Canvas Prints vs. Posters: Which is Better for Your Space?

What should your wall art say about you?

Canvas prints and posters are both popular ways to decorate a home, but they each have different things to say about the place. Posters have a loud cry which screams personality. Canvas prints, by contrast, are a bit subtler and more elegant.

When I was younger, I decorated my space with posters. Partly because the shops I frequented, like video game and CD shops, didn't usually sell canvases. And partly because the bands and movies I wanted to put on my walls were hard to find in canvas form.

And that gets to the theme running through this piece!

• Posters suggest more of an impulse purchase; something that suited me at that moment in time.
• By contrast, the extra difficulty and expense of getting canvas prints suggests a kind of longer term intent.

As I've got older, I've actually opted for a mix of both, depending on the thing being depicted. I mostly have images of cityscapes and architecture which work fantastically in canvas form. But the poster I got from the time I went to see My Neighbour Totoro at the Barbican? Also up there (albeit in a protective frame).

If I still worshipped cultural icons in the way I did years ago, I'd definitely be doing so in poster form.

But that's just me. Which form of decoration suits you best? Let's explore the pros and cons of each, starting with a description of what each actually are...

What is a poster print?

A poster print is a printed image on thin, lightweight paper.

Being easy to put up and swap around, they're usually designed for casual and affordable wall display. Common poster sizes range from A4 (8.27" x 11.69") to A0 (33.1" x 46.8").

• Posters are great for putting your personality on display. People often use posters to display pop culture references such as bands, movies or other art.
  
• Depending on the quality of the poster and how it's handled (e.g. how often you move them around), they last a few months to a few years.
• Posters can also be framed for extra protection and longevity.

Ultimately, posters are proof that a sheet of paper, some Blu Tack and a dream can go a long way.

What is a canvas print?

A canvas print is an image printed onto canvas fabric and stretched over a wooden frame for display and hanging.

They're three-dimensional, so they're known for their durability and professional artistic finish. They come in a range of sizes, commonly from around 8" x 10" up to a whopping 40" x 60".

• Canvas prints are popular for showcasing photography or fine art in homes and workspaces.
• Being very durable (often lasting decades to around a century), canvas prints help create a refined and timeless look.
• Since they're thicker and heavier than posters, they'll usually take a bit more than Blu Tack or sellotape to hang up. Still, a hook or a few Command Strips is usually all it takes.

Canvas prints will always look like they know exactly what they're doing on your wall—even if you don't.

Canvas prints vs posters: pros and cons for your home

Both forms of wall art liven up a home, office or a studio. But the choice of interior design depends on the feel you're going for, and the room you want to decorate.

Here's how they stack up against each other!

Canvas prints vs. Posters: How they influence a room's style

Ever noticed how some walls feel "effortlessly cool", whilst others feel satisfyingly precise?

Canvas prints thrive on structure. They could be in a perfect grid, or a "tastefully imperfect" one. But they need space and symmetry to feel right, which is what gives them their very "intentional" impression.

By contrast, poster prints thrive on chaos. They can be neat or untidy grids. They can also overlap, tilt or scatter in whatever way fits your mood in the moment. That flexibility is part of their charm; they don't follow rules. They make up their own.

So perhaps it just comes down to what's more important to you: having total freedom, or achieving perfect order?

Canvas prints vs. Posters: Their colour saturation and visual impact

Colour saturation is one place canvases quietly outclass posters.

Both posters and canvas prints look great with low-saturation, or black and white photos. But for more vibrant images, canvas prints usually deliver deeper, richer colours owing to the fabric and the quality of the inks used. Posters can still look fantastic but can rarely capture the same depth of colour.

A bright poster may be able to catch your eye, but a bright canvas print can keep it there!

Canvas prints vs. Posters: How they affect a room's mood differently

It's not just about how posters and canvases sit on your walls. It's also about the energy they can bring into a room.

Canvas prints are excellent at creating a calm and considered ambience. Fine art in neat grids gives a space breathing room; it's less about brazenly catching the eye and more about quietly demonstrating your taste.

Unlike posters, which bring energy. Quotes, celebrities and possibly a rebellious tilt, poster prints want to be noticed. They make spaces feel alive, not restrained.

And that might be why we see canvas prints in art galleries—and posters in pubs. One type of print reflects quietly...the other orders a pint.

Canvas prints vs. Posters: How long you'll keep them up

How long do you want something to stay on your wall before it's time for a change?

Canvas prints are built for the long haul. They resist fading and their materials are designed to last decades, not just years. Especially if printed with timeless photography, they're a choice that suggests permanence in a place.

It's harder to have posters which go quite the same distance. But maybe that's part of their charm. Even framed, they're easy to swap out when your mood changes. They're a great choice for maintaining your connection with ever-shifting cultures.

In summary, canvas prints are built to stay. Poster prints are built to leave without saying goodbye.

Canvas prints vs. Posters: Creating impressions or capturing moments

Some art captures a moment; other art settles into the room itself.

