The safe choice never gets hated. It also never gets remembered.

Avoiding criticism and being memorable pull in opposite directions, because both come from the same source. Anything distinct enough to stick in someone’s head is distinct enough for someone else to dislike. The safe version buys you peace, and the price is that it slides out of memory an hour later. Most people take that trade without noticing they made it.

Look at your current project and find the part where you smoothed something down. Ask what it would look like put back. You do not have to keep it, but decide on purpose rather than by flinch.