Canvas prints have become one of the most popular ways to display photographs and artwork in homes across the UK. Whether you're looking to transform a cherished family photo into a stunning wall feature or create a personalised gift for someone special, canvas printing offers a beautiful, long-lasting way to bring your images to life.
At Canvas Printing Co Ltd in Poole, we've been helping customers create beautiful canvas prints since 2008. In this comprehensive guide, we'll share everything we've learned about getting the best results from your canvas prints.
Why Choose Canvas Prints?
Canvas prints offer several advantages over traditional photo prints and posters. The textured surface of canvas gives photographs an artistic, gallery-quality feel that flat prints simply can't match. Canvas prints are also incredibly durable — our prints come with an 80-year no-fade guarantee, meaning your memories will look vibrant for generations.
Unlike framed photos behind glass, canvas prints are lightweight, easy to hang, and don't suffer from glare. They work beautifully in any room and complement both modern and traditional interior styles.
Choosing the Right Photo for Your Canvas
The most important factor in creating a stunning canvas print is starting with the right photograph. Here are our top tips for selecting the perfect image:
Resolution Matters
For the best results, use a high-resolution image. We recommend a minimum of 250KB, but larger files will always produce sharper, more detailed prints. Most modern smartphones capture photos at more than sufficient resolution for even our largest canvas sizes — so don't worry if you don't have a professional camera.
Look for a Clear Focal Point
The best canvas prints feature a strong, clear subject. Whether it's a portrait, a landscape, or a pet photo, images with one dominant focal point tend to look most striking when printed large on canvas. Busy, cluttered compositions can lose their impact at larger sizes.
Consider the Lighting
Photos taken in natural light generally produce the most vibrant canvas prints. Golden hour shots (just after sunrise or before sunset) are particularly stunning on canvas, as the warm tones complement the natural texture of the canvas material beautifully.
Don't Forget the Edges
With gallery-wrapped canvas prints, the image wraps around the sides of the frame. Keep important details — especially faces and text — away from the very edges of your photo to ensure nothing gets lost in the wrap. We always check this for you and can advise if adjustments are needed.
Canvas Print Size Guide
Choosing the right size is crucial for making the right visual impact. Here's our room-by-room guide:
Living Room
Your living room is where canvas prints make the biggest statement. For above a sofa, choose a canvas that spans 60–75% of the sofa's width. For a standard three-seater sofa, this typically means a canvas between 30x20 inches and 40x30 inches. Hang the bottom edge approximately 8–10 inches above the sofa back.
Bedroom
Above the bed, a canvas print creates a beautiful focal point. A landscape-oriented canvas works best here, ideally spanning about two-thirds of the headboard width. Sizes like 30x20 or 36x24 inches are popular choices for bedrooms.
Hallway
Hallways are perfect for smaller canvas prints or a gallery wall arrangement. Individual prints of 12x12 or 16x12 inches work well, or consider a set of three or four smaller canvases arranged in a grid or staircase pattern.
Kitchen & Dining Room
Smaller canvases (12x12 to 20x16 inches) suit kitchen and dining spaces well. Food photography, botanical prints, or family photos all work beautifully in these more intimate spaces.
Our Most Popular Canvas Sizes
Based on thousands of orders over the years, here are the sizes our Poole customers choose most often:
- 12" x 8" — Perfect for desks, shelves, and small spaces
- 16" x 12" — A versatile size that works almost anywhere
- 20" x 16" — Great for bedrooms and hallways
- 24" x 16" — A popular panoramic option
- 30" x 20" — Our most popular size for living rooms
- 36" x 24" — A real statement piece
- 40" x 30" — For maximum impact above large sofas
We also offer custom sizes — just bring your photo in and we'll help you find the perfect dimensions for your space.
Canvas Printing: What to Expect
If you've never had a canvas print made before, here's what the process looks like at Canvas Printing Co Ltd:
- Bring in your photo — on a USB drive, memory card, or simply email it to us. You can also send it from your phone.
- We'll check the quality — our team will review your image resolution and composition, and suggest any improvements.
- Choose your size — we'll help you pick the right dimensions based on where you plan to hang it.
- We print and stretch — your image is printed on premium canvas and hand-stretched over a solid wooden frame.
- Collect your canvas — with our one hour canvas printing service, you could be hanging your new canvas the same day!
One Hour Canvas Printing in Poole
One of the things that sets us apart is our one hour canvas printing service. While most online canvas printing companies require you to wait days or even weeks for delivery, we can have your canvas printed, stretched, and ready to take home in as little as 60 minutes.
This makes us the perfect choice for last-minute gifts, same-day surprises, or simply when you don't want to wait. Pop into our shop in the Dolphin Centre, Poole, and walk out with a beautiful canvas print the same day.
Canvas Prints as Gifts
Canvas prints make thoughtful, personal gifts for any occasion. Here are some of our most popular gift ideas:
- Wedding photos — a beautiful canvas of the happy couple's special day
- New baby — capture those precious first moments on canvas
- Pet portraits — beloved pets deserve a place on the wall
- Holiday memories — that perfect sunset or landmark photo
- Anniversary gifts — a meaningful photo from your years together
- Memorial tributes — a lasting way to remember loved ones
With our Buy One Get One Half Price offer, you can even get two canvas prints for a fantastic price — one for you and one as a gift!
Caring for Your Canvas Print
Canvas prints are low-maintenance, but a little care will keep them looking their best:
- Dust regularly with a soft, dry cloth or feather duster
- Avoid direct sunlight — while our prints are UV-resistant, prolonged direct sun can affect any artwork over time
- Keep away from moisture — bathrooms and kitchens with poor ventilation aren't ideal locations
- Handle with clean hands when moving or rehinging
Visit Us in Poole
Ready to create your perfect canvas print? Visit us at Unit J, The Link Mall, The Dolphin Centre, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1SZ (upstairs next to Wilkos). We're open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm.
You can also email us at [email protected] or call us on 01202 661373 to discuss your canvas printing needs.
With our same-day service, one hour turnaround, 80-year no-fade guarantee, and Buy One Get One Half Price offer, there's never been a better time to turn your favourite photos into stunning canvas prints.