Arranging Artwork on your Walls

The task of hanging artwork on the walls can be a challenging one for many.  Some make the mistake of hanging the art too high, others too low; some choose to hang a small print on a large wall or a print that isn't proportionate to the furnishings.  Well not to worry, I have some tips and tricks to help with the look and placement of art on your walls.


How High Do I Go?
Most people make the mistake of hanging artwork too high on the wall.  I have personally seen the smallest of art pieces hung as close to the ceiling as possible, this is a big mistake in many ways: 1. the size of the art piece was way too small for the large expanse of wall and 2. it was hung way too high.  If you have to crane your neck to see the artwork then you've gone too far.  


Typically the center of the artwork should be hung no higher than eye level.  If you are hanging a group of art pieces, the center of the grouping should also be no higher than eye level.  If you are tall (like me) then lower the artwork slightly to accommodate the average sized person, like I mentioned before, you don't want people to crane their necks to see the artwork, but don't go too low otherwise you won't be able to enjoy the piece yourself.  Keep in mind that this is just a general guideline for hanging art pieces and that it doesn't apply to all situations, depending on the space and size of the artwork/grouping.


Proportions are Important
There are a number of factors when it comes to selecting artwork or photography for the walls such as:

• Size of the artwork/photograph/print
• Size of the wall
• Size of the furnishings in the space

You want to select a piece that won't under-perform and you don't want one that is going to over-power, trust me I know you're thinking at this point that this is impossible, but I promise you that there is a happy medium.  Let's start with the size of the wall, you want to consider what the wall/room will be used for.  Is it a combination family/dining room?  Open concept space? or a small nook?  It is important to first identify the room and the role the wall plays in the space so that you can identify the appropriate size of artwork or number of prints to select.  You want to be sure to relate the size of the artwork to the size of the space.  Use smaller prints in smaller spaces i