After launching DeckArts and working with hundreds of customers over the past year, I've noticed patterns in how people approach choosing skateboard art for their homes. While it's incredibly rewarding to see authentic skateboard culture making its way into interior design, I've also witnessed some costly mistakes that could easily be avoided.
Today, I want to share the five most common mistakes I see people make when selecting skateboard wall art – mistakes I've made myself during my own journey into this unique intersection of street culture and home design. More importantly, I'll show you how to avoid them and make choices you'll love for years to come.
Mistake #1: Prioritizing Price Over Authenticity
This is by far the most heartbreaking mistake I encounter. I understand the temptation – you see a "skateboard art" piece for $39 on a mass-market website, and it looks similar to authentic pieces priced at $149-299. The difference isn't immediately obvious from a small product photo, but it becomes painfully clear once you receive your order.
The Problem: Mass-produced "skateboard art" often uses cheap materials, inferior printing techniques, and generic designs that have no connection to actual skateboard culture. These pieces typically feature:
- Low-quality plywood or composite materials
- Digital prints applied with adhesive backing
- Designs created by graphic designers with no skateboard background
- Poor color reproduction that fades quickly
- Flimsy mounting hardware that fails over time
My Learning Experience: In the early days of conceptualizing DeckArts, I ordered several competing products to understand the market. One $45 piece arrived with edges already peeling and graphics that looked nothing like the website photos. The mounting hardware was so cheap that one of the screws stripped immediately. This piece ended up in my storage room within a week.
The Solution: Invest in authentic skateboard art created on genuine skateboard decks. Look for pieces that specify:
- 7-ply Canadian maple construction
- Hand-applied or screen-printed graphics
- UV-resistant, archival-quality inks
- Professional mounting hardware included
- Artist attribution and backstory
At DeckArts, every piece starts with premium skateboard decks and features original artwork by local Prague street artists. Yes, it costs more upfront, but the difference in quality, authenticity, and longevity makes it a worthwhile investment.
Real-World Impact: Sarah, a customer from Berlin, initially bought three cheap pieces from another retailer. Within six months, two had faded significantly and one fell off the wall, damaging her paint. She ended up replacing all three with authentic pieces from our collection – an expensive lesson in the importance of quality over price.
Mistake #2: Ignoring Scale and Proportion
I've lost count of how many photos customers have sent me showing their skateboard art hanging like postage stamps on vast walls, or conversely, overwhelming small spaces with pieces that are too large or numerous.
The Problem: Skateboard decks are approximately 31-32 inches long and 7.5-8.5 inches wide. While this creates a distinctive vertical format that's perfect for many spaces, it requires thoughtful consideration of your wall dimensions and surrounding elements.
Common Scale Mistakes:
- Too Small for the Wall: Hanging a single deck on a large empty wall where it gets lost
- Overcrowding: Mounting multiple pieces too close together without proper spacing
- Wrong Height: Positioning pieces too high or too low relative to furniture and sight lines
- Ignoring Furniture Scale: Not considering how the art relates to nearby furniture pieces
My Learning Process: When I first mounted skateboard art in my Prague apartment, I made the classic mistake of treating them like traditional paintings. I hung a beautiful piece above my sofa, but it looked tiny and disconnected from the room's scale. It wasn't until I created a three-piece grouping with proper spacing that the wall came alive.
The Solution: Consider these guidelines when planning your display:
- Single Pieces: Work best on narrower wall sections or as part of a larger gallery wall
- Multiple Pieces: Allow 4-6 inches between decks for optimal visual impact
- Height Placement: Center the grouping at 57-60 inches from the floor
- Furniture Relationship: Ensure the total width of your grouping is 2/3 to 3/4 the width of furniture below
Professional Tip: Before mounting anything permanently, cut paper templates the size of your skateboard art and tape them to the wall. Live with the arrangement for a few days to ensure it feels right in your space.
Mistake #3: Choosing Style Over Substance (Or Vice Versa)
This mistake comes in two forms, and I've seen both destroy otherwise successful interior design projects.
Version A: All Style, No Substance Some people choose skateboard art purely because it looks "cool" or "edgy" without considering whether the piece has any authentic connection to skateboard culture. They end up with generic graphics that feel forced and inauthentic in their space.
Version B: All Authenticity, No Style Consideration On the flip side, skateboard enthusiasts sometimes choose pieces based solely on brand recognition or cultural significance without considering how they'll work in their interior design scheme.
The Problem: Both approaches lead to art that feels disconnected – either from skateboard culture or from your living space. The result is pieces that never quite feel at home in your interior.
My Journey: When I started collecting skateboard art for my own space, I made Version B mistake. I bought several pieces from legendary skateboard artists simply because of their reputation, without considering my apartment's aesthetic. While I respected the art immensely, it clashed with my minimalist Scandinavian-influenced decor. These pieces now live in my office where their bold graphics feel more appropriate.
The Solution: Look for pieces that bridge both worlds successfully. The best skateboard wall art:
- Maintains Cultural Authenticity: Created by artists with real connections to skateboard or street art culture
- Considers Interior Application: Designed with home environments in mind
- Balances Bold and Subtle Elements: Strong enough to make a statement but sophisticated enough for daily living
- Offers Versatile Color Palettes: Colors that can work with various interior styles
This is exactly what we've achieved with our Prague artist collaborations at DeckArts. Each piece maintains the authenticity of street art while being specifically designed for interior spaces.
