consider your space

Take the time to consider your space and how your artwork will feel best at home. The following are some guidelines for hanging artwork, but rules are definitely meant to be broken too.

DISPLAY PRINCIPLES

   

GROUND YOUR ART   Hang artwork above a sofa, chair or table to avoid a ‘floating’ effect. Choose larger pieces or a pairing of pictures to place over substantial furniture, like a sofa.

CONSIDER HEIGHT   A common boo-boo is to hang pictures too high. A rule of thumb for hanging height is about 60” from the floor. Centre a piece about 6-8” over a sofa or chair, and 8-10”above a table (to accommodate the height of books or a vase). Don’t hang pictures at different heights, but align them all at the base, top or centre, to have a flow to the sight lines of a room.

   

FOCAL POINT   A large bold piece will need space to stand back from and even a wall to itself. Hang a good size or bold piece above a mantel, as it’s the natural focal point of a room with one.

BREATHING SPACE   Don’t feel pressure to fill all empty wall space. Even with the gallery wall look, breathing space can be created by the use of a broad white or light coloured matt or mount to surround a picture.

   

WALLS COVERINGS   Generally, dark walls can take bolder pictures, whereas lighter coloured walls suit pastels and more delicate work. Wallpaper as a backdrop can be challenging, but a bold print on a busy pattern or a detailed piece in front of striped wallpaper can be delightful.

   

SIZE + FORMAT OF A PIECE   A large, bold piece may need the room space to be admired from a distance. Avoid small pictures on a large wall as they tend to get lost. A horizontal piece will widen the room to the eye and a tall piece will draw the eye upwards.