Presents:
Hanging Art Tips
In general, artwork should be hung so that the center point of the picture or grouping is at about eye level for the average person. While this won't be possible in every situation, it's a good guideline to keep in mind. Another technique to remember is that a grouping of pictures should be thought of as one unit.
Relate Art to Wall Size Choose smaller pictures for narrow walls and larger works for big wall spaces. Here a hall wall is accented by hanging a set of six prints in a tall vertical arrangement. One or two larger vertical pictures would have been another possibility for this space.
Relate Art to Furniture Size In general, when hanging art over a piece of furniture it should not be longer than the width of the furniture. The artwork shown in this photograph relates to the size of the table below it, and keeps to a general principle of being about 75% of the table's width.
Light Art Well
Illuminating artwork gives it importance. The track lighting in this hallway has been added to banish the dark hallway feel as well as make the art collection that much more dramatic.
Check Color
Choose artwork that underscores the mood or theme of your room's decor. Vibrant colors bring excitement to a room while neutral colors are more calming.
Bigger is often Better
One large painting makes a statement and keeps things simple. It can also call attention to the focal point of the room which is often the fireplace.
Landscapes Open Up Add the look of a "window" to a small or windowless area by hanging landscape art. Landscape art is one good way to visually open up a smaller space. The view of a distant horizon acts as a sort of "window" giving the impression of a faraway vista.
Hanging Artwork with Horizontal or Vertical Lines The use of line is sometimes overlooked by home decorators, yet proper use of line can set the mood in a room. Horizontal lines tend to elongate, widen, and emphasize a casual decorating scheme. Vertical lines however, tend to be more formal, add to the illusion of height, and can seem more elegant and refined.
Horizontal Lines
Strong horizontal lines in artwork, or in the way artwork is framed or hung, tend to be calming and can give the illusion of width in a narrow room.
Vertical Lines
Strong vertical lines -- in a picture, in a frame, or in the arrangement on the wall -add to the feeling of height in a room. The arrangement shown here is made even more dramatic by hanging the prints one above the other, furthering the sense of height.
Hanging Artwork in Diagonal Lines
Add drama to an arrangement. Hanging artwork in diagonal lines makes it appear more dramatic and exciting. While artwork generally shouldn't be hung in offset arrangements, it is a useful technique in a stairwell as the floor levels change.
Diagonal Lines
Strong diagonal lines, either within a picture itself or in a line of pictures arranged on the wall, add excitement to the composition.
Hanging Art in Symmetrical Arrangements Symmetry simply means that when an arrangement is divided in half, each half is a mirror image of the other. Symmetry adds balance and formality to an arrangement and is generally pleasing and calming to the observer.
Make Small Pieces Appear Larger
One of these objects hung on a large wall would seem out of place, yet this unusual grouping extends each piece within an arrangement that is a more appropriate size for the space.
Stick to Your Theme
Support your room theme with art, repeating the colors, motifs, and style of the room's interior.
Hang Securely
Nothing ruins a carefully planned arrangement of art faster than if the pictures pull away from the wall because they weren't hung securely. Hang pictures to securely attached picture hooks rated for the weight of the artwork or object. If in doubt about picture hardware or its installation, ask advice at the hardware store.
Evaluate the artwork in your own home. You may find ways to accomplish an "art makeover" to better showcase your artwork.
Good Luck!