Society6 Wall Art: Artist Marketplace Print-on-Demand

So I’ve been using Society6 for wall art for like three years now and honestly it’s one of those things where I wish someone had just explained how it actually works because the website makes it seem more complicated than it is.

What Society6 Actually Is

Okay so basically it’s this marketplace where independent artists upload their designs and then you can buy those designs printed on basically anything. Wall art is the big thing though. The artist gets a cut, Society6 handles all the printing and shipping, and you get art that isn’t the same mass-produced stuff everyone has from HomeGoods. Not that I don’t love HomeGoods but you know what I mean.

The thing that threw me off at first was understanding that you’re not buying from Society6 directly, you’re buying from artists who happen to use Society6’s platform. Which means quality can vary a bit depending on what print option you choose.

The Print Options You’ll Actually See

This is where it gets kinda overwhelming because each artwork can be printed like eight different ways. Let me break down what I actually recommend:

Art Prints

These are your basic unframed prints. They come in a bunch of sizes and you can get them framed or unframed. I’ve ordered probably fifteen of these and the quality is pretty solid for the price. The paper is this nice matte heavyweight stock that doesn’t feel cheap. If you’re gonna frame it yourself, get the unframed version obviously and save like $60.

One weird thing though – the sizes don’t always match standard frame sizes perfectly. I learned this the hard way when I ordered an 18×24 print thinking I could just grab a frame from Target and… it was slightly off. Not by much but enough to be annoying. So either buy the framed version from them or measure carefully.

Canvas Prints

These are stretched over wooden frames and ready to hang. I was skeptical at first because canvas prints can look really cheap and hotel-lobby-ish, but Society6’s are actually decent. The canvas texture isn’t too pronounced and the colors stay pretty vibrant.

I got this abstract piece for my client’s bedroom last month and it arrived with the edges wrapped nicely. No weird white borders or anything. The wooden frame on the back is stapled properly which sounds basic but I’ve seen some disasters from other print-on-demand sites.

They’re pricier than art prints though. Like significantly. A 16×20 canvas is gonna run you around $80-100 depending on the artist’s markup.

Framed Prints

This is what I order most often now because I’m lazy and also because their frames are actually nice. You get three frame options: black, white, or natural wood. The frames are real wood, not plastic trying to look like wood, and they come with a protective plexiglass front.

The natural wood one is my favorite – it’s got this light finish that works with basically everything. My cat knocked one off the wall once (cool, thanks Luna) and the plexiglass didn’t shatter so that was a relief.

Framed Canvas

Okay so this is canvas but then also framed. It’s a lot. Very statement piece energy. I’ve only ordered one of these and it was for above a fireplace where we needed something really substantial. It’s beautiful but it’s heavy and expensive. Unless you’re doing a big focal point situation, skip this.

How to Actually Find Good Art

The search function on Society6 is… fine. Not great, just fine. Here’s what I do instead:

Start with the curated collections on the homepage. They actually put effort into these and group things by style or color palette. I found this amazing line artist through their “Modern Minimal” collection that I never would’ve discovered through search.

Use super specific search terms. Don’t search “abstract art” because you’ll get like 50,000 results. Search “terracotta abstract” or “blue and gold geometric” or whatever specific vibe you’re going for.

Filter by color – this is huge. If you need something with warm tones for a room, use the color filter. It’ll save you so much scrolling.

Check out the “trending” section but also sort by “newest” sometimes because trending can get repetitive. Everyone and their mom has that one line drawing of a woman’s face at this point.

Oh and another thing – when you find an artist you like, click through to their shop and look at all their other work. A lot of artists have cohesive collections that work really well together if you’re trying to do a gallery wall.

Sizing and What Actually Works

This is gonna sound weird but I keep a note in my phone with standard frame sizes because Society6 offers like every size imaginable and it’s too much. Here’s what I actually order:

• 8×10 for small spaces, side tables, bookshelves
• 11×14 or 16×20 for medium walls, above dressers
• 24×36 for statement pieces, above sofas
• 18×24 is the awkward middle size that I avoid unless I’m getting it framed through them

For gallery walls I usually do a mix of 8x10s and 11x14s. Three to five pieces depending on the wall space. Don’t go smaller than 8×10 unless it’s a really tiny nook because it’ll just look lost.

The Quality Thing Everyone Asks About

Okay so real talk – the quality is good but it’s not fine art gallery quality. It’s print-on-demand, which means they’re printing these as orders come in, not doing limited edition numbered prints or whatever.

