Stage Right - Room Renaissance

Helpful Hints for Hanging Wall Art

Nothing adds more interest to a room than attractive wall art. Pictures, groups of shelves, mirrors, wall sculptures, sconces and architectural elements add charm and ambience to a room. Another benefit is that your art is a reflection of you and the things you treasure and appreciate. The question is, how do you hang wall art so that it is as appealing as possible? Are there tricks to “doing it right”? Obviously there are some secrets to creating an attractive arrangement on your walls.

One of the first comments people make when discussing where to hang wall art is that it should be at “eye level”. Sounds easy….but whose eye level should it be? And, if people mostly sit in a room, “eye level” takes on a whole new meaning! A general rule of thumb is that the center of a picture or grouping should be 54” to 60” from the floor. This level might seem a bit low for someone who is above six feet in height. But a tall person can look down on art and see the artist’s name and other details. Consider art hung at a “giant’s level”. Can most people see the artist’s name, or any other details well? Not unless they are very tall. Art is to be appreciated, and for that everyone must be able to see it clearly.

Keeping that in mind, here are some general guidelines to help you hang wall art properly.

Begin by laying your grouping out on the floor in front of the space you will be working on. You may lay them on craft paper and trace around the frames when you have a pleasing composition. Then tape the paper on the wall to get a feel for the grouping.

Average sized pictures will relate best when hanging no more than a palm’s width apart. If pictures are smaller, then use the width of the molding and mat as a guide. Remember you want a grouping to tell a story…not be a mass of individual pictures!

Can you draw a line around the grouping, which creates a recognizable geometric shape like a rectangle, square, triangle or oval? If you draw an imaginary line, all the pictures should fit within the "frame”.

Balance the light and dark pieces so they are evenly distributed in the grouping.

A grouping or large single picture should occupy 2/3 of the length of the furniture it is hanging over.

Tuck artwork into interesting spaces. Example? Between the bottom of a lampshade and the lamp table!

Make sure the artwork relates to what it is hanging over. Connect it to the furniture or tabletops by hanging it no more than 6 to 9” over the furniture.

Symmetrical arrangements are used in more formal or period rooms. These mirror images tend to create rooms that have a less comfortable feel, as symmetry tends to make people feel the same way – stiff and straight, not relaxed.

Asymmetrical arrangements create a more pleasing “feel” to a room. This type of arrangement gives a more casual and relaxed look.

Buy things that reflect your personality. Remember, hotels buy pictures that “match”. Is that the look you want to achieve?

Linda Litchfield