(When I refer to 'art' I mean anything that hangs on the wall for display. It may be paintings, portraits, photos, metallic art, collections (plates for example).
We often hear we should hang our art at 'eye level'. But who's eye level? Eye level when sitting or eye level when standing? Here are a few pointers I have gathered together to help take the confusion out of it. |
2. SIZE |
Keep large pieces of art on large expanses of wall and smaller pieces on the smaller walls. Putting small pieces on a large wall gives the sense that the pieces are 'floating' away, which is very visually distracting. The exception to this rule is when several similar smaller pieces are grouped together ands reads as one large piece. When done correctly this can be a great way to display your favorite photos or collections, etc.
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3. SHAPE |
Shape.....does it matter? Generally speaking, vertically hung pieces can visually make a low ceiling look higher and a high ceiling lower. Vertical pieces of art and other vertical lines in a room tend to make a room more formal. Lines of a horizontally hung piece emphasizes the width of a room and can visually expand it. It also lends itself to a more casual look.
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4. OTHER
A couple of more general rules....if hung above a piece of furniture, such as a sofa, the width of the piece should never be wider than the piece of furniture. Some will say the art should not exceed 75% of the width of the furniture below it. Also, when hung above a sofa or similar, the art should take up 2/3 of the wall space between the furniture and the ceiling.
These are just a few pointers on hanging art. Does anybody else have any more to add?
Cathy Tarrant CCSP
HOMESTYLING BY CATHY
www.homestylingbycathy.com
(709) 341-7115
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