In my line of work, I come across a decent number of folks who are in the pursuit of “good taste.” They are homeowners who desire a magazine-ready showpiece and compliments from guests, or aspiring designers under the illusion that they have a “natural eye” for selecting fabrics and finishes that just go together. Personally, I don’t take stock in good taste. It’s fleeting, illusionary, and just plain boring.  

 

I’d go as far as to say that “good taste” has no place in good design at all.  

 

What Makes Taste “Good” or “Bad?” 

taste; noun

a: critical judgment, discernment, or appreciation

b: manner or aesthetic quality indicative of such discernment or appreciation

— Merriam Webster 

 

Taste, by definition, comes down to our personal appreciation of a particular aesthetic or work. If taste is something we form by our own accord and preferences, how can it be good or bad? After all, if we like it, then it’s good to us. 

 

French philosopher Pierre Bourdieu explains in his book, Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste, that “good taste” is a mechanism used by the elite classes to separate themselves from the general public and those less powerful. In other words, once a style is adapted by the lower class, it is no longer in good taste. 

 

While Bourdieu’s research took place during most of the 60s, the same principle of good taste applies to the modern trend cycle. 

 

What’s hard to attain becomes aspirational, which opens up an opportunity for flattering imitations that give way to trends. What’s on trend is commonly seen as what’s in good taste, simply because it is popular and desired. 

 

The ugly truth behind trends (and why I abhor them) is that the cycle ends on purpose so the next sale can be made. Once everyone has it, no one wants it anymore, leading you to the next desire, renovation, and purchase. If you want to stay in the good graces of good taste, you’re forced to run the never-ending hamster wheel of trends. 

 

Taste is something we form on our own. Good taste is an outline we’re forced to follow.  

 

Good Taste Stifles Creativity (And Makes for Boring Interiors) 

“Good taste is the worst vice ever invented.” 

— Edith Sitwell, British Poet & Critic

 

British poet Edith Sitwell viewed good taste as a vice. If you examine the trend cycle, it’s easy to see why. Good taste requires you to be “in the know” of the next big trend, constantly chasing the next “high,” whether it’s mushroom patterns, cottagecore, or whatever else the design algorithm is cranking out. If left unchecked, good taste can become addictive. 

 

The problem with good taste is that adhering to its rigid rules stifles creativity, individuality, and personalization of your home. Some creative boundaries make for better projects, but the subjective parameters of good taste aren’t one of them.  

 

The good taste gatekeepers tell you what you can and can’t do, based on the latest trend or the established rules of design. However, some of the most creative and innovative projects know when to break the rules and experiment with something new. 

 

We need to detox with bad taste. 

Bad Taste is Far More Interesting

“Never fear being vulgar, just boring. Vulgarity is a very important ingredient in life. I’m a great believer in vulgarity –– if it’s got vitality. A little bad taste is like a nice splash of paprika. We all need a splash of bad taste –– it’s hearty, it’s healthy, it’s physical. I think we could use more of it. No taste is what I’m against.” 

— Diana Vreeland, American Fashion Editor 

 

I don’t have good taste, and you shouldn’t either. Why? Because it’s so boring. I side with Diana Vreeland as a proponent of all things vulgar. Vulgarity is just more interesting! It’s the contrast of the beautiful and the ugly that makes things interesting, especially in interiors. That splash of bad taste is the paprika that gives the room a little spice, an even greater depth. It’s why I’m happy to frame my client’s poster of The Ramones to hang above his marble-top dining table. Good taste would never have allowed that! 

 

The confines of good taste are so subjective. What is good for some is not good for all. And it is so boring and dull to have someone gatekeep the idea of what is and is not allowed in our homes. It is far more interesting to forgo good taste altogether and just go with what you like, whether it is good, bad, pretty, or ugly. 

 

A Good Designer Doesn’t Rely on Good Taste

Being a good designer doesn’t mean you have good taste. In fact, you should rarely rely on your taste at all. Folks get the most out of working with a designer when that professional is able to set aside their own taste entirely in favor of the client’s preferences. 

More important than good taste is a designer’s training — the ability to improve the function of a space, solve problems, and create a space that’s comfortable to live in. Taste doesn’t really play a large role in the actual design work. And spaces that reflect “good taste” are not terribly interesting or worth exploring.

 

Taste is relative. So it doesn’t matter if you have good taste or bad taste. You probably have a bit of both. 

 

Good or bad, your taste is all that matters.