Planet Wall Art: Solar System & Space Decor

So I’ve been obsessing over planet wall art lately because my nephew wanted his room to look like a spaceship and honestly it sent me down this whole rabbit hole of solar system decor that I can’t get out of. Like I’ve tested probably fifteen different pieces at this point between client projects and my own space, and there’s definitely stuff I wish someone had told me before I started.

The Canvas vs Metal Print Situation

Okay so first thing—you gotta decide between canvas prints and metal prints because they give completely different vibes. Canvas is softer, more traditional gallery feel, but here’s the thing nobody tells you: dust shows up like crazy on textured canvas when you’re doing space themes with all that black background. I learned this the hard way in a kid’s room where the canvas collected dust in like two weeks and looked dingy.

Metal prints though? They’re sleek and actually make the colors pop more, especially if you’re doing those vibrant nebula prints or the glowy planet surfaces. I put a metal print set of the planets in my office last month and the way light hits it is just… different. More modern. The blacks stay deeper. But they’re also more expensive usually, like 40-60% more depending where you order from.

Size Actually Matters More Than You Think

This is gonna sound weird but I see people mess this up constantly—they go too small with planet art. A 12×16 print of Jupiter just looks like a weird blob from across the room. You want at least 20×30 for a focal point planet, or if you’re doing a multi-panel solar system setup, each panel should be minimum 16×20.

I did a client’s home office with a three-panel setup (left was outer planets, middle was sun and inner planets, right was more artistic nebula stuff) and we went 24×36 for each panel. That scale made it feel immersive instead of just decorative. Cost more obviously but the impact was totally worth it.

The Whole Solar System vs Individual Planets

So you’ve got options here and it depends on your space. Full solar system prints where all the planets are lined up in order? They work great for longer walls, like above a couch or in a hallway. I found this really cool one on Etsy from a seller called CosmicPrintLab (I think that’s the name?) where they had all the planets to scale which was actually educational and looked amazing.

But real talk—sometimes individual planet prints give you more flexibility. You can create your own composition, mix sizes, add or remove pieces. I’m currently using just Saturn, Neptune, and Earth in my reading nook because those colors (the blues and tans) matched my existing color scheme. Didn’t need Mars’s red throwing everything off.

Quality Check Things I Learned the Hard Way

Order samples if you can. Some places let you order smaller test prints. The color accuracy varies SO much between printers. I ordered this gorgeous nebula print from one site and when it arrived the purples were basically pink. Looked nothing like the screen version.

Also check if they’re using actual NASA images or artistic interpretations. NASA images are public domain and free, so some sellers just slap them on canvas and charge premium prices. Which is fine if the print quality is good, but you’re essentially paying for printing services, not unique art. I found some sellers on Society6 who do artistic interpretations—like watercolor style planets or geometric minimalist versions—and those felt more worth the price markup.

Lighting Makes or Breaks This

Oh and another thing—you need to think about lighting before you commit to placement. Space art can look muddy and flat with wrong lighting. I installed LED strip lights with a dimmer behind a large Saturn print in my living room and it created this subtle glow effect that made it feel more dimensional. Cost like $15 for the LED strips on Amazon.

For kids rooms especially, consider prints that have some lighter elements or stars, not just dark space. A completely black background in a kid’s room can make the space feel smaller and darker than you want. I did a print for my niece that had lots of stars and a colorful Milky Way swirl—gave the same space vibe but kept the room feeling brighter.

The Frame Debate

Floating frames look incredible with space art. That gap between the print and wall creates actual dimension which plays into the whole depth-of-space concept. But they’re pricey and heavier. I use them for main focal pieces only.

For a gallery wall of multiple planets, I actually prefer frameless canvas or going with simple black frames. Keeps the focus on the artwork itself. I tried doing different colored frames once (thought it would be fun and playful) and it just looked chaotic. The planets themselves have enough color variation.

Where to Actually Buy This Stuff

Okay so from all my testing, here’s what I’ve found works:

Etsy has the most variety and you can find independent artists doing really unique takes. I bought a set where each planet was done in this Art Deco style poster design and it’s probably my favorite piece. Prices range wildly though—I’ve seen similar quality prints priced at $30 and $120 for basically the same thing.

