Start With Art

Give your Dallas dwelling a new look with unique, affordable art

Art can change the entire look of your space.

Photo courtesy of Fine Art America

The coronavirus pandemic has turned most of us into amateur interior designers, as we're suddenly compelled to freshen up our living spaces. But at the same time, redecorating on a budget is the goal, and there's one simple way to make a big impact without spending big cash: artwork.

Fine Art America's online marketplace is one of the easiest ways to plan a new look for your space, no matter your style.

Updates aren't limited to your walls
The Santa Monica-based website curates hundreds of thousands of independent artists and iconic brands through millions of unique products, spanning canvases, prints, tapestries, and even accessories like tote bags, yoga mats, and phone cases.

Support indie artists
The best part is it's an affordable entry point to sophisticated wall art, and there's a great chance you'll end up supporting an up-and-coming artist. Indie designers can create a portfolio showcasing their work and then print on demand for customers all over the world.

And if you don't know exactly what might strike your fancy, you can discover everything from skylines and landscapes to celeb-inspired retro prints.

Create your own
You can even upload your own images — vacation memories, family portraits, popular Instagram posts — and have Fine Art America's team transform them into high-quality pieces you'll be proud to display around your home.

With 16 global production facilities in five different countries, all running 24 hours per day, each product is ready to ship in only two to three days.

Get lost in the options, and then get excited to see your new space.

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greener grass in tx

Texas blossoms as No. 1 best state for gardening and homesteading

Photo by Laura Ohlman on Unsplash

Texas is an ideal place to homestead, the study found.

If social media is any indicator, homesteading has been one of the hottest trends of 2024. And Texas is leading the charge as the No. 1 best state for homesteading and gardening, according to a new report by First Saturday Lime.

Analysts at First Saturday Lime, an insect repellant company featured on Shark Tank, evaluated the "suitability for sustainable living" across all 50 states based on six factors: Climate, community interest (a.k.a online search trends), gardening resources, farmland costs, and others.

The Lone Star State led the nation with the most farms and ranches on the market and the highest total acreage for sale. As of the study's publication, there were 7,520 total properties for sale, spanning more than 2.19 million acres of land.

Texas also ranked favorably for its farmland affordability. The state came in at No. 9 nationally with its average farmland price coming out to $2,800 per acre, the report said.

For comparison, New Mexico (which ranked No. 11 overall) had the most affordable average price per acre of farmland at just $700 per acre. Massachusetts (No. 48) and Connecticut (No. 42), however, tied for the most expensive price per acre, at $14,300.

Among the three remaining categories in the study, Texas performed the worst for its "gardens on Yelp per capita" rank. The study calculated Texas has 0.30 gardening and community garden establishments on Yelp per capita, placing Texas at No. 49.

Meanwhile, Texas' historically hot weather meant it ranked No. 43 out of all 50 states in the "favorable climate" rank, and the state earned a middle-of-the-road No. 35 rank in the "search interest per capita" category.

"Homesteading and gardening are growing in popularity, but some states provide better opportunities than others," the report's author wrote. "Whether you're after fresh produce or the freedom of self-sufficiency, choosing the right state can make all the difference."

Following behind Texas to complete the top three best states for homesteading and gardening are Oregon (No. 2) and Washington (No. 3), two notoriously rainy West Coast states.

Meanwhile, three East Coast states ranked at the bottom of the list as the worst states for homesteading and gardening: Rhode Island (No. 50), New Jersey (No. 49), and Massachusetts (No. 48).

The top 10 best states for homesteading and gardening are:

No. 1 – Texas
No. 2 – Oregon
No. 3 – Washington
No. 4 – Vermont
No. 5 – Delaware
No. 6 – Arizona
No. 7 – Wyoming
No. 8 – Montana
No. 9 – Hawaii
No. 10 – Colorado

The study sourced its data from Yelp, Google Trends, and the UDSA to determine each state's ranking.

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