A lot of online art shoppers don’t feel good buying without seeing how it looks first—and 65% of them say AR helps them decide.
People Don’t Like to Guess
When someone buys art online, they often worry about how it will look in their home. They ask things like:
- Will it fit the wall?
- Will the colors match the room?
- Will it look weird or out of place?
In a real store, people can see the art up close. They can hold it, step back, and feel the size. But online? It’s just a picture on a screen. That makes it hard to picture the real thing.
That’s why a lot of people don’t buy right away.
65% Want AR to Help Them See
Recent numbers from a few market studies show that 65 out of 100 online art shoppers say they would rather use AR (augmented reality) before making a choice.
What does AR do? It shows the art on their real wall using their phone or tablet camera. They can move it around, change sizes, and try different pieces. No more guessing.
These are real people saying this. Not just a small group. Not a random guess. It’s across the U.S., Canada, and Europe—where online art shopping is popular.
A Few Stats That Matter:
- 65% say AR helps them feel confident about their choice.
- 42% say they have left a website because they couldn’t see the art on their wall.
- Sites with AR tools see up to 30% more sales.
- Art stores with AR report a 21% lower return rate.
Why This Matters to Online Stores
Let’s be honest—art is not cheap. Even the small prints cost something. And when someone clicks "Buy," they want to feel good about it.
Without AR, stores lose people who were almost ready to buy.
Let’s say 100 people visit your store:
- Maybe 10 buy.
- Maybe 90 leave.
If you add AR, some of those 90 will come back. They’ll try the art on their wall. They’ll show it to someone else. And many will come back to buy—because now they’ve “seen” it at home.
That’s a big deal for small and big art sellers.
What Buyers Say
A recent survey asked real shoppers how AR made them feel.
- “It felt like I brought the art into my house without buying it yet.”
- “I was nervous before. But after I saw it on my wall, I clicked buy.”
- “I showed my partner the AR version, and we made the choice together.”
It’s not about the tech. It’s about the feeling of being sure.
People want to feel like the art belongs. AR helps with that.
The Problem Without AR
Without AR, buyers have to guess. And most don’t like guessing.
Even with a size chart, a picture next to a couch, or a model room—they still worry. What if it’s too small? What if the color is different in real life?
Because of this:
- People delay buying.
- People close the tab and don’t come back.
- People buy, then return it.
Returns are expensive. They cost time, shipping, and trust. AR helps cut that down.
How AR Increases Sales
One well-known online gallery tried AR for three months. Here’s what happened:
- Return rate dropped by 18%.
- Cart size went up—people bought more than one piece after seeing how they looked together.
- Time on site increased—shoppers stayed longer, played with the art on their walls, and browsed more.
Another seller added a “View in Your Room” button under each artwork. In two months:
- Over 70% of buyers used it.
- Conversions increased by 26%.
- Abandoned carts dropped.
This isn’t magic. It’s just real people feeling more sure.
The Future of Online Art Shopping
Let’s keep it simple:
- People don’t want to guess.
- They want to see.
- AR helps them see.
- Seeing leads to buying.
In a few years, almost every big art site will have AR. The ones that don’t? They’ll fall behind.
Just like how people expect to zoom in on product photos or read reviews—soon, they’ll expect to “see it on their wall” too.
If your store doesn’t do that, they’ll go to one that does.
The Good News
AR isn’t hard anymore.
There are tools where store owners just add a tiny bit of code, and it works. No app. No extra steps. The shopper just uses their phone.
And you don’t need to do it for every piece manually. Most systems handle it with just one upload per product.
If you're running a shop or helping one, this is a smart thing to try. Because people aren’t guessing anymore—they’re testing. And when they test, they trust.
The Main Thing to Remember
Buying art online is growing fast. But just showing pictures isn’t enough anymore.
The numbers are clear:
- 65% want AR.
- Stores with AR sell more.
- Shoppers feel better when they use it.
If you're selling art, this is your sign: let people see it on their wall before they click “Buy.”
That little bit of help can turn a maybe into a yes.