Let’s talk about abstract art, why it matters, and why your walls are crying out for it.
Disclaimer before we start: I LOVE abstract art, and am not a big fan of Realism - so yeah, this blog post is going to be a bit biased. (Apologies in advance)
Let’s start with the obvious: abstract art can be confusing.
You walk into a gallery, tilt your head slightly, squint a bit, and think, “What am I actually looking at here?” There’s no clear subject, no obvious story, no neat little label telling you what’s going on. And if you’re being honest, you might like it but in the back of your mind you can hear your Uncle Chris saying “my kid could paint that” next time he’s over and views your newly purchased piece hanging on the wall.
Whilst you’re being honest with yourself - you’re not only purchasing art that you like, you also want your friends and family to like it too.
Fair enough.
But here’s the thing: that confusion, that uncertainty, that little internal debate—that’s exactly why abstract art matters.
This isn’t a bug. It’s THE feature.
Abstract Art Isn’t Meant to Be “Understood” (At Least Not in the Usual Way)
We’re used to art behaving itself.
A portrait looks like a person. A landscape looks like a place. A still life looks like… well, a bowl of fruit trying its best. There’s a clear relationship between the artwork and reality. You see it, you recognise it, you “get it.”
Abstract art throws that rulebook out the window.
Instead of asking “What is this?”, it asks “What do you feel?”
Yes - what do you FEEL?
That’s a very different question—and for a lot of people, it’s uncomfortable. We’re not always used to trusting our own interpretation. We want the “correct answer,” the artist’s intention, the explanation that makes us feel like we’re not missing something.
But abstract art doesn’t give you that safety net.
And that’s exactly why it’s powerful.
The Freedom to Interpret (Without Getting It “Wrong”)
Here’s something refreshing: with abstract art, you literally can’t be wrong.
If you look at a painting and it reminds you of a memory, a place, a mood, or even just a colour you love—that’s valid. Someone else might see something completely different. Also valid.
There’s no single narrative to decode. No hidden “correct meaning” you have to uncover to appreciate it properly.
That makes abstract art deeply personal.
It becomes less about what the artist is telling you, and more about what you bring to it—your experiences, your mood, your perspective in that moment. The same piece can feel calming one day and chaotic the next. It evolves with you.
Try getting that from a bowl of painted apples.
“My Kid Could Paint That”
This is the big one.
And honestly, it’s a fair reaction on the surface. Some abstract pieces look simple. Loose. Spontaneous. Maybe even accidental.
But that simplicity can be deceptive.
Yes, a child might be able to recreate the appearance of an abstract painting. But that’s not the same as creating something with intention, composition, balance, and emotional weight.
It’s a bit like saying, “I could write that” after reading a short poem. Technically, you can put words on a page. But crafting something that resonates—that’s a different skill entirely.
Abstract artists spend years developing their eye. We make deliberate choices about colour, scale, texture, spacing, and rhythm. What looks effortless is often the result of a huge amount of refinement, covering over old marks, colours and shapes and reworking the piece multiple times.
And even when it is raw and instinctive, that’s not a flaw. That’s part of the point.
As an abstract artist, I’m not trying to impress you with technical perfection. I’m trying to connect with you.
You can feel the energy it brings into a space
Now let’s bring this out of the gallery and into your home.
Because this is where abstract art really comes into its own.
A good abstract piece doesn’t just “match the sofa.” It changes the atmosphere of a room.
It can make a space feel calm, alive, intense, playful, grounded, or expansive—sometimes all at once (again, try getting that from a painted bowl of fruit). It adds movement and depth where there was none before. It gives your eye somewhere to wander.
And importantly, it doesn’t dictate how you should feel in the space.
A literal painting might anchor a room in a specific theme or story. Abstract art keeps things open. It leaves room for interpretation, which means it continues to feel fresh over time.
You don’t outgrow it as quickly.
It Starts Conversations
Let’s be honest: most home décor doesn’t spark much conversation.
No one walks into your living room and says, “Tell me more about that beige lamp.”
Abstract art is different.
People notice it. They question it. They react to it.
“What do you see in that?”
“Why did you choose this?”
“I love that… I think?”
And obviously: “what the f*ck is that?”
It becomes a talking point—not because it demands attention, but because it invites curiosity.
And those conversations are often more interesting precisely because there’s no fixed answer. Everyone brings their own interpretation, and suddenly you’re not just talking about a painting—you’re talking about perception, taste, emotion.
Not bad for something hanging on a wall.
You Don’t Need to “Get It” to Enjoy It
This might be the most important point of all.
You don’t need to understand abstract art to enjoy it.
You don’t need a background in art history. You don’t need to read a long explanation. You don’t need to justify your reaction.
If you like it, you like it.
If it makes you feel something—even if you can’t quite put that feeling into words—that’s enough.
In fact, that’s kind of the goal.
We’re so used to over-explaining things, analysing them, breaking them down into neat categories. Abstract art resists that. It invites you to just… experience it.
And there’s something refreshing about that.
It’s Not About Pretension—It’s About Permission
There’s a lingering perception that abstract art is somehow pretentious. That it’s reserved for galleries, collectors, or people who “know what they’re talking about.”
That’s nonsense. You’re allowed to resonate with a £1M Frank Bowling painting, and also with a £25 piece you saw in the local second hand shop.
Abstract art is actually one of the most accessible forms of art there is—because it doesn’t require prior knowledge.
You don’t need context. You don’t need to recognise a subject. You don’t need to understand symbolism.
All you need is a reaction.
In that sense, it’s incredibly democratic. Anyone can engage with it. Anyone can have an opinion.
And bringing it into your home isn’t about trying to look sophisticated. It’s about giving yourself permission to enjoy something that doesn’t come with a clear instruction manual.
So… Should You Put Abstract Art in Your Home?
If you’re waiting until you “understand it properly,” you’ll probably never start.
Instead, try this:
Find a piece that catches your eye. Not one you think you should like—one you actually like. Even if you can’t explain why.
Live with it.
See how it feels in your space. Notice how your reaction to it changes over time. Pay attention to what you’re drawn to—and what you’re not.
That process is the point.
Because abstract art isn’t just something you look at. It’s something you interact with, consciously or not.
Final Thought
Abstract art matters because it gives you something increasingly rare: space.
Space to interpret. Space to feel. Space to not have all the answers.
In a world that’s constantly trying to define, label, and explain everything, that’s valuable.
And in your home—your one place that should reflect you without compromise—that kind of openness isn’t just nice to have.
It’s kind of essential.
I dare you.