dynamic, interesting piece.

If you’re putting their art in a dim room, invest in picture lights. They sell them but honestly you can get cheaper ones on Amazon that work just as well. The art deserves good lighting.

Long-Term Value

So here’s the thing nobody really talks about with furniture store art – resale value. It’s not gonna appreciate like actual investment art, but Ethan Allen pieces hold their value better than most mass-market options. I’ve sold pieces on Facebook marketplace for 60-70% of what I paid when I’m redecorating.

Compare that to like Target art where you’re lucky to get 20% of your money back. The quality difference shows up when you’re trying to sell.

But also, you’re probably not buying this stuff to flip it. You’re buying it because you want nice art that works with your furniture. And for that purpose, Ethan Allen delivers. Their pieces photograph well, look expensive (because they are), and genuinely improve how a room feels.

My dining room has this massive olive grove landscape from their Mediterranean collection and I swear it makes the whole space feel calmer. My husband thought I was crazy spending $900 on it but now he admits it was worth it. Though he’ll never say that on the record.

Care and Maintenance

Real quick on taking care of these pieces – dust them regularly with a soft cloth, don’t use any cleaning products on the frames, and keep them out of direct harsh sunlight if you can. The UV protection on their glass is good but not perfect.

If you live somewhere humid, check the backing every year or so to make sure there’s no moisture getting in. I had a client in Charleston whose piece got some condensation behind the glass and it damaged the mat. Ethan Allen fixed it under warranty but still, prevention is better.

The frames can be touched up if they get scratched – their furniture touch-up kits work on the art frames too since they use the same finishes. Keep the care instructions they send with each piece, actually useful for once.

Anyway that’s basically everything I’ve learned from working with their wall art collection. It’s not perfect, some pieces are overpriced, but overall it’s one of the better options if you want quality art that actually coordinates with real furniture and doesn’t look like everyone else’s house.