Paralyzed in your search for 'art'? Just go with decoration

I've seen plenty of strange collections in the course of my career. Some were more attractive than others, but in every case they expressed the personality and passions of the collector.

And because of the commitment that went into assembling them, many of these unusual collections were more interesting than the pieces of art someone acquired solely in order to decorate a table or a wall.

Q. Over the past few years, I’ve furnished my home comfortably and, I like to think, attractively as well. The living room walls remain bare, however. Maybe it’s a mental block, but I can’t find any art that I’d want to live with. What else could I hang on those white walls besides paintings or photographs?

A. Art can be a lot harder to choose than, say, a sofa or a chair. Part of the problem, which you seem to share, may involve the term “art,” which often paralyzes people who worry about how their tastes are going to be perceived.

So let’s not speak of Art. Let’s refer to what you’re seeking as “decoration.” Instead of haunting galleries and accessory stores, which will try to sell you whatever’s new but also predictable, spend some time identifying or developing an interest in a particular subject.

Surely you’ve got a preference for some animal, mineral or memorabilia. A collection of crystals, rocks or seashells, for example, can be more fascinating — and more beautiful — than an expensive collection of so-called art glass. Whether displayed on a table or on open shelves or in a glass cabinet, the owner of such a lovingly assembled array usually isn’t all that concerned about making an aesthetic impression; he or she just wants to share an interest with visitors.

Maybe you like weavings or embroideries. OK, then put together a collection of them and hang it on the living room walls. Or suppose you’re fond of flowers or dogs. You can easily find prints of either that can be framed and displayed — and never mind whether they qualify as Art. I’ve also had clients who enjoyed — and therefore collected — fashion illustrations and photos of ballet scenes.

It’s almost always best to limit a collection or a grouping of images to one particular subject. Consider this arrangement of prints in varying colors and frames that show many breeds of dogs. Not everyone likes dogs, and those viewers may not enjoy this collection taken from “Animal House Style” a book written by Julia Szabo and published by Bulfinch. But so what? It’s still a personally satisfying way for an animal lover to decorate a wall.Finally, if all else fails, you can turn to an over scaled and decoratively framed mirror — or perhaps a collection of smaller ones.