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Oil paintings, traditionally, have been associated with wealth and power. Not only did you need the funds to commission a work to be created, but you also had to have a home large enough to accommodate the painting. Until relatively modern times, few had the luxury of owning such a work of art.

• Oil paintings are no longer only owned by aristocrats. Oils can be found in every home and environment, where they serve to lend a sense of elegance and luxury to every décor.

Oil paintings can easily be acquired from private dealers, art galleries, and auctions. It is vital that you do your homework before embarking upon a shopping spree. Oil paintings differ in value based upon the artist, subject matter, and the condition of the painting, and the backing material.

• When selecting an oil painting, take into consideration your current décor and possible future changes. Oil paintings are often long-term investments that you will be living with for years. It will need to be versatile enough to adjust to changes in your décor.
• Traditional subjects such as landscapes and portraits will withstand the test of time. However, abstract paintings or paintings of a single inanimate object, such as a watch, may grow tiresome over time.

Choosing the right place to hang your oil painting will help persevere your painting, and help it maintain its original colors longer.

• Oil paintings should not be exposed to temperature extremes. Oil paints are fairly rigid and the tendency for the paint to crack is increased when the paint is subjected to wide temperature swings. An ideal temperature range for oil paints is in the 65° F - 75° F degree range.
• Never hang a painting over a fireplace or heating source such as a radiator or heat duct. Not only does such a placement place the painting at risk of heat damage, but it also increases the risk of damage from soot, dust, and other airborne contaminants.
• High light levels, both natural and artificial can also damage oil paints. Depending upon the characteristics of the oils used, light damage may manifest itself as a fading of the colors, or by a darkening of the colors. To prevent this damage from occurring, hang your oil painting away from direct light sources.
• If you wish to put a light on the painting, make sure that it is a soft, low intensity light, and one that does not generate a lot of heat.

Traditionally, oil paintings where hung in formal living and dining rooms. While these traditional venues still make excellent locations in which to hang an oil painting, don't restrict yourself to these two areas. Depending upon the subject matter and size of the painting, oils are suitable for any room in your home that offers a safe environment for the painting.

While oil paints have long-lasting color pigments, oil paints do undergo color changes over time. In most cases, natural resins in the oil paints will cause the colors to darken. This is not necessarily bad. Yes, it does change the overall color scheme; yet, this darkening often gives the painting an added richness that has come to be associated with many of the old masters. It is only after these older works have been restored that you can truly appreciate the profound effect that the change in color has caused.

• Many artists apply a thin layer of varnish over their oil paintings in order to enrich the colors and to help protect the painting from environmental damage. One of the drawbacks to this varnish treatment is that the varnish can yellow with age

Just like people, all paintings age. From the moment the first brush stokes touch the canvas, the painting is beginning to grow old. This is a natural process, and many feel that the aging process enhances the beauty of oil paintings. One of the drawbacks to this aging process is that the painting may crack. This can occur due to shrinkage of the canvas on which the painting was painted, or simply due to the hardening of the paint. A good painting conservator can often repair or disguise such damage, if you find it to be an impediment to your enjoyment of the work. Much like wrinkles, these cracks often give a work an increased sense of character.