Buying Art Is Hard. AR Makes It Easier. Here’s How.

Buying Art Is Stressful. AR Fixes That.

Shopping for art online is tricky. A painting might look great on a website, but what if it’s too big for your wall? What if the colors don’t match your space? Will it feel right in your home? These questions make people hesitate, and hesitation kills sales.

Augmented Reality (AR) changes that. Instead of guessing, people can see the artwork on their own wall before buying. They just use their phone camera, and AR shows them exactly how it will look.

This isn’t just a cool trick—it’s changing the way people buy art. More people are completing purchases, and fewer are returning their orders. And we have numbers to prove it.

Numbers Show That AR Helps Sell More Art

Let’s get straight to the point:

• AR increases online art sales by up to 40%. A study by Shopify found that AR shopping tools boost conversion rates by 94% on average across industries. When used for art, this increase is even stronger.
• A study by Shopify found that AR shopping tools boost conversion rates by 94% on average across industries. When used for art, this increase is even stronger.
• 77% of shoppers prefer AR over traditional images when shopping for home decor. This comes from a Nielsen survey. Seeing how an artwork fits in real life removes a lot of doubts.
• This comes from a Nielsen survey. Seeing how an artwork fits in real life removes a lot of doubts.
• AR reduces return rates by 25%. One of the biggest problems with online art sales is returns. People get the piece, realize it doesn’t fit their space, and send it back. AR helps them make better choices the first time.
• One of the biggest problems with online art sales is returns. People get the piece, realize it doesn’t fit their space, and send it back. AR helps them make better choices the first time.
• 60% of people say AR makes them feel more confident when buying expensive items. Art isn’t cheap. If someone is spending hundreds or thousands of dollars, they need to feel sure about their decision. AR helps them feel that certainty.
• Art isn’t cheap. If someone is spending hundreds or thousands of dollars, they need to feel sure about their decision. AR helps them feel that certainty.

Why People Hesitate When Buying Art

Most people hesitate when buying art for these reasons:

1. Size Worries: Will it be too small or too big for the wall?
2. Color Matching: Will it clash with the furniture?
3. Doubts About the Artist: If they don’t know the artist, they hesitate more.
4. Fear of Regret: Art is personal. If it doesn’t "feel right" at home, they won’t be happy.
5. Return Hassles: Returning a painting is a pain. It’s big, fragile, and expensive to ship.

AR helps solve these problems by showing the artwork in the buyer’s space before they pay.

AR Removes Doubts and Makes People Feel More Sure About Buying

When people see a painting in their own space through AR, their brain processes it differently. Instead of feeling like an "option" on a website, it starts feeling like something they already own.

• Psychologists call this the "Endowment Effect." When people imagine owning something, they start valuing it more. AR makes a painting feel like it's already part of their home, so they are more likely to buy it.
• When people imagine owning something, they start valuing it more.
• AR makes a painting feel like it's already part of their home, so they are more likely to buy it.
• "Try Before You Buy" Works in Every Industry Makeup brands use virtual try-on features. Furniture stores let people see sofas in their living rooms with AR. Car companies let customers see different colors and features before ordering. The art industry is catching up—and seeing the same success.
• Makeup brands use virtual try-on features.
• Furniture stores let people see sofas in their living rooms with AR.
• Car companies let customers see different colors and features before ordering.
• The art industry is catching up—and seeing the same success.

Big Brands Are Already Using AR to Sell Art

AR isn’t just a fun extra—it’s a serious sales tool, and major companies are proving it:

• Saatchi Art: Their AR preview tool helped increase sales and reduce returns.
• Etsy Sellers: Many artists on Etsy use AR to show paintings in real spaces, leading to more sales.
• IKEA & Wayfair: While they focus on furniture, their success with AR proves that home decor shoppers want this feature.

Small galleries and independent artists are also adopting AR because it works.

How AR Boosts Trust for Online Art Sellers

Trust is a huge factor in online art sales. If buyers don’t trust the seller, they won’t buy. AR builds trust in these ways:

1. Makes the product feel real. People don’t have to guess—they can see it in their own home.
2. Removes fear of a bad purchase. Buyers know what they’re getting, so they feel safer spending money.
3. Proves that the seller is legit. Scammers won’t invest in AR tools. If a website has AR, it signals professionalism.

When people trust the seller, they buy more and hesitate less.

AR is a Game-Changer for Art Sales

Buying art online used to be full of doubt. With AR, those doubts disappear. Real numbers show that AR boosts sales, reduces returns, and makes customers feel more confident.

Any artist or gallery selling art online should consider using AR. It’s not just a fancy feature—it’s a tool that helps people buy faster, with fewer regrets. And when people buy with confidence, they’re more likely to come back for more.