MIL has given us a massive picture I really don’t like

[BillyButterfly]

More of a what would you do? Moved into our new home. MIL has bought a massive (truly massive- think full wall) picture which is really not my taste as a gift. Not sure tbh if she has deliberately given it knowing I would hate it but feel compelled to display it. Using the excuse that we are decorating at the moment but she keeps asking where we will be putting it. She is the type to be really difficult if I told the truth. Would I be unreasonable to accidentally break it?

God I’m glad I don’t have a MIL...

@YouUnlockedTheGateAnd Absolutely beautiful - a true dystopian masterpiece!

On the subject of Kinkade, how about this stunning centrepiece, yours for £130 from that well respected emporium of elegance, Bradford Exchange.

We had a big wall full of pictures.
Have recently done lots of work on the house and got rid of lots of stuff.
We've had that wall plastered ,nice big smooth wall painted in a lovely dark colour.
Told everyone we are not putting anything on that wall.
A friend messaged last week.Cant wait to come over,have bought you the perfect present for that wall.....dreading her coming but I will have to say when she comes sorry its lovely but you keep it

TheNewLook sorry but 🤣🤣🤣

OP, since you ask, i guess both you and your dh are not confrontational (utterly spineless, rather living the next twenty years with this monstrosity than saying something 😁).

Could you bring yourself (rather your dh) to tell mil 'oh we tried to put it up, but it is way too big, it simply doesn't work, we will bring it to you as you have X wall just right for it'?

Dh doesn’t like it either but doesn’t want to offend her

You may have deeper problems than a picture you hate.

honesty is the best policy? I just offend people now. Am not one for wall pics,i have them in hall,kids rooms,relevant to intrests,i like painings/pics/art/but/.more.i like blank walls. my mum has previously "spoiled me"with ridiculously expensive horrendous curtains which i lied and said didnt fit(clearly bag sealed)she was demand sizes etc..i said-how bout i return them n change for something i can stand looking at daily.so......am ungrateful
few yrs later,new sofa,changed room colour-sure she presents me with a painting of a dont even get ones look like that fugly canvas oil thing.yes.it had colours i used. EVERY FUNKIN day???nope.nope.its horrid,imposing,dont live to please her.i painted it with kids room paint and pin "achievements to it"...when asked bout it i told her.even went into spout bout art being very perssonal for me.she said.your the only one who cant draw....i said..hmmm,ok,i hate your taste in things you buy me....we're still,family.lols

Do you have a spare room you could put it in?

Your DH should really have tackled this at the time and exchanged it. If you don’t address this you could end with all sorts over the years 🤣🤣🤣

It is an odd gift as art is very personal. She may think she knows her son’s taste or be one of those people who thinks if she likes it everyone else will.

clary Yes! That, and Phoebe's Glynnis and Gladys in Friends.

Do a reverse image search. If it’s ££££ ask for her to change it.
If not, I’d take it to a distant charity shop and say nothing, when/if asked would tell the truth.
I’d rather apologise than ask permission to not display something I don’t want on my wall.

I'd hate to ruin it, in case it's actually worth something (or she might replace it, as a PP said), but if the relationship is so strange that she'd give something like this without checking first that you'd like it, maybe that's the only way out.

I still think I'd find some way of telling her you don't want it (or rather, your having your husband break the news), and if she's angry, she can just get over it in her own time.

The one thing I would not do is put it on the wall.

@TheNewLook - you described it very evocatively 😂

Spill paint on it?

@Turnedouttoes

You need to nip this in the bud right now or it will continue. Mine is a hoarder and is just addicted to buying stuff. Now that she has no more space she buys it for our house instead.

We have been gifted a giant framed picture of a skull and another that we’ve managed to give away but she keeps asking about. Fortunately DP has learnt to be strict about it as he hates tat and clutter but she’s forever trying to give us truly awful bits and bobs

I wish I had a picture of a skull, I have the ideal place for it .

This is where a stairwell comes in handy. Centre of the house so feels important and giver can see you have hung it, but not a place you spend a lot of time in and don't have to view it much. Plus, if strategically positioned, not many visitors will see it!

Stairwell will come in handy as you balance it on balustrade and it falls heavily in awful
Accident.

Definitely one for your husband to deal with.

If your husband is not going to tackle the problem then you must tell her. Heck even via text. Just be nice but honest.

Why on earth would you put it on a wall if you loathe it. Unless you have a garage. Then put it in there. As a statement hahaha

Your dh needs to man up and return it. I’ve only ever been given one painting, entirely to my style, I’d admired it lots so my pil gave it to us as a wedding gift. It’s still over the fireplace, always will be.

Sadly, my dm has no idea of my taste and used to persist in giving me utterly bizarre gifts, a wooden cat looking at it’s own bum etc, plus lots of cheap plastic jewellery. So random.

It is your home. You choose how to decorate it.
As Turned said, nip this in the bud right now.
If you’re not honest & direct now, there will probably be many more terrible gifts & expectations.

My grandmother gave my parents this hideous lamp that only ever came out when she was visiting - fortunately most of the visits were announced, except this one time when I had to be picked up from school as was throwing up, and my grandmother was the only one who was able to get me.

She was horrified to find the lamp in the linen closet after going in there to change my bed. fortunately had a sense of humour and told my parents that she had damaged it, took it back and then gave it back to them for Christmas all repaired

@CleanHankie

This is where a stairwell comes in handy. Centre of the house so feels important and giver can see you have hung it, but not a place you spend a lot of time in and don't have to view it much. Plus, if strategically positioned, not many visitors will see it!

Or even hang it back to front.

My MIL paints... think really lurid oil paintings executed without much skill or finesse. We have three of her works in storage and none of them up. She probably hates me for it (husband had them in his bachelor pad so she knows I'm the one who doesn't like them).

One of my toddlers stabbed one of them with a scissor (I know, it happened right in front of me yet I had no chance to intervene) during a house move, we haven't mentioned it yet so that's going to be fun when it gets out.

If you Allow this ... a giant oil painting will follow

Do you think it cost a lot?

Say you think that it doesn’t go with the cottage style of your home, and it would look much nicer in her home. Also say it’s such a generous gift it’s a shame to waste it on someone that doesn’t really love it. Smile. Will actually tell you DH to do All that because he will be forgiven where is he will not