The morning light hits the glass of a framed botanical drawing, and for a moment, the room feels like a quiet library in an old country house. A collection of sketches leans against the mantel, waiting for the right nail.
The Martha Stewart aesthetic prints style is not about buying expensive original oil paintings. It is about finding beauty in nature, history, and scientific observation.
This look values the subject matter birds, flowers, landscapes and the way it is framed. It prefers a grid of matching prints to a chaotic mix, bringing order and calm to a room.
Here are 15 ways to choose art that makes your home feel collected, historical, and timeless.
1. Vintage Botanical Studies
Botanical illustrations are the foundation of this aesthetic. Look for detailed drawings of roses, ferns, or fruit that resemble scientific studies rather than pretty pictures.
The paper should look slightly aged or creamy, not bright white. These prints connect the garden outside to the walls inside.
2. Audubon Bird Prints
John James Audubon’s bird studies are dramatic and life-sized. A single large heron or pelican print commands attention in an entryway or over a fireplace.
Choose prints that show the bird in action. The detail in the feathers and the natural setting adds a sense of movement to a quiet room.
3. The Symmetrical Grid Gallery
Martha loves symmetry. Hanging a set of four, six, or nine matching prints in a tight grid creates a powerful visual statement.
Keep the frames and mats identical. This massing technique turns small, inexpensive prints into one large, impressive art installation.
4. Black and White Photography
Black and white photography adds a modern, clean edge to a traditional room. Focus on subjects like landscapes, garden structures, or close-ups of flowers.
The lack of color draws the eye to texture and light. It works especially well in a room that already has a lot of pattern in the fabrics.
5. Architectural Etchings
Drawings of buildings, columns, or floor plans appeal to the organized mind. They feel intellectual and historical, like something collected from a Grand Tour.
They look best in simple black frames that let the fine lines of the drawing stand out. Hang them in a study or a library for a studious atmosphere.
6. Oil Landscapes
You do not need a masterpiece to enjoy oil painting. Look for small, vintage landscapes that depict moody skies, marshes, or pastoral scenes.
The texture of the paint adds depth that a flat print cannot match. A small oil painting tucked onto a bookshelf adds instant character.
7. Pressed Ferns and Leaves
Bringing nature inside is a core principle. Pressing ferns or leaves from your own garden and mounting them on paper creates art that is personal and free.
Label them with the Latin name in neat handwriting. It turns a simple leaf into a scientific specimen.
8. Mushroom Studies
Mushroom prints introduce earthy colors like rust, brown, and cream. They feel slightly more rustic than floral botanicals.
These work beautifully in a kitchen or a mudroom. They remind us of foraging and the quiet beauty of the woods.
9. Antique Maps
A map connects your home to a specific place. Look for vintage maps of your local area, a favorite vacation spot, or a historic city.
The pale blues and creams of old maps fit the neutral palette perfectly. They are conversation starters that have personal meaning.
10. Gold Gilt Frames
The frame is as important as the art. An antique gold frame with a little patina adds warmth and history to even a simple print.
Mix gold frames with wood and black frames. The variety makes the collection look like it was gathered over generations, not bought in a day.
11. Bird Eggs and Nests
Prints of bird eggs or nests introduce the specific colors Martha loves: Araucana blue, sage green, and speckled brown.
They are delicate and quiet. Group them in a small space, like a powder room or a hallway nook, for a surprise detail.
12. Vegetable Illustrations
Celebrate the garden by displaying prints of vegetables. A detailed drawing of an artichoke, a tomato, or a bunch of radishes looks right at home in the kitchen.
It reinforces the connection between the garden and the plate. Choose prints that look realistic, not cartoony.
13. Seascapes and Clouds
Cloud studies and seascapes bring a sense of air and space into a room. Look for watercolors that capture the mood of a gray day at the beach.
These images are calming and vast. They work well in bedrooms where you want to encourage rest and dreaming.
14. Leaning Art
Not every print needs a nail. Leaning art against a wall, on a mantel, or on a bookshelf creates a relaxed, studio vibe.
It allows you to layer pieces and change them easily. This casual display suggests that you live with your art, rather than just looking at it.
15. The Wide Mat
A small print can hold a wall if it is framed correctly. Use a mat that is oversized four or five inches wide to give the artwork presence.
This technique draws the eye in and makes even a humble postcard look like a gallery piece. It is a trick that adds instant value.
Curating art for your home is a slow process. It is better to leave a wall bare than to fill it with things you do not love.
Look for prints that speak to your interests, whether that is the garden, the sea, or the history of architecture. When you frame them with care and hang them with intention, they tell your story.
A home full of art feels lived-in and layered, a place where there is always something beautiful to look at.