The quest for the perfect office art – it’s a journey many of us embark on, often with a mix of exhilarating possibility and daunting paralysis. For Sherry and me, our expansive blank wall above the desk was exactly that: a thrilling canvas brimming with potential, yet simultaneously a source of creative gridlock. We envisioned something truly special, a piece that would not only complement our shared workspace but also reflect our personalities. However, like many design collaborations, our excitement soon gave way to a persistent stalemate. We simply couldn’t agree on a single piece of art that resonated with both of us. Recognizing that resolving decorating disagreements is a common challenge for couples and co-habitants, we decided to document our entire process. This journey from indecision to discovery offered invaluable insights into how to tackle a design dilemma when tastes diverge.
Our office, which also doubles as a guest bedroom and playroom, is a multi-functional hub where we spend a significant chunk of our week – easily 90+ hours combined. Given this constant exposure, we were committed to a DIY approach for our wall decor, hoping to infuse a personal touch that store-bought pieces often lack. We quickly found common ground on a few key elements: the artwork needed to be homemade and it had to align with the existing green and blue color palette established by our comfortable sleeper sofa and our cleverly customized bookcase. We also agreed that we wanted to avoid replicating the large, intricate frame collages we already had in other parts of our home, such as the asymmetrical arrangement in Clara’s room, the more balanced display above the console table in the living room, or the statement piece above the couch in the den. Our goal was a fresh, unique visual anchor for this particular space.
Beyond these initial points of consensus, however, our visions diverged considerably. Sherry championed the idea of a single, impactful piece that would command the entire wall. I, on the other hand, felt that a curated arrangement of two or three complementary items might better suit the dynamic nature of our office. When it came to medium, Sherry leaned towards a striking photograph, while I envisioned a vibrant painting or an intriguing illustration. Even the smaller details, like the existing wallflowers, became a point of contention – I wished to keep them, while Sherry felt they belonged on another wall. Our attempts at verbal discussion proved futile, leading only to circular arguments. We realized that our highly visual natures demanded a visual solution. We needed to bring our ideas to life, to see them, to truly weigh the possibilities. So, we embarked on a series of structured exercises designed to help us visualize every potential idea and bridge our aesthetic gap. Here are the techniques that guided our journey:
Exercise 1: Curating a Digital Inspiration Folder
One of Sherry’s go-to strategies for any design challenge is to dive deep into the digital realm, meticulously collecting inspiring images from across the internet. This initial phase of gathering digital art inspiration proved invaluable. She amassed a diverse range of art ideas, consciously including several that leaned towards my preferences, ensuring a broad spectrum of styles and compositions. Once this virtual gallery was compiled, we spent time flipping through each image, discussing what we liked and disliked about each. This collaborative review allowed us to identify common aesthetic threads and surprisingly, some previously unarticulated preferences. While we found numerous strong contenders that sparked our interest, none quite elicited that definitive “this is the one” feeling – especially when factoring in our budget constraints for purchasing original artwork. This exercise, however, laid a crucial foundation, broadening our horizons and giving us a shared visual vocabulary to discuss our desires for the office wall decor.
Exercise 2: Seeking Art Inspiration in Galleries
Despite our penchant for DIY projects and our budget-conscious approach to “real” art, we are firm believers in the power of professional galleries for profound inspiration. The sensory experience of viewing art in person – the scale, the texture, the interplay of light – is simply unmatched by digital images. Fortuitously, the recently renovated and entirely free Virginia Museum of Fine Arts had just reopened its doors in Richmond. With Clara comfortably nestled in her Ergo carrier, we embarked on an inspiring excursion. The new building itself was an architectural marvel, and within its walls, we discovered several captivating pieces. One artwork, in particular, by local artist Heide Trepanier, caught our collective eye and held our attention. This wasn’t our first encounter with Heide’s work; I had admired it since 2006 when we first spotted her pieces in the dressing rooms of our local Saks Fifth Avenue, a sweet memory tied to Sherry trying on summer dresses for our wedding.
Heide Trepanier’s signature style involves artfully tossing acrylic or enamel paints to create dynamic, motion-filled lines, which she then meticulously outlines in black. Her pieces are vibrant, energetic, and utterly unique. While an original Trepanier was certainly beyond our budget, I immediately saw the potential for a DIY art project inspired by her technique. Given Sherry’s fine arts background, I was confident we could create a respectable homage. However, despite my enthusiasm and persuasive arguments, I couldn’t quite convince Sherry that a Trepanier-inspired piece was the perfect remedy for our bare wall. It was a valuable lesson: even if one person is deeply smitten, mutual enthusiasm is often essential for a truly successful shared decor project.
Exercise 3: Discovering Art in Everyday Surroundings
Thankfully, the world of art extends far beyond the hushed halls of galleries. We consciously began to expand our search for inspiration into the fabric of our daily lives, keeping our eyes peeled in coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques, and home stores. Every outing became a potential art hunt. This observational approach often yields surprising and highly personal finds. During a recent vacation to the Delaware shore – Clara’s delightful first trip to the ocean, which we even blogged about from the beach! – we stumbled upon a particularly beautiful piece in a sophisticated shop called Tulip. It was a stunning beachy blue-green painting that immediately sparked conversation. The palette and the serene coastal vibe were undeniably appealing, making us both ponder, “Maybe we could create something similar.”
