Woo-hoo — the bedroom horse art finally arrived, and I’m sharing exactly how we attached the prints to canvases. It took two attempts, so consider this a short troubleshooting guide if your first method doesn’t hold up.
First I tried a basic spray adhesive I bought at JoAnn. It’s inexpensive, labeled acid-free and permanent, and back in art school I used spray mount for almost everything. I worked in the sunroom with doors and windows open and a mask on because spray adhesive is very smelly. I sprayed the back of the poster and the front of the canvas, aligned a corner, and slowly rolled the print down, smoothing with a grocery card to push out air and avoid scratches. That method was fast and I even managed it solo.
Unfortunately, within about 12 hours the prints began to loosen and form small separations from the canvas. They were easy to peel off, so I didn’t have to scrap the prints or the canvases — I could start over. If your spray mount fails like this, don’t panic: you can often remove the print and try a different adhesive.
For round two I switched to a more heavy-duty approach recommended in several craft guides: an acrylic medium as an adhesive. I used Liquitex Matte Varnish (available at art and craft stores). Working with a partner makes this step easier — one person can hold two corners while the other places the other two, then you slowly roll the print down together to avoid crinkles and bubbles. Apply a thin, even coat of medium to both the canvas surface and the back of the poster, press them together, and smooth from the center toward the edges to work out any small air pockets. Wear thin gloves if you’re sensitive to acrylics; some people react to the product on contact.
After adhering the prints with the acrylic medium, we laid both canvases flat for a full 24 hours to cure so they wouldn’t buckle or slip while drying. After a day they felt secure and rigid, and they’ve stayed put through daily humidity and showers in the adjoining bathroom. So far the acrylic medium method seems permanent and reliable.
We considered painting the sides of the canvases in charcoal, deep brown, or metallic, but ultimately left them white to match the trim and the mirror between the pieces. We also liked the smooth, print-like finish on the front, so we didn’t add a protective coat over the face of the print. If you are thinking of brushing an acrylic medium or a sealer over the image, test it on a small scrap or corner first to check for cloudiness or color shift.
Cost-wise, having the posters printed directly on canvas at the larger size would have been significantly more expensive. By printing posters and mounting them ourselves we paid roughly $64 per piece including canvas and poster, compared with a much higher price for full custom-printed canvases — a noticeable savings.
We also swapped the prints’ placement from our original mockup so each of us wakes up to our favorite image from our side of the bed: his beach scene and my wild horses. Little decisions like that make the room feel personal and intentional.
One of the nicest surprises is how luminous the printed photos are in person. The soft glow didn’t translate perfectly in my earlier Photoshop mockup, which made the previews look harsher than the real prints. If you’re previewing art, expect differences between digital mockups and final printed results.
This project is part of a larger decorating approach we’ve been embracing: take some risks and mix bold, moody pieces with calmer, lighter elements. Contrast can elevate quieter areas, and a single dramatic choice doesn’t require the whole house to be bold. Those quieter zones help balance the more saturated spaces and keep the overall look cohesive.
In short: if your spray adhesive fails, don’t fret — peel the print off and try an acrylic medium. Work slowly, enlist a helper to align corners, smooth from the center outward, and allow a full day to cure. The result should be a secure, professional-looking canvas-mounted print without the higher cost of custom canvas printing. Go ahead, experiment, and have fun — it’s usually easy to change course if something doesn’t work out.
P.S. If you’re sensitive to fumes or skin contact, always work in a well-ventilated area and consider wearing gloves and a mask.