Society6 and Redbubble are solid for mid-range stuff. They print on demand which means longer shipping but the quality control is pretty consistent. My cat knocked over my coffee on one of my test prints from Society6 (long story, don’t ask) and when I reordered the color matching was identical.

Displate does these metal posters that just magnetically stick to your wall. I was skeptical but tried their planet collection and honestly? Super easy to hang, no holes, and they look expensive. Good for renters or if you change your mind a lot about layouts. They’re on the pricier side though, like $45-60 per print.

For budget options, Amazon has some surprisingly decent canvas prints. There’s a brand called Innopics that does solar system sets (usually 5-8 pieces) for under $100. Quality isn’t gallery-level but for a kid’s room or a casual space it totally works. Just check reviews with actual photos because the product photos can be deceiving.

The Glow in the Dark Question

People always ask me about glow-in-the-dark planet decals or prints. I’ve tried them in two kids rooms now and here’s my honest take—they’re fun for like a month, then the novelty wears off and you’re stuck with art that looks kinda cheap in daylight. The glow effect also fades over time and never looks as good as the package photos suggest.

If you want a glow effect, go with actual lighting solutions instead. Those fiber optic star ceiling kits or LED planet lamps give you better control and look more sophisticated. I installed a moon lamp in my nephew’s room alongside his planet wall art and it ties the whole theme together way better than glow-in-the-dark stuff would have.

Layout Ideas That Actually Work

Linear arrangement—planets in order across a wall—works great for hallways or above beds. Use a level and measure carefully because if they’re even slightly off it’s super noticeable with the ordered sequence.

Clustered gallery wall where you mix planet sizes and orientations is more forgiving and looks intentionally artistic. I did this in my own space with three large prints (Jupiter, Saturn, Earth) as anchors, then filled in with smaller prints of moons and asteroids. Laid it all out on the floor first which saved me from making a bunch of holes in the wall.

Wait I forgot to mention—corner arrangements work surprisingly well for space themes. Put a large sun print on one wall and have planets wrapping around the corner onto the adjacent wall. Creates movement and makes the room feel more immersive. Did this in a playroom and the kids loved that the “solar system” extended around the space.

Mixing Styles

You don’t have to stick to one artistic style across all pieces. I mixed photorealistic NASA images with more illustrated vintage-poster-style prints in my office and it worked because the subject matter unified them. Just keep your frame style consistent if you’re doing this.

Also consider throwing in some constellation prints or astronaut imagery to break up all the spherical planet shapes. Too many circles in one space can feel repetitive. I added a vintage-style constellation map between my planet prints and it gave the eye somewhere different to rest.

Maintenance Stuff Nobody Talks About

Canvas collects dust—use a soft brush attachment on your vacuum on low setting every few months. Don’t use cleaning products, just dry dusting.

Metal prints can be wiped down with a slightly damp microfiber cloth which is why I love them for kids spaces. Way more practical.

If you’re hanging in a bathroom or humid area (weird choice but I’ve seen it), make sure you’re getting prints specifically sealed for humidity. Regular canvas will warp.

The Temporary vs Permanent Decision

Command strips work for lighter canvas prints (under 5 lbs) but I don’t trust them for anything heavier or metal. I’ve had two fall in the middle of the night and it’s terrifying. Use proper wall anchors for anything substantial.

For renters, the Displate magnetic system I mentioned earlier is genius, or look into gallery hanging systems with cables that mount to the ceiling or picture rail. More upfront cost but totally removable.

Okay so last thing because I’m watching this documentary about space exploration and it reminded me—consider the educational aspect if this is for a kid’s space. Some prints include planet names, fun facts, or size comparisons. My nephew’s room has prints that show Earth next to Jupiter to scale and he’s learned so much just from having it on his wall. Makes the decor functional beyond just looking cool.

The main thing is don’t overthink it too much. Planet art is pretty forgiving because space is inherently interesting to look at. Start with one statement piece, see how you feel about it in your space for a week or two, then build from there. I’ve rearranged my planet wall like four times now and each configuration has worked fine because the art itself is strong enough to carry different layouts.