Tips for Hanging Art in Your Home
A common tip for hanging art is to hang the center of the art at eye level. Well that works well if you live alone or everyone in your family is the same height. My husband, Michael, is 6 foot tall and I am 5 foot 2 inches, so hanging at eye level for one doesn't quite work for the other, so we compromise and here are a few additional tips we use when hanging art in our home.
Unfortunately, the eye level tip doesn't take into consideration, the purpose of the space, the size of the wall, whether art is being hung over furniture, or the size of the frame. Therefore, hanging art at eye level (typically between 60 and 65) is not a hard and fast rule. Instead, take into consideration how your art relates to everything around it. The following tips should help:
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If hanging your art in a room where you will primarily be seated - for example your dining room, then consider hanging the art a little lower for visual enjoyment.
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In an entryway or hallway where you will primarily be standing, consider hanging the artwork a little above the standard 60 - 65 inch eye-level tip, especially if the ceiling is high.
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Hanging art above furniture? If it is a large piece consider hanging so that the bottom edge of the art work is 6 to 12 inches above the piece of furniture. However, if you are hanging a smaller piece of art consider grouping with other artwork and other decorative items (mirrors, plates, etc.).
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When it comes to deciding on the correct shape of your art consider the wall shape. If the wall is tall and narrow, then art that is vertically rectangular is a good choice. If the wall is square, then a square piece of art will do just fine.
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When in comes to the size of the art, a little math will come in handy here. As a general rule the art should not take up more than 2/3 of the wall space. For example, if your wall is 45 inches wide your art should not exceed 30 inches, including the frame.
When hanging a group of pieces, hang the pieces using the 2/3 rule. There are no hard and fast rules here, it is really more about what is pleasing to the eye. Still, here are some guidelines to follow:
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If the pieces are similar shape and size consider a horizontal arrangement with the tops of the frames all level. However, if the wall is not wide enough you can try a vertical arrangement.
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If the piece you have are all of different sizes and shapes, then follow these simple rules:
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Keep larger pieces on top and smaller pieces below.
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Align the pieces in the upper row so that the tops of the frames align horizontally.
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All paintings should be aligned vertically from the middle.
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The image below illustrates this concept. Doesn't it make a pleasing arrangement? I think so!
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I hope you found this information useful for hanging art in your home. If you still have questions, by all means reach out. I would be happy to answer any additional questions.
