How High to Hang Art
You’re finally ready to hang something on the wall-fantastic!! But wait…where exactly should you hang it? How high (or low) should you go? Believe it or not-improperly hanging art is one of the biggest mistakes I see homeowners make. BUT, luckily it’s one of the easiest problems to fix. So, before you hang that art, read on to see where it should go.
The process of hanging a new piece of artwork or a collection of family photos can seem like a puzzle. Although there are pieces to examine, there isn't just one correct way to put them together. As with every aspect of decorating it helps to understand the basic principles first, then improvise—the most pleasing arrangement may be the one you least expect.
First, set out the pictures you want to hang; prop them against the walls, and consider your options. Look at every reasonable possibility. Have someone hold a piece up to the wall while you stand back and appraise (just cover the hanging hardware with masking tape first to keep it from scratching the wall). If you are grouping several pieces together, arrange and rearrange them on the floor until you find an arrangement you like. A simple to trick to use is to cut out brown paper the size and shape of your frames and using painters tape put them up on the wall and play around with the arrangement until you like it.
In most groupings, a common thread will tie the pieces together. Perhaps the pictures are part of a collection or share a common theme; if not, maybe the frames share the same style or the mats are all the same color. Sometimes, a grouping may not need a linking element; the only unifying theme may be its diversity. I like to play around with the orientation of the frames as well- doing a combination of portrait and landscape will help create visual interest.
As for precise positioning, conventional wisdom suggests that pictures be hung at eye level. This notion is a fine starting point, but hardly definitive. There are many good reasons to hang pieces above or below a standard height. In any setting, you will need to react to the architecture and the furniture; you will also need to follow your instincts. A few inches' shift in a hanging arrangement can affect the tone of an entire room: Move the pictures over a sofa or chair down a bit; the area will become more cohesive, cozy, and inviting. Add an element of surprise to a room by hanging a little picture above the door. Emphasize a chair rail by running a series of photos right above it. Hang several small pieces just over a desk—they'll provide a refreshing view when you look up from your work.
What About a Collection of Art or Photos?
Treat a collection or gallery of art as one whole unit and center it on the wall following the general rule of 57″-60″ off the floor.
A few more art hanging tips...
Avoid hanging a tiny piece of art over a large piece of furniture or on a large wall. It will just look too small and out of proportion. Art should be about 2/3 the width of the furniture.
Don't try to hang a really wide piece of art on a narrow wall-it will look out of balance. Try to find a taller piece of art to hang there instead.
If you are using a gallery of photos make sure they take up enough space on the wall and don't look like they are floating off by themselves. Adding more photos can help.
If you are making a gallery wall of photos feel free to mix up the sizes and shapes to add visual interest. Unless of course you are going for a very measured, same-size look.
When in doubt, cut out craft or wrapping paper in the size of the art you want to hang and secure it to the wall with painters tape. That way you can see if you like where it is before you hang it. This is especially helpful when creating gallery walls.
Happy Decorating!
