interesting reading your choices!
lol well, by now, you all know, I am really new at lenormands! I really wanted to read about ones others use, so in case I haven't seen them, I would have even more to check out and also to find out why some prefer some over others.
I was thinking what appeals to me as I have been looking at scans. Kalliope, you've mentioned some I haven't heard of, so of course I'm GOING TO CHECK THEM OUT ASAP! OK there is really a lenormand called A.S.S.? No judgement, just ok, I admit it, I did GRIN reading that.
OK JUST CHECKED OUT Melissa's minimalist deck. THAT would be great in a mini for me! I can easily see the symbol, that's for sure.
In SOME ways, aesthetically what appeals to me in a tarot deck does in lenormands as well, but not totally.
For lenormands, I DO like the corresponding card but done more subtly, like a small heart and a 7 at maybe a lower corner. Having a playing card inset take up about 1/2 or even a 1/4 of a small lenormand, at the top, I find distracting. I want to see the images on the lenormand card. I also really like a clear, not too cluttered meaning.
It's ok to have an interesting scene for me, doesn't have to be overly minimal, but if I have to search for the key or the fox (like where's waldo?), not my deck. Same with really abstract, I would find it distracting. I have seen some beautiful lenormand decks, but so much going on, even if I were a seasoned reader, too busy for me personally.
I do like the vintage look, I also agree, LRichard, I don't want too gimmicky, but with that said, I really like the Mysteries of the Old Castle. I didn't find it too gimmicky, perhaps you would. I think a lot of the pictures are old reproductions, but maybe not. I don't find it gloomy, I find it atmospheric.
I am not a big fan of actual photographed faces, so I think oh that looks like my next door neighbor and not a big fan of the digital photographed decks, in general. Although I see some things that look like photos in this deck (Mysteries of the Old Castle) and I'm ok with that (one of the hands in the ring for example)
.
If a deck is a mix of actual photos (like a photo of a house) and others that look like paintings, I just don't find it is as cohesive as I would like. I like it to feel it all somehow matches for ME. I like it fairly simple and to feel cohesive and clear whatever scene it's in.
Themed, would depend. You're not going to see me with a Zombie, Animal, Vegetable or Mineral themed lenormand. Not saying anything at all wrong with others liking those or any other decks I've listed not my style, just saying, not my style.
Size is kind of important. I like small for shuffling, but a bit larger for seeing them. Since I am starting off with very small readings of likely at most five cards, I'm not worried about having enough room. A size definitely smaller than say the Bohemian Gothic, more like a more standard tarot card, but bigger than a mini (for seeing), would generally be optimal for me (part of that depends on the card though, if a quite small card just basically has the symbol so I don't have to search for it and I can see it well, small is fine).
I know, I'm pretty opinionated about deck images for someone who has just started
. But I do know styles I like, even if I am still a beginner at reading combinations!