Posters are great at seizing moments. They're an expression of interests and passion, and will boldly say: "this mattered to me at a point in time".

Alternatively, canvas prints make even simple photographs feel more immersive. A canvas of London feels like a window into the capital itself. Canvases of people help the subjects stand out naturally without being overpowering.

There's art you hang for right now, and art you hang because it feels like it belongs.

Canvas prints vs. Posters: How they shape or fill a space

Are you looking for something to decorate your walls, or something to help define the space itself?

Poster prints are great at breaking up blank wall space. They add personality to a room and keep it from feeling empty. But the wall is still very much the wall. Canvas prints, by contrast, become part of a space's architecture. They have a physicality which helps define the room's layout and even how the furniture feels arranged around them.

Posters decorate; canvases define!

Canvas prints vs. Posters: Their durability and longevity

What happens to your art as your taste changes?

Canvases demand more to create: stronger materials (like wood) and sturdier construction, making the environmental impact of their manufacture higher. But the tradeoff is durability; a piece that can stay with you for decades or can even be passed on or sold after a time.

Posters are usually made with lightweight materials with flexibility in mind. They're easy to rotate out as moods and trends change over time. But after their time, they're more likely to end up recycled or disposed of.

If sustainability is important to you, your choice should definitely be informed by how long you want the decoration up.

Canvas prints vs. Posters: Maintenance and protection

Wall art may be stationary, but some of it can be surprisingly fragile.

Canvas prints are extremely low-maintenance. Once they're up, they'll stay put, even if they might need an occasional dusting. They're built to hold their shape and can be easily transported without damage.

Posters are much more vulnerable to creases and tears—both when they're being moved around, and even when they're on the wall. It's not necessarily a bad thing; sometimes "worn out" posters are exactly the thing to create a mood. Otherwise, poster frames help a lot, but they restrict a lot of the poster's freedom.

Do consider what you want to be dealing with over time: dust, or battle scars.

Canvas prints vs. Posters: What they say about your style

And finally, when others visit your space, what do you want your wall art to say about you?

Canvas prints will give the impression of someone who's settled, or at least likes things to feel that way. They suggest you've paid attention to how your space feels as well as how it looks: calm, settled, curated.

Posters differ in that they wear their hearts on their sleeves. They more quickly tell others about who you are right now. Whether it's bands, movies or even quotes, they want others to know what matters to you right now.

Even if people don't notice directly, they'll still always quietly take away a few stories about the person who decorated a space they visited.

So, canvas prints or poster prints?

Poster prints are great at injecting energy and flexibility into a space.

But if you want home decor which is a bit longer lasting for a place you plan to be in  a bit longer, canvas prints are pretty hard to beat.

Still, they're both excellent at putting your personality on display. Whether you want a trendy and striking vibe or a calmer and considered one, the perfect choice of subject for the art on your walls is always a tremendous way to love the place you live. It's also a great way to catch the eyes, bring smiles to the faces of, or spark conversations with your guests and visitors.

Looking for timeless wall art? Explore our canvas prints collection to find the perfect piece for your home!

Summary and FAQs: On canvases and posters

Are canvas prints better than poster prints?

Both canvas prints and poster prints are great at helping you showcase your personality and making a space feel your own. But posters are the choice for adding energy, cultural references, and more temporary decoration because they're less durable but easy to change. Canvas prints are better for creating a calm, considered space with artwork that can last even up to decades.

How long do posters last compare to canvas prints?

Canvas prints can last up to 75 years (possibly more than a century) thanks to their higher quality materials and fade-resistant inks. Poster prints tend to only last a few years; possibly less if they're moved around a lot and not framed. Even well-kept posters won't last anywhere near as long as canvases because of their lower-quality paper and ink.

Why are canvas prints more expensive than poster prints?

Canvas prints use premium materials like canvas fabric and wood rather than just paper. They also require more production steps, including building the frame and attaching the canvas material to it. The extra craftsmanship, along with the higher price of the materials, makes canvas prints more expensive.

Do canvas prints look more professional than poster prints?

Yes, canvas prints look more professional than posters.

They create a clean, considered and high-quality impression. They're ideal for spaces where this matters, such as offices, meeting rooms, and homes with a more curated vibe. Posters are terrific for adding personality and energy. And, while tasteful and neatly laid out posters are still fantastic for offices, canvas prints give a much more ordered impression.

How do canvas prints and posters interact with light?

Posters are usually glossy and can reflect light strongly—and, especially if framed under glass, can cause glare. Canvases interact with light by diffusing it softly, helping to create a calm, non-reflective look. In bright rooms, canvases will look more settled, but posters can bring contrast and vibrance to darker spaces.

Are canvas prints or posters better for renters?

Posters are usually easier for renters than canvas prints. All a poster needs is some Blu Tack or masking tape, neither of which leaves marks when they're removed. Canvas prints need a non-marking adhesive such as Command Strips or a hook, both of which are still renter-friendly but are a little more involved. Both options work, but posters are a simpler way to decorate.