Mistake #4: Overlooking Lighting and Display Context
Even the most beautiful skateboard art can fall flat without proper presentation. I've visited homes where incredible pieces were barely visible due to poor lighting, or where amazing art was undermined by cluttered surroundings.
Common Lighting Mistakes:
- Insufficient Illumination: Treating skateboard art like background decoration rather than featured artwork
- Wrong Light Color: Cool LED lighting that makes warm-toned art look washed out
- Harsh Shadows: Direct overhead lighting that creates unflattering shadows across textured surfaces
- No Accent Lighting: Relying solely on ambient room lighting without highlighting the art
Display Context Problems:
- Cluttered Backgrounds: Mounting art on busy wallpaper or alongside too many competing elements
- Poor Color Coordination: Not considering how wall color affects the art's appearance
- Inappropriate Surroundings: Placing edgy skateboard art in overly formal settings where it feels out of place
My Learning Experience: The first skateboard art piece I ever bought was a beautiful hand-painted deck with incredible detail work. I mounted it in my hallway thinking the narrow space would showcase its vertical format. However, the hallway had poor natural light and no dedicated lighting, so the piece's intricate details were barely visible. It wasn't until I moved it to a well-lit wall in my living room with proper picture lighting that I truly appreciated its beauty.
Professional Solutions:
- Dedicated Picture Lighting: Install adjustable picture lights or track lighting specifically for your art
- Wall Color Consideration: Neutral walls (white, light gray, or soft beige) typically showcase skateboard art best
- Breathing Room: Give each piece space to be appreciated without visual competition
- Complementary Decor: Choose surrounding elements that enhance rather than compete with your art
Mistake #5: Buying Impulsively Without a Plan
This might be the most expensive mistake on the list. I've worked with customers who've accumulated random skateboard art pieces over time, only to realize they don't work together or fit their evolving design vision.
The Impulse Purchase Problem:
- No Cohesive Vision: Buying individual pieces without considering how they'll work as a collection
- Size Inconsistency: Mixing different deck sizes and formats without intentional design purpose
- Style Conflicts: Accumulating pieces in conflicting styles that compete rather than complement
- Space Limitations: Not measuring spaces accurately before purchasing
Why This Happens: The excitement of discovering a cool piece of skateboard art can override practical considerations. I understand this completely – when you see an authentic piece by an artist you admire, the urge to buy immediately is strong. The problem is that individual great pieces don't automatically create great collections.
My Collection Journey: In my enthusiasm to support local Prague artists, I initially bought pieces whenever I discovered work I loved. After six months, I had seven different skateboard art pieces that were all individually beautiful but didn't work together. Some were too similar in color palette, others clashed stylistically, and several were inappropriate for the spaces I had available. I ended up gifting three pieces to friends and carefully planning future acquisitions.
The Strategic Approach:
- Start with Your Space: Measure your walls and identify where skateboard art would work best
- Define Your Style: Decide whether you want cohesive pieces or intentional variety
- Plan Your Palette: Consider how colors will work together and with your existing decor
- Budget for Quality: Set aside adequate budget for authentic pieces rather than compromising on multiple cheap options
- Research Artists: Learn about the artists behind pieces you're considering – understanding their background adds value to your collection
Building a Collection Strategically: If you're interested in building a skateboard art collection, consider starting with a foundational piece that represents your style preferences. Then build around it gradually, ensuring each new addition enhances the overall collection. Our curated collections at DeckArts are designed with this approach in mind – pieces that work beautifully individually or as coordinated sets.
Learning from Customer Success Stories
Over the past year, I've had the privilege of helping customers avoid these mistakes and create stunning skateboard art displays. Here are two examples that illustrate the difference proper planning makes:
Marcus from Amsterdam: Initially contacted me wanting to buy our entire Prague collection because he loved the aesthetic. After discussing his space and style preferences, we developed a plan for a three-piece installation in his home office. He started with one central piece, then added complementary pieces over six months as his budget allowed. The result is a cohesive, professional-looking display that perfectly captures his personality while maintaining sophisticated appeal.
Lisa from Toronto: Made the mistake of buying cheap knockoffs initially, then contacted me when they started falling apart. We worked together to replace them with authentic pieces, but more importantly, we created a lighting plan and chose paint colors that would showcase her new collection properly. The transformation was dramatic – the same wall space went from looking cheap and cluttered to sophisticated and intentional.
The Investment Perspective
When you avoid these five mistakes, skateboard art becomes more than decoration – it becomes an investment in authentic culture and quality craftsmanship. Properly chosen and displayed pieces maintain their visual impact for years, often appreciating in value as artists gain recognition.
As I discussed in my previous post about why I created DeckArts, the goal isn't just to sell art – it's to bridge the gap between street culture authenticity and sophisticated interior design. When you understand and avoid these common mistakes, you're much more likely to achieve that perfect balance.
Remember, authentic skateboard art should enhance your space while maintaining its cultural integrity. Take time to plan your choices, invest in quality pieces, and consider the complete presentation package. Your walls – and your wallet – will thank you.
For more guidance on presenting your collection professionally, check out our detailed guide on how to mount skateboard art for the technical aspects of installation.
About the Author: Stanislav Arnautov is the founder of DeckArts, bringing authentic skateboard art to interior spaces. Based in Prague, he works with local street artists to create limited-edition pieces that bridge urban culture and home design. Follow his journey on Instagram @rntv or visit stasarnautov.com.