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Wall Art 101


 

Welcome to our design blog!

Today, you will learn how to properly hang your wall art.

 

From showing off personal photography to abstract artwork, wall art is a critical decor element that can bring any room together. There is, however, a lot more to it than just hanging things on a wall. Here are just a few basic guidelines everyone should follow when hanging pieces on a wall in order to achieve a cohesive, well-designed look.

#1: Hang your pieces at the right height.

Many people are guilty of hanging their artwork too high! Hanging artwork too high throws off the proportions of the room as well as the relationship between the furniture and artwork. The key is to hang your pieces so that the center of the item or group of items is at eye level (57"-60" above the floor). Another way to think about it is to imagine that the wall is split into 4 pieces, hang artwork in the 3rd piece up from the floor. If the artwork is above a sofa, bookcase, or other piece of large furniture, hang the artwork 6"-8" above the furniture. Both of these tips ensure that the artwork appears unified with other elements in the space.

Photo: If this is yours, please send us a note so we can give you credit!

#2: On an open wall with little to no furniture against it, go for a gallery wall.

Gallery walls can be a simple or as complicated as you make them. You can do a simple grid pattern with every piece having the same frame size and finish, or you can combine different sized artwork, sculptural hangings, or throw an interesting clock into the mix. No matter which style of gallery wall you choose, laying out the wall ahead of time is key.

Photo: If this is yours, please send us a note so we can give you credit!

#3: Try laying out an arrangement on the floor before hanging it on the wall.

If you are trying to achieve a gallery wall or group a few different pieces together, lay it out first. Laying your pieces out on the floor or on a bed gives you the chance to easily explore different layouts before committing to fixing them to the wall. It also gives you the chance to work out details like the distance between each piece. You could also test out the grouping on the wall with paper and tape. Always treat these types of groupings as if they were one piece so that they look intentional.

Photo: deavita.com