The 'Art' of Hanging Pictures Like a Designer.
You have just found a beautiful painting that you
know would look wonderful in the living room. So now you have it at
home and you hammer a nail into the wall above the couch and hook
the painting over it. Easy!
Pleased with your purchase you stand
back. You tip your head to one side and then the other. Then you
squint at the picture. Something is definitely not right but you
can't put your finger on it.
If you've ever found yourself
dissatisfied with the appearance of the art or family photos on your
walls you're not alone. Many people make the same common mistakes
that the eye can read as awkward but the individual does not know
how to fix. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when arranging
art on a wall.
LARGE ART:
Large artwork will be a focal point so
you should be careful to place it in an appropriate area. Where does
large artwork look best? Try over a couch, behind the dining set,
over a fireplace or on a feature wall. A feature wall is where the
placement of furniture or the layout of the home naturally guides
the eye to a wall - a great place to feature art.
SMALL ART:
Try to group small pieces if possible.
Using similar or matching frames and matting make this look more
pleasing. Otherwise anchor the small piece visually by hanging it
low and close to furnishings so it doesn't appear to be floating on
the wall.
GROUPING ART:
Whether you're creating a grid of equal
sized frames or composing a collection of various sizes the rule of
spacing is the same. Try to have them spaced approximately 3 inches
apart. Try positioning them on the floor or a table to get a
pleasing arrangement before placing the nails and measure carefully
before making any holes.
HEIGHT:
Artwork should be hung with the center of
the picture at eye level. That means the center should be about 60
to 66 inches from the floor. If you've visited a gallery you will
see that the frames are not lined up by their top or bottom edges
but that the pictures are all centered at the same height.
If the artwork is usually going to be
viewed sitting down (as at a dining table or when viewed beside a
couch) you would hang them at the sitter's eye level instead.
Artwork behind a couch should be no more
than 8 to 10 inches above the back of the couch.
With these easy tips you should have no
problem creating wonderful arrangements that will have designer
appeal.
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