I recently posted on social media a fun quiz about understanding which styles of art you might like based on your preferences and interests. The results brought home to me how different we all are, and how choosing art is such a personal decision.
It also made me think about comments I’ve had at print fairs, like “I love your work, but my partner prefers….”.
1. Look at art and talk about it
What styles, colours, and themes do you each love? It’s good fun to spend time looking at art together e.g. in galleries or fairs, see if there are works that resonate with you both. I’ve often found that understanding what someone else appreciates in a work of art really helps me see it in a new light.
2. Find some common ground
Look for common elements in your tastes. Even if your styles differ, there might be overlapping interests such as a love for vibrant colours, abstract forms, or nature themes. Try to find some artworks that incorporate these shared elements.
3. Blend your styles – be eclectic
I think it’s perfectly ok to have a mix of styles in your home, your collection will probably be stronger and more satisfying for it. Different styles might resonate for different reasons – a landscape might remind you of a favourite place or a holiday, a colourful abstract might energise and fascinate. It’s good to find a balance or some cohesion – for example in the colours, the framing or in finding a common theme.
4. Divide the space
You could allocate specific areas in your home for each of you to express your individual tastes. A shared space like the living room could feature art that both of you enjoy, while personal spaces such as a home office or a bedroom corner can reflect individual preferences. So if you have very different tastes you can still enjoy art that resonates without having to compromise entirely.
5. Rotate your art collection
I love to keep things fresh by moving art around my home quite often, I like to spend time with and enjoy different pieces for a while. This also allows a lot of flexibility to accommodate each person’s preferences. Also, it’s a home not a gallery - different parts of the house lend themselves to different ways of viewing art – e.g. I can sit and really enjoy an artwork in the living room, but a series of work in the hall is usually viewed as I am passing through, so needs to really catch my eye as I am walking through, a good place for a big hit of colour!
6. Collaborate on some bespoke art
Collaborating on a custom artwork can be a good way to merge your tastes. For example, commissioning a unique work from an artist whose style you both appreciate – this could include elements that have some personal resonance for you both, and could be a really strong and meaningful focal point in your home.
7. Experiment and Be Flexible
Choosing art for your home an ongoing and evolving process. I think the key thing is to be open to experimenting with different works, arrangements and combinations. If you are really unsure, start with affordable but good quality giclee prints and see how you get on with them before investing more in handmade works. Have fun with it.
I hope that’s all useful. The more I talk to people at fairs and open studios about my prints, the more interesting I find it about how people choose art for their homes. If you would like more articles on this, just drop a comment or questions below.