Some people might say there are no rules when it comes to interior design. I am happy to disagree that those people are wrong because there are rules guiding interior design, these include the guide to hanging wall art, and it is not just one or two; there are lots of them.
Which is why I am going to take my time to review the key rules guiding how you can hang artwork in your home, to make things simpler for you to understand. I have grouped them into four easy categories: size, height, spacing, and color.
I will talk more about the color, because I will share some important tips.
1. Artwork Size
Every designer that’s ever walked into a room without any artwork is asked the common question: What size of art should I hang over my sofa? Over my hallway console? Let’s quickly talk about a guide to hanging wall art.
Artwork above furniture seems to be a major question mark. The main thing to note is making sure the artwork and the furniture below it are balanced with one another.
Another question is, how do you create balance? The rule is that the artwork should be about two-thirds the total width of the furniture; that way, the visual weight of the art is balanced by the furniture below.
Think of the furniture as a platform created for the art. It could be one large piece of artwork over a console, or even a large mirror, or it could be multiple pieces.
Example
Here is an example of artwork above furniture. Look for that balance; if you have artwork that goes beyond the ends of the furniture, the whole thing looks top-heavy and out of balance. It’s up to you to decide what you hang above the furniture.
It could be one single piece or multiple pieces, but the size is determined by the length of the furniture. Fill two-thirds of the wall space lengthwise and you’ll create a sense of balance.
2. Height
Another important rule is height. Most of the time, I find art has been hung too high. The rules are: Going back to the artwork above the furniture, not only do we want a visual balance between the artwork and the furniture below, but we need a visual connection between them as well.
They need to feel like they are part of the same group, a part of each other. Spacing between the art and the furniture should be somewhere between six and eight inches. That keeps the artwork close enough to the furniture and gives you that visual connection between the two.
Example
Here is one guide to hanging wall art: hanging artwork too far above furniture makes the two objects disconnected, like they’re living in their own worlds. Remember, you’ve chosen these pieces to live together, so keep them closer to each other.
And what if you want to hang art on a wall that doesn’t have furniture below it? The second rule for height is that the center of the artwork should be hung at 60 inches from the floor for stand-alone art pieces.
You’ll be amazed at how interesting your artwork becomes when you can see it right in front of you at eye level. You should also check out how to hang your curtains like a professional.
Spacing
Spacing is the next big question when it comes to hanging art, especially when it comes to hanging multiple pieces together. The first rule for spacing artwork is to keep in mind that grouped artwork needs to look like it’s grouped.
Just like that visual connection between the furniture and the artwork, if you’re hanging multiple pieces together in one group, then keep the spacing between each piece approximately two to four inches apart. If you place them too far apart, then you lose that connection between the art pieces; they become disconnected.
The second rule for spacing, anytime you’re hanging more than one piece together, think of them as one whole unit, treat them as one large piece, find the center of the hole, and go back through all these rules.
When you place your group together with just a few inches between each piece, does it cover two-thirds of the width above your sofa? Maybe you need to remove some pieces or buy a bigger sofa? So spacing your artwork is all about keeping items together so each piece has a connection to the other and, in turn, to the group.
Color
The next category of rules is all about color. Many questions are asked when it comes to color; many people share images of artwork online, asking if it will work in their living room or their bedroom. They keep asking about colors and color schemes, and how they can make it blend into the space.
The truth is that there is no rule. There are no rules when it comes to the color of artwork you can place in your home, and no, it doesn’t have to match the interior color palette unless you want that, of course.
If you love a piece of artwork, buy it, take it home, apply all the rules for size, height, and spacing to find the right spot, and then hang it. I mean, artworks should be chosen based on the homeowner’s interest. It’s your home, you should have the art that you love.
You can break or cheat the rules, but only once you know what the rules are. Well, let me share my guide to hanging wall art that is a little more involved, things like Matt Nomad are asymmetrical.
My thought
Finding the right piece of art can be a challenge, but hanging it correctly is pretty clear when you know what the rules are, which is why it is important that you know the guide to hanging wall art.
Select or group artwork that sits balanced over top of furniture or that hangs at eye level when they are standalone pieces.
Spacing between art pieces and furniture is also key; a grouping works best when you treat it as one large piece. Keep in mind their visual connection to one another, and that will make your grouping of furniture and art live comfortably together as well.
Don’t forget the best rule of all: hang artwork that you love, no matter the color; your happiness matters in all rules.
