You've been drawn to icons. And maybe you've seen one in a church, a friend's home, or online. Now you're wondering where to begin. The good news is that you don't need deep theological training to bring an icon into your home. You just need a few practical anchors: subject, size, and format.
This guide walks you through each one so you can choose with confidence.
Choosing a Subject
The most common first question is: Which saint or image do I choose?
There is no single right answer, and no choice is liturgically binding. A few approaches that many people find helpful:
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Start with Christ. An icon of Christ—particularly the Pantocrator ("Ruler of All") pose—is one of the most traditional anchors for a home prayer corner. Our Edition 1: Christ, the Pantocrator is a fitting place to begin.
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Choose the Theotokos (Virgin Mary). Depictions of Mary holding the Christ child are among the oldest icon types and carry a warm, protective presence. Our Edition 2: Virgin Mary and Child Christ is a beloved introduction.
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Choose a patron saint. If you have a patron saint—by baptism, confirmation, or personal devotion—an icon of that saint is a natural choice. It creates a living connection between your prayer and the communion of saints.
- Follow what draws you. Tradition holds that we are often drawn to the saint who is praying for us. If an icon catches your eye and keeps returning to your thoughts, pay attention to that.
Browse all available subjects in our Shop All Editions collection to see what resonates.
Choosing a Size
Size shapes how an icon lives in a space. Consider where you intend to place it before you decide:
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Small (up to 5×7 in / 13×18 cm): Ideal for a bedside table, a desk corner, or tucked into a travel kit. Intimate and personal.
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Medium (8×10 in / 20×25 cm): The workhorse size for a home prayer corner. Large enough to command visual attention; small enough to fit almost any shelf or wall arrangement.
- Large (11×14 in / 28×35 cm and above): Suited for a dedicated icon corner, a hallway, or as a focal point in a room. More presence, more commitment of space.
If you're new to keeping a prayer corner, start with a medium-sized piece. It's easier to build around than a small image and leaves room to grow your arrangement over time.
Choosing a Format: Printed Edition vs. Hand-Painted Original
This is where many buyers pause longest, so let's be direct about what distinguishes the two.
Printed Editions
A printed icon edition is a high-quality fine-art reproduction of an iconographic composition. Think of it the way you might think of a museum print: the image is faithful to the tradition, carefully produced, and made to be lived with.
Printed editions are well suited for:
- Beginning a prayer corner without a large upfront investment
- Giving as a gift—you can order with confidence knowing the quality is consistent
- Building a curated collection across multiple subjects
- Households with young children where originals may not be practical
Icon Mail Club editions are printed on archival-quality stock, designed to age gracefully, and sized for real home use. Explore every edition in our Shop All Editions collection, or subscribe through the Icon Mail Club to receive a curated edition each month—a gentle, steady way to build a meaningful collection over time. Our annual subscription gives you twelve editions (you pay for ten), arriving monthly at your door.
Hand-Painted Originals
A hand-painted icon is created by an iconographer—an artist trained in the discipline of writing icons according to the canons of the tradition. Each piece is unique. The materials include egg tempera, natural pigments, oil paint, acrylic gold leaf, wooden panel.
Hand-painted originals are well suited for:
- A long-term investment in a singular devotional object
- Marking a significant life moment—a baptism, a wedding, an anniversary
- Collectors who want the craft and history embedded in the object itself
- Those who feel drawn to support living iconographic tradition directly
Hand-painted icons vary widely in price depending on the iconographer's experience, the complexity of the composition, and the materials used. Expect to invest meaningfully, and take the time to research the iconographer before commissioning a work.
A note of honesty: If you want to commission an icon, get in touch.
A note of honesty: we do not claim that one format is liturgically superior to the other. Icons in both forms have served as aids to prayer across centuries and cultures. What matters most is that the image leads you to prayer.
Setting Up a Simple Home Prayer Corner
Once you have your icon, you don't need much else to begin. A small shelf, a candle or vigil lamp, and perhaps a few dried flowers are enough. The icon becomes the visual centre; everything else supports it.
Traditionally, the prayer corner faces east—an orientation associated with light, resurrection, and the direction of liturgical prayer in many traditions. But the most important thing is that the space is quiet, accessible, and genuinely used.
Start simply. A single icon, placed with intention, is a prayer corner.
Ready to Choose?
Browse our full collection of printed editions at Shop All Editions. If you'd like a curated introduction to iconographic subjects delivered monthly, the Icon Mail Club subscription is designed exactly for that.
Questions? Reach out—we're happy to help you find the right starting point.