The painting at Tulip had a calming presence, perfectly capturing the essence of the shore. It certainly felt like a strong contender for our office wall decor, especially given its alignment with our desired color scheme. However, despite its beauty, it failed to completely win us over. As Sherry succinctly put it, we weren’t “100% smitten.” While it was lovely, it lacked a certain unique spark or a personal connection that would make it “the one” for our home office. This exercise underscored the importance of not just finding aesthetically pleasing art, but finding art that truly speaks to you and your partner, reflecting a deeper personal resonance beyond mere visual appeal. It also highlighted that inspiration can truly strike anywhere, often when you least expect it, simply by being open and observant.
Exercise 4: Drawing Inspiration from Within the Room Itself
When external searches proved inconclusive, we turned our focus inward, seeking inspiration right within the confines of our multi-purpose office/playroom/guest room. This strategy involves identifying existing design elements that already work well and exploring how to amplify or abstract them into a new art piece. Our established blue-green color scheme was a given, but we looked for patterns, textures, or forms that could be translated into wall art. During this in-room hunt, a particular pattern on a West Elm pillow caught our attention. Its graceful, repetitive arches offered an intriguing visual. We considered translating this motif into a large-scale piece of painted wood that would hang prominently on the wall. The concept was appealing, promising a harmonious integration with our existing decor.
However, the execution of this pillow-inspired design presented a significant hurdle: neither of us could agree on the ideal scale for the pattern. Making the arches too small, we feared, would result in a busy, chaotic design that could overwhelm the space and detract from a focused work environment. Conversely, rendering them too large risked creating an overly bold, almost headache-inducing visual that might dominate the room in an undesirable way. This indecision about scale, a common challenge in DIY art, ultimately led us to begrudgingly move on. It taught us that even when inspiration is close at hand, the practicalities of execution and the subtle nuances of scale and proportion can make or break a design idea, especially when aiming for a sophisticated and serene office environment.
Exercise 5: Engaging with Our Community for Ideas
As avid bloggers, we’re constantly inspired by our incredible community of readers. Their ingenuity and creativity are boundless, making them an invaluable resource for fresh home decor inspiration. Through features like House Crashings and Reader Redesigns, as well as the amazing projects shared on our Twitter and Facebook pages, we’re continuously exposed to innovative makeovers. It was only natural to turn to this wellspring of ideas for our own office art dilemma. One particular solution, Kate’s playroom makeover, stood out, especially given my nerdy affection for maps. Kate had incorporated a giant roll-down map in striking blue and green tones, a concept that immediately resonated with our desired color palette.
We envisioned a similar large-scale map, perhaps trimmed out with molding like Kate had done, or even adhered to a thin plank of wood to create a vintage-sign aesthetic, reminiscent of the art we whipped up for our bathroom. The DIY potential was certainly tempting. However, a significant hesitation arose: we already had a notable map as part of our decor in the den. Introducing another prominent map might lead to thematic overkill, diluting the impact of both pieces and creating an unintentional sense of repetition. While the idea was strong, it didn’t quite evoke that unequivocal “yesss – this is it!” feeling we were diligently waiting for. We realized that while community inspiration is powerful, it must always be filtered through the unique context and existing aesthetics of one’s own home, ensuring each new addition feels fresh and intentional.
Exercise 6: Mocking Up Ideas with Photoshop
With a multitude of ideas swirling in our heads, the next logical step was to visualize them within our actual space. This is where digital mock-ups, specifically using Photoshop, became our secret weapon. We pulled an old photograph of our desk wall (taken before adding the file storage) and began to create a series of *rough* mock-ups. The key word here is “rough” – the goal wasn’t photorealistic perfection, but rather a quick and clear visual representation of how each idea might translate onto the wall. This tool allowed us to test various concepts without committing any time, money, or effort to a physical DIY project that might ultimately be discarded.
Mock-up 6.1: The Delaware Abstract Painting
Our first Photoshop experiment involved an idea inspired by the abstract yet colorful painting we had admired in that Delaware shop. We quickly “threw it together” digitally, even playing with the whimsical notion of incorporating an anniversary-inspired number “7” into the design for a personal touch. I also left the wallflowers in the mock-up, honoring my preference for them to stay, to fully explore all possibilities. This initial visualization, however, immediately revealed its shortcomings.
While the original painting had charm, seeing it digitally on our wall didn’t evoke the same feeling. Perhaps it was the rudimentary Photoshopping, or perhaps the style simply didn’t translate well to our office environment, but our quick visual was enough for both of us to unanimously veto the idea. The clarity provided by the mock-up saved us from wasting time and resources on a project we wouldn’t have loved.
Mock-up 6.2: The Pillow-Inspired Pattern
Next, we revisited our pillow-inspired pattern idea. What if, instead of a large, overwhelming rectangle, we opted for a long, narrow piece featuring the graceful arches? This configuration might break up the monotony and offer a more refined aesthetic for our office wall decor.
