Color schemes are great, and the art definitely wants to complement its surroundings rather than contrast with it. However, there is such a wide selection of art out there! There is so much to choose from and so many talented artists. Why would you settle for something you only like when you could find something that you absolutely love? Even pieces that seem at first like they might not complement a color scheme can actually be made to complement it nicely when hung in the right place with the right matte and frame.
When looking to purchase art, you should search for something that makes you feel good. If a piece of art makes you feel sad when you look at it, it doesn't matter if it matches your living room. The goal is to create a setting that makes you feel good to come home to every day.
2. The buyer doesn't take enough time to look closely at the art, to search for the quality in it.
There are a lot of cheap duplicates and art knockoffs that are mass printed and sold at a low price. It may seem like a bargain at first, but when you have to replace your art every few years because it's fading or falling apart, you'll wish you'd invested in something a little more quality that will last not only for decades, but beyond that, so that you can pass your fine art on to your children or grandchildren.
3. The buyer is afraid to purchase art because they think they don't know enough about art.
On the flip side, some buyers can get caught up in the fact that they don't know how to tell the difference between high and low quality art, so they never purchase anything -- which makes them not buyers at all. Don't fall into this trap -- there are so many ways to determine the quality of a piece.
You can do your research beforehand, or take an art appreciation class. Or, if you don't have that much time to invest, hire someone or find a friend who does know a lot about art, and bring them with you when you do your purchasing. Which brings us to....
4. The buyer is afraid to buy what they like because it isn't "popular".
In my opinion, this is the worst mistake of all. Because more important than anything is to find art that you like, personally, that makes you feel good -- and hang it on your wall because you love it. People who are trendsetters don't buy because something is popular. They buy it because they like it, and other people follow their lead.
5. The buyer doesn't know how to properly maintain and care for the art after they've purchased it.
Different types of art require different methods of maintenance. For example, original watercolor paintings should be framed under glass, and original oil paintings usually need to be varnished 6 months after completion. Fine art should never be stored in direct sunlight (which can cause it to fade) and should never be touched directly with the fingers.
Doing some research or asking the artist how to maintain your new original art should be of the highest priority to ensure that your new art stays at the same quality it was in when you bought it.
