5 Designer Tips on How to Hang Art Like a Pro
I had been holding off on decorating the dining area in our home until we had our dining table refinished, and I was holding off on getting it refinished until my new chairs that I had ordered in November had arrived. They were expected in April. April came and went with no chair delivery and when I inquired I was told the order had been cancelled (by who?!), but I could order again and would be put back in the que for delivery in July. I won’t bore you with the details of the sub-standard customer service but in the end I decided this was not where I would do business and I will find a plan B.
With little effort I found the same chairs at a different retailer, France & Son, and was about to add to cart when I stopped and decided to make this hiccup an opportunity. Maybe I wanted to reconsider the chairs for this space? So I am sitting on the dining chair decision for now, using the table and chairs we currently have and although the perfectionist in my head is squirming because the wood tones are not quite right I feel it’s the right thing to do for now.
Gallery Wall in my Dining Room- Julia DeDecker Interiors
In the meantime I do not want to be standing in my kitchen or sitting at my dining table staring at the blank white walls, it was always my plan to put up some art and after waiting 5 months for chairs that never materialized I wasn’t going to wait any longer to fully enjoy my space. I’ve said it to many people before and I ended up needing my own advice last week: “It’s just a few nail holes, this is not a permeant change. Hang the things, Julia!” So I followed my own advice and I took inventory of what I had on hand: the clock- a wedding present, the small painting of a cabin that I got from my grandparents farm, the woven basket from H&M Home and the serving boards (the Bay, Home Sense). To round out the collection I took a trip to a local antique store where I found the two larger art pieces and a stop at a local home décor store for the faux hydrangeas ( J.D. Lighting, the table runner is also from here). my dining room now has personality and although I think there may be changes coming I know I will enjoy the time in this room much more until that time comes.
I have had a few questions from people over the last few months about rules for hanging art. This is tricky, because although there are rules, there will always be many more exceptions to the rules. Each wall, piece of art and home is unique and so much of hanging art is less about “rules” and more about following your instincts. Consider the rules, sure, but also hang the art piece and if when you step back from the wall and it looks too low, high, large, or just not right for that space you adjust. It’s a process and it is ok to move things a few times before you feel you have gotten right (order many of these). To get you started here are some tips to consider when hanging that art in your homes:
Height: The purpose of art is to be enjoyed, mostly by the people who live in the home. Many people hang art much too high and it is difficult to truly enjoy it. A rule of thumb is to hang art so the centre of the piece is at the eye level of the home owner. For a couple you would take the average of the two eye levels. This is a great starting point. Adjusting slightly from here is okay, but keeping this standard in mind will help make sure the art is hung so it can comfortably be viewed, and no, high ceilings does not mean the art should be higher (maybe just larger).
Proportion: If you are placing art over furniture, a sofa for example, you should consider the size of the furniture in comparison to your art piece. The art above furniture should be at least 1/2 the length of the furniture piece. If hanging above a sofa the art should be hung less than 10inches above the back of the couch (start at 6inches and adjust). If you have a large empty wall in need of art I would suggest large-scale art, a gallery wall or picture ledge(s) allowing you to display many pieces at once.
Visibility: Whether the art is a collectible that you and your guests will want to sit and contemplate, family photos, or an abstract geometric painting you need to consider the correct placement and lighting to properly enjoy the art. If you want to highlight the art, consider installing a picture light (like this one). If the art is a 5x7 photo of the family avoid placing it above a couch or another area where the photo can not be enjoyed up close.
source: Juniper Print Shop
source: Crate and Barrel
How to Hang art- Julia DeDecker Interiors
4. Negative Space: The blank space surrounding your art on the wall is also something to consider. The empty voids between art and furniture/trim/ other art pieces is called negative space. Consider creating symmetry and good proportions of negative space surrounding all sides when hanging your art.
5. Variety: What kind of art you hang in your home is personal and as it is your home I do not like to suggest there is a hard rule to follow. I, however, prefer to balance the art in my home, meaning I have abstract pieces, landscape prints and sketches, still life paintings and family photos as well as other decorative items (ex. baskets, clocks). A room with family photos on every wall may be overwhelming, whereas a home with only abstract paintings may start to feel like a gallery. Aim for a mix of mediums throughout your home.
Kids art gallery wall- Julia DeDecker Interiors
Bonus motivation: You do not have to be an art critic to hang art in your home! A room or a home without art on the wall will not feel like a finished space. Over time you may collect some pieces that mean a lot to you and you want to display them in your home. However, “meaningful” art is not the same as expensive. I have hung a gallery of my kids’ creations using coordinating IKEA HOVSTA frames in my office. The collection is colourful, makes me smile and they are proud to see their art framed on my wall. If you are looking to complete your design and kids art will not do the trick, do not worry, the world is full of affordable art for every design. Art provides texture, movement, colour and pattern into our designs and that is an important job. If it can do all of that and be meaningful-fantastic, but sometimes art is just decor and that is the only job it needs to have. If you have yet to hang something on your walls because you have been waiting to collect meaningful pieces I urge you to reconsider. Purchase some art that you like and that works with your design story and get it up on the walls to see the difference it makes in your home.
