Choosing Art When Nobody agrees 😉

Have you come across the common issue of differing tastes and preferences in art to your partner, (or other family members at home), or your boss (art for the office)?

SCENARIO 1 - a couple have varying tastes in art:
This is a more common issue than most people imagine and quite normal when you think about it. Imagine if we were clones of each other, liking absolutely everything the same (things might feel a bit weird really, or like somebody is always compromising somehow).

We have seen a few solutions work well for couples, the most common being to take a room each and hand over the choice to each other, one room each, so nobody ends up compromising on all choice. (We have even had partners come back to buy a birthday or anniversary gift for their partner and admit that the painting their partner chose has actually grown on them over time!).

It also helps considerably when you each make a list of the other's choices that would bother you the least. eg. You love nude figure paintings (among other things), but your partner's family would not visit if one was hanging in your lounge. So you choose your "possibles" list from the other things you love instead. Of course, for this to work, your partner makes their list of "possibles" in the same way.

SCENARIO 2
Some families try to decide all together (including the kids 😱) on a suitable painting for their newly renovated (or built) space. The more variables, of course, the harder it is to arrive at the Venn diagram where everybody's taste intersects. A Body Corp committee approach may be best here, see below.

SCENARIO 3
Let's say a committee has been formed to select artwork for the foyer of a residential tower. In the end, the chair of this committee needs to work out the Venn diagram with a mathematical approach, by going through the narrowing down process in stages, especially if a custom commission is to be created. The artist needs to work with a pre-determined, agreed-upon set of criteria. (rather than try to accommodate a plethora of variables, every creative's nightmare.)

When there is no consultation at all, statistically, more people are averse to the decision of others.eg. An interior designer chooses the main artwork for the foyer or a residential block Vs a committee that consults with the main viewers (residents), to arrive at a choice that will please more of the people most of the time. (you can never hope to have 100% approval from every stake-holder, not where art is concerned). The best-case scenario would be the Venn diagram approach.

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Buying original art when you and your partner have different tastes can be a fun and rewarding challenge 🙄😎. It is a more common challenge than you may think. Here are 10 strategies to help you find pieces that you can both love:

1. Define Shared Values

Instead of focusing on specific styles or themes, discuss what art means to both of you. Do you want something that sparks conversation, adds warmth, or has personal significance? Are you looking purely for decoration or do you want to be more profoundly stimulated or inspired over the long term? Finding shared values can help guide your choices.

2. Create a Venn Diagram of Tastes (for each room you are choosing art for) Each of you can list styles/ genres, colours or schemes, and themes you like for that space, then compare to find the overlaps. Even if you have different tastes, there might very well be a middle ground that has not been considered yet.(**This has been our most successful exercise in general.) Number 9, below is my personal favourite strategy for couples.

3. Set Boundaries on Spaces

Consider deciding mutually that each person can have more influence over certain spaces in the home. For example, one chooses art for the bedroom, while the other has more say in the living room. (this works out best when you have both already undertaken the Venn diagram exercise so you decide their least unappealing options 😉. eg. he wants a nude in the loungeroom, you would never 👎. You drew the straw to choose for the loungeroom, so since you don't mind figure paintings (although your first choice was a floral abstract), so you chose a beautiful figure painting, just not completely nude. )

4. Try a Rotating Collection

If commitment is an issue, consider rotating artwork every few months. Renting art before purchasing could also allow you both to test pieces in your space. Since the dimensions are an important criterion for many art choices, we don't use the Placer apps, as they are not particularly accurate. We do very accurate room installations manually for your walls/spaces as requested and then share these in a booked personalised art consultation.

5. Commission a Custom Piece Work with a truly creative artist to come up with a custom piece that blends elements from both of your tastes. This can result in something truly unique and personal. NB. Not every artist will want or be able to do this. We have had some successes and even collaborations to meet specific and unique client needs. 6. Use a "Yes, No, Maybe" System Each of you selects a genre first, then look through artworks in that genre together and sort them into “Yes,” “No,” and “Maybe” categories. Focus on the “Maybe” pile to find something that satisfies both of you. This is like another way of doing the Venn diagram, but best suited once you have decided on the genre/ subject & artist already.

7. Compromise on Style, Not Impact

If one prefers abstract art and the other realistic, look for something that combines elements of both (e.g., semi-abstract landscapes, botanical-inspired, ocean-inspired abstracts or stylized/ abstract realism).

8. Set a Budget for Individual Choices

Allocate a portion of the art budget mutually to individual selections. This allows each person to pick at least one piece that they love without needing the full approval of the other.

9. Go for a Gallery Wall (Salon Hang) Instead of picking one big piece, we have helped couples curate a suite or gallery wall where both get to contribute selections. Mixing styles can make for an eclectic and dynamic space. You need to find one or two elements in common to bring it all together in the Salon Hang. (eg. one or two recurring colours, same framing approach, or one subject with many different approaches). This a great way to create something dynamic and find the hybrid celebration of your differences. Surprisingly at times, a truly engaging collection can be planned from diverse pieces that find just one or two elements in common. Here is a great article on how-to plan your own Gallery wall. Would you like some help applying these strategies to specific styles or artists?

Book a free art consultation to get some guidance and assistance in forming your own Venn Diagram.