Picture this: you found that beautiful piece of artwork or conversation piece that you know is going to tie together your whole space.  It perfectly compliments the new console you purchased and ties in ever-so-wonderfully with the tiny pattern on the pillows you love.

… but then you realize you have to hang it.

You know that you want to hang it properly, but how high and how far apart can sometimes be the most daunting part. 

One of the things we see all the time is artwork hung too high, multiple pieces being too far apart, or art that is too small in scale for a particular space. Unfortunately, improper placement can make the whole room feel just a bit off.  With artwork as the finishing touch in a room, getting it right is important!

 

 

Over the years, we’ve come up with a go-to list of do’s and don’ts when it comes to hanging art that serve as our go-to guide.

Do:

Hang at the proper height

When hanging a single photo, the middle of your picture should be at 60”.  This *will* feel short but trust us, it’s correct.  This helps the average person enjoy the art best, especially in rooms where you see the art when you’re sitting.  It also keeps your artwork from making your ceilings feel short!

 

Remember art above furniture is a little different

 When hanging artwork above a sofa or console the bottom of your art should be between 6-8” above.  This keeps it from getting knocked over, when you’re actually utilizing said furniture, and keeps things from feeling to cluttered.

 

Feel free to skip the nails, too

One of our favorite ways to display art can also be leaning artwork.  It can sit without sliding, and adds the perfect layering.  If you haven’t tried it, you should. It is a lot of fun and an easy way to alternate pieces.

Don’t:

Space things too far apart

If there are multiple pieces to hang in a grouping, we recommend putting things 2” apart.  Again, one you’re up-close and doing the hanging, this may feel a little off to you.  We promise when you step back your eye will thank you!  You also want to make sure that you’re keeping your measurements in between the frames all the same! 

 

Forget about scale

Scale is very important when picking your pieces.  Small artwork should go on smaller wall and a large space can have groupings or a large single piece.  When hanging above something like a buffet in the dining room, etc, you want to make sure that the art or grouping takes up 2/3rds of the total length of the piece.

 

Do any of these tips surprise you? Do you tend to keep things proper height and space or was this a refresher for you?

Hopefully you loved our guide to hanging artwork will serve you well when you go to hang your next pieces!

Like this post? Read more of our tips and tricks here!