That said, for the price point? It’s really solid. The colors are accurate to what you see on screen, maybe like 5% more muted in person but that’s true of most printing. The paper quality on the art prints is legitimately nice. I’ve had zero issues with fading and I have some prints that have been up for two years in indirect sunlight.

The canvas prints are where you might see more variation. I’ve noticed that really vibrant colors sometimes look a tiny bit duller on canvas versus paper. Not enough that my clients notice but I notice because I stare at this stuff all day.

Framed prints are consistently good. The frames themselves are the real win – they look way more expensive than they are.

Shipping and Timing

This is actually where Society6 is kinda impressive. Most orders ship within 3-5 business days and then take another week to arrive. So figure two weeks total for most stuff. Framed pieces sometimes take a bit longer, maybe three weeks max.

They package everything really well. Lots of cardboard corners and bubble wrap. I’ve never had anything arrive damaged which is saying something because I order a lot of art from various places and damage is usually inevitable at some point.

International shipping is available but it gets expensive fast. And you might get hit with customs fees depending on where you are, so keep that in mind.

The Artist Markup Situation

Here’s something that confused me forever – artists can set their own markup on top of Society6’s base price. So the same size print might be $30 from one artist and $45 from another. The base product is identical, you’re just paying the artist more.

I don’t mind this at all because artists should get paid, but it’s good to know when you’re comparing prices. Sometimes I’ll find a design I love and then see it’s priced way higher than similar pieces and I have to decide if I love it THAT much.

Sales and Promo Codes

Wait I forgot to mention – Society6 has sales constantly. Like almost every weekend there’s some kind of promotion. Sign up for their email list because they’ll send you codes for 20-30% off pretty regularly.

Also they do free shipping promotions a lot which is huge because shipping can add $15-20 to your order. I literally have stuff sitting in my cart right now waiting for a free shipping code.

Returns and Customer Service

Okay so returns are a little tricky. You have 30 days but you gotta pay return shipping unless the item arrived damaged or there was a printing error. And since these are custom printed, they’re pretty strict about what qualifies as a return.

I’ve only had to contact customer service once when a frame arrived with a crack in it and they were super helpful. They sent a replacement without making me return the damaged one first which was nice.

My Actual Recommendations If You’re Ordering

If this is your first Society6 order, start with one framed print in a smaller size. Like an 11×14 framed in black or white. It’s around $50-60 usually and you’ll get a good sense of the quality without dropping a ton of money.

For gallery walls, order all your prints at once because you want the paper quality to match. I made the mistake of ordering three prints in February and then two more in May and the paper stock was slightly different. Not enough that anyone else noticed but it bothered me.

If you’re doing a large print, go with framed over canvas unless the artwork is specifically designed for canvas texture. Photography especially looks better as a framed print.

Check the preview tool before ordering. You can see how the design will look at different sizes and some designs just don’t scale well. A design that looks amazing at 8×10 might lose detail at 24×36 or vice versa.

What I Skip

The throw pillows and tapestries and stuff – I mean they’re fine but you’re really paying for the art prints here. The other products feel more like novelty items.

Those really huge prints over 30 inches – they get SO expensive and honestly for that price point I’d rather work with a local print shop where I have more control over the paper and framing.

The metal prints looked cool but I haven’t tried them yet. Maybe that’s next on my list actually.

Finding Artists Worth Following

Some artists on Society6 are really active and constantly adding new work. If you find someone whose style you love, follow them on the platform. You’ll get notified when they upload new designs.

I’ve also found artists on Society6 and then found their Instagram and commissioned custom work, which is a cool way to support them directly if you want something specific.

The line art people are everywhere right now – you know, those single-line face drawings. They’re pretty but everyone has them so maybe look for something a bit different unless that’s specifically your vibe.

Abstract landscapes are having a moment. Lots of earthy tones, organic shapes, very California desert vibes.

Oh and there’s this whole category of vintage-style botanical prints that are actually new designs made to look vintage. They’re perfect if you want that collected-over-time look without actually hunting through estate sales.

Anyway I was watching this show about art forgers the other night which is completely unrelated but fascinating – the point is Society6 is legit and the artists are real and you’re getting what you think you’re getting. It’s just a really accessible way to get original-ish art without the gallery markup or the mass-produced big box store sameness.

Just wait for a sale code, measure your wall space first, and don’t overthink it too much.