Things To Keep In Mind When Hanging Art In Your Home
When you're choosing décor for your home, you definitely don't want to forget about adding artistic touches. Although you can pop up pieces of art at various points during the process of refreshing a room or any time while living in your stylish abode, you might want to think about making it more of a priority if possible.
"Art is the most powerful tool in any room and sets the tone for everything else. In many ways, furniture is relatively transient and doesn't necessarily last forever, whereas art is often passed down from generation to generation," interior designer Sophie Ashby of the Studio Ashby design agency explained to Homes & Gardens. "So think about your artworks right from the beginning. I find it works badly if it's used as an afterthought as it doesn't just sing in the same way. ... [S]tart thinking about it and integrating it from day one and then through every review of the design you're looking at everything in the context of the art. I believe that until the art is hung at the end, a space just doesn't feel finished."
At the same time, you want to make sure that the art you choose for each room both suits the style and the space, while also being displayed in a way that truly lets it shine. In order to do just that, you need to keep a few things in mind when hanging art in your home.
Measure the space and art
Beyond wanting a piece of art to complement your décor, it should also work with the size of your space. While something too small may get lost among everything around it and lose its impact, you also don't want a piece too big to overwhelm the room and look awkward.
Ideally, you want to find a piece that is around 4/7 to 3/4 of your wall, according to Welsh Design Studio. In order to figure out how big that is when it comes to your specific space, measure your wall and be sure to note the amount that you've come up with in inches. You can then figure out how much 4/7 of your wall is by multiplying the measurement by 0.57. To get 3/4, multiply your measurement by 0.75. The numbers you're left with are the minimum and maximum sizes of artwork that you should aim to hang on your wall.
Once you figure out what kind of space you have to work with, you can keep an eye out for art that will be the perfect fit size-wise. Therefore, before you bring it home, be sure to measure it. Once you have your art, you can hang it in the center of the wall or, better yet, in a spot that works with a few other key aspects that might be found in the room.
Consider other aspects of the space
In order for the artwork in your home to look its best, you want it to fit well with certain other details. In a personal abode, that obviously refers to furniture and can sometimes include a fireplace. Just like the size of your walls, you don't want to choose art that's too big or too small and should, instead, stick to specific sizing rules.
When hanging your art, first keep in mind that you'll likely want to place your piece around 57 to 60 inches high when measuring from the floor so that it will end up at an eye-catching and eye-pleasing height, according to Hayneedle. You can also use your furniture as a guide due to the fact that a piece of artwork will ideally be around two-thirds to three-quarters of the size of a sofa, dresser, table, or other item, and anywhere from 6 to 12 inches above it. Ideally, it will also be around two-thirds to three-quarters of the length or width of the furniture, depending on how the furniture is placed against the wall.
When it comes to putting art above a fireplace, opt for a piece that's not as wide as the mantel but is bigger than the open area. You'll also want to hang up the artwork around 3 to 6 inches from the top of the mantel in order to give it the space it needs and prevent the area from looking overcrowded.
Choose how many pieces you want to hang together
If you have a particular work of art that you want to be the focal point of your room, then you may prefer to hang it on its own in a spot that allows it to fully stand out. On the other hand, you could also opt to put up a pair or a diptych of pieces. A fabulous option if you have a large wall or want the art on opposite walls to complement each other, duos can also be arranged side-by-side, vertically, or diagonally. The same goes for triptychs, which include three pieces of art, and a quadriptych that, as you might have guessed, is a four-part artwork.
If you want to take things a step further, then you might want to create your own gallery wall, which simply refers to when more than just a few pieces are put up together. In that case, you need to consider various details, such as a potential theme, possible matching or contrasting frames, and whether or not you want to use a template to help you place each item in the perfect spot.
While that might sound a little daunting, don't let it intimidate you. Candita Clayton, the gallerist behind Candita Clayton Gallery in Pawtucket, RI., told Insider, "All you have to do is pick pieces that make you feel something. If that's your jumping-off point, you'll be able to make anything work."
Deal with practical matters
Before you start putting holes in your wall in order to hang your art, you might want to take a moment to address a few practical matters. First, you'll want to clean your wall to make sure that it will look good behind the art. Next, figure out what kind of tools and supplies you'll need in order to get the job done. Depending on the type of wall you're dealing with, you might need to tackle different methods to secure the piece, which means that you might have to grab a hammer, screwdriver, or drill as well as nails, screws, and a level to make sure your art is straight.
From there, consider both the weight of the piece and the strength of your wall. If there's a stud available, then you'll want to anchor the art to that relatively stable space. If that's not an option, then you can hang it up by using wire, per The Home Depot. All you need to do is secure the wire in two places on the wall, as well as on the back of the artwork or frame. If the piece is on the heavier side, then you can use two wires to make sure that it stays safely in place.
If you don't want to damage the walls, then you can opt for art that doesn't weigh as much or have a heavy frame and can be put up on your walls with removable adhesive tabs.