Despite its intriguing potential, I was able to convince Sherry that such a repetitive and busy pattern might not be engaging enough to stare at day in and day out, especially in a workspace. Moreover, something so visually active could easily contribute to a chaotic workday, making the environment feel even more overwhelming rather than calming. The mock-up clarified that while the pattern itself was appealing, its application on a large scale for daily viewing was not ideal.
Mock-up 6.3: The Roll-Down Map
Finally, we brought the map idea to life using a sample found on AllPosters.com, which we digitally enlarged and placed on our wall. This mock-up appeared considerably more interesting and dynamic than the repetitive pillow pattern. However, neither of us, and especially I, could wholeheartedly embrace it. The primary reason was, again, the presence of our beloved US map in the adjacent den. Despite the tempting DIY aspect of simply hanging a poster and framing it with molding, the redundancy factor was too significant to ignore. We realized that even an appealing individual piece of art can detract from the overall home aesthetic if it duplicates a theme already present elsewhere.
At this point, we faced a rather nerve-wracking scenario: all our brainstorming, all our active searching, and all our digital mock-ups had come and gone, yet we still hadn’t landed on a single piece of art that we both unequivocally loved enough to invest our time and money into DIYing. However, this isn’t to say the process was unproductive. Far from it. The journey of hunting for ideas together, discussing preferences, and critically evaluating possibilities through mock-ups proved incredibly helpful. It magically transformed our “I’m right and you’re wrong” debate into a shared “we’re both wrong” understanding. This shift occurred because the visual aids allowed us to clearly see and experience each other’s ideas, leading to more intelligent and empathetic discussions than any amount of “trust me, a huge painting will look the best” reassurances could offer. While this rigorous exploration was excellent for our relationship and our communication, the big empty wall remained stubbornly, frustratingly blank.
Then, a pivotal moment arrived, revealing perhaps the most important lesson of this entire scenario: as much as active inspiration-hunting can yield results, sometimes, the perfect idea simply has to fall into your lap. Even if that lap happens to be pantsless, as was the case for me!
Let me explain this rather unconventional discovery. Last Friday, while at my parents’ serene beach house, I stepped out of the shower. Wrapped in a towel, I happened to spot a recent issue of R. Home, our local home decor magazine, lying on a table. And what word, I ask you, was staring right back at me from the cover?
With an immediate sense of destiny, I picked it up. After getting properly dried and dressed, I presented my newfound treasure to Sherry. Together, we began flipping through its glossy pages, hopeful that a serendipitous image would finally catch both our eyes. And, in a stroke of pure joy, a mere ten pages from the end of the issue, one image did precisely that. Oh, happy day! The collective gasp was audible; we knew, instantly, that our long search for office wall decor inspiration was finally over.
The image was a photograph of an architecture exhibit at Virginia Tech, featuring an intriguing display of 100 postcards seemingly leaning on a series of thin ledges. What captivated us immediately was the cumulative impact of the display as a whole – the way numerous small pieces came together to create a powerful, cohesive statement. We instantly recognized its potential to be the perfect antidote to our indecision. This flexible wall art display would allow us to showcase a variety of elements: cherished photos, travel postcards, small art prints, or even handwritten notes. Crucially, it offered the freedom to easily change out individual pieces whenever our tastes evolved or if we fell out of love with any particular item. Furthermore, it inherently solved our disagreement dilemma: we wouldn’t need to achieve 100% agreement on every single piece. If I adored a particular photo and Sherry preferred a different print, they could simply reside on our respective “sides” of the ledge, creating a truly collaborative and personalized display.
It was a surprising realization that our final decision was, in many ways, the polar opposite of what both of us initially thought we wanted. We hadn’t chosen one oversized, super bold statement piece. Instead, we embraced a solution where the sum of its numerous, smaller parts created something incredibly special, deeply personalizable, and dynamically engaging. It truly screamed “the one!” This ingenious approach also managed to fulfill all the disparate things we both wanted to incorporate: a blend of photographs, abstract art, typography, and much more, all without the pressure of a single, definitive choice. We are both absolutely psyched to get started on this DIY project. Everything from crafting the custom shelves and devising a secure hanging system, to curating dozens of unique pieces with enough weight to keep them from shifting, promises to be an incredibly fun and rewarding endeavor. Assuming all goes according to plan, we’re eagerly anticipating sharing the exciting update with you in just a week or two!
Have you ever found yourself stumped on a shared decorating project? What unique tips or processes have helped you overcome design disagreements with a partner or housemate? We’d love for you to share your experiences and any additional sources for art inspiration with our community, especially for those who might be struggling with a similar art dilemma for their home office or living space.
Psst- Want to follow our entire office/guest bedroom/playroom makeover journey? Click here for the introductory post, here to read about our epic sleeper sofa hunt, here for the detailed DIY desk play-by-play, here for our homemade light fixture project, here for our clever Ikea bookcase hack, here for the custom file storage we built, and here for how we ingeniously squeezed in some toy storage!