Whether we’re aware of them or not, we all make certain assumptions about how our homes should look, and how they should be decorated. Most of the conventions we observe are quite reasonable: they help to preserve the order and harmony of the visual environment. But there can also be a certain joy in flouting these rules. Art and decor that subverts the normal, that plays with your expectations, can be surprisingly attractive, and besides being attractive it’s also surprising — its appeal comes with a sudden rush of transgressive joy.
