Hanging Wall Art

A guide to hanging your pictures...

Bare walls do not add much to the decoration of a room. So, hanging art - even if it's just a piece of beautiful fabric in a frame, can help enormously. You might feel intimidated by all that blank space, but if you take it a step at a time (or a picture at a time), you'll find it easier to fill.

The "art" that is put on a wall (or any place else) doesn't have to be a picture. Think of using textiles (quilts, rugs), prints (such as the posters found HERE), or three dimensional objects (such as plates, plaques, clocks and sconces) Three dimensional objects can really make an impact.

Choose what looks good to YOU. Focus on what you like instead of what you think someone else would consider art. Look at decorating magazines or books to see what kind of art arrangements you are drawn too. Then "copy" that feel.

There are several general rules to go by when when hanging pictures, tapestries or other art on your walls.

The first is size. A picture that is too big can overwhelm the space. Go for a picture (or a group of pictures as shown here) that covers no more than two-thirds of the object over which it hangs. Art that's too small for its wall will look insignificant and lose its impact. To decide how to hang small items: Make sure that a picture, tapestry or group of pictures fills at least half of the wall space above a piece of furniture. Remember, too, that detailed artwork needs to hang where it can be seen close up.
Do's and Don'ts

Consider these Do's and Don'ts when hanging artwork:

DON'T: No one piece of art can adequately fill a staircase wall. DO: Group pictures hung in a "step" effect that echoes the line of the staircase. Hang the first piece at eye level on the landing, then skip every other step and hang each piece at eye level.

DON'T: Don't hang pictures too far apart from each other when hanging as a grouping. This detracts from the group and each picture in it. DO: Uniting the pictures by placing them closer together looks more appealing because the art works together to create a balanced display.

DON'T: Artwork that is hung too high may seem to be lost in outer space. DO: By bring the picture or group of pictures down closer to the furniture it's hanging over, the art takes on importance, and details in the art are more clearly seen. Art should be hung about twelve inches higher than a piece of furniture.