She pointed at the painting on my wall and said, "It's cute. Very… commercial." Then came the pause—the one where you're meant to feel embarrassed.

It was a simple abstract piece I bought for $40. I liked the colors. It made the room feel calm. But apparently, it wasn't "real" art. You've probably seen this too—people dismissing someone's art choices as cheap, soulless, or lowbrow. But here's the real question: when did we start gatekeeping what deserves to be on a wall?

Who decides what's "decor" and what's "art"?

Walk into any home goods store, and you'll find shelves of mass-printed landscapes, florals, or abstract swirls labeled "wall décor." Most people won't call these pieces art—they'll call them safe, boring, or basic. But why?

Part of it comes from how we've been taught to rank art. Gallery = good. Museum = better. Online print = meh. Anything mass-produced gets lumped into the "not real art" category, even if someone spent time and care creating it.

This mindset isn't about quality. It's about status.

Because calling something "just decoration" is often a quiet way of saying, "I know better than you."

Art taste isn't neutral—it's cultural

Here's the thing: our idea of "good taste" isn't random. It's shaped by class, education, and access. If you grew up in a family that visited museums, or you took art history in school, you might value bold, strange, or minimalist work. But that doesn't make someone else's preferences less valid.

Liking a moody Monet reproduction or a cheerful flower canvas from a furniture store doesn't mean you lack taste—it means you found something that speaks to you. And isn't that what art's for?

Some people hang art because it matches their couch. Others because it reminds them of home. Others because it cost $9.99 and filled a blank wall. All are valid.

The problem isn't the art—it's the pressure to justify it.

When personal becomes performative

Social media hasn't helped. Scroll through design accounts and you'll see curated homes with perfectly placed "statement" pieces. The message? Your wall should reflect not just your style—but your cultural capital.

This creates a subtle shame around anything seen as too mainstream. If your art isn't original, signed, or at least from a small Etsy shop, you risk seeming lazy or unsophisticated. It turns decorating into performance.

But here's a thought: maybe not everyone wants their home to impress strangers. Maybe they just want to feel good when they walk in the door.

What if we looked at wall art differently?

Imagine a world where we stopped ranking art based on price, origin, or perceived depth—and instead asked one simple question: Does this matter to you?

Because the truth is, there's often more heart in a $15 canvas than in a gallery piece chosen just to match the algorithm.

Here are three small mindset shifts to try:

1. Notice your reaction without judging it: If you see someone's "Live Laugh Love" print and cringe—pause. Ask yourself why. Is it really about the print, or what it symbolizes to you?

2. Respect that everyone builds meaning differently: You might find emotion in abstract chaos. Someone else finds it in a beach at sunset. That's not shallowness—it's subjectivity.

3. Remember that not all art has to be a statement: Sometimes art is just color, or memory, or quiet comfort. Not every wall needs to provoke deep thought.

Your wall = your story

What we choose to hang is deeply personal. It reflects moods, memories, and sometimes—just good lighting. Dismissing someone's art because it doesn't match your idea of "taste" says more about you than them.

So next time you walk into someone's home and see a canvas of golden leaves or a watercolor city skyline, pause before the internal critique. Ask instead: What made them choose this?

Because behind every print—yes, even the ones from big-box stores—there's usually a reason.

And maybe that reason deserves just as much respect as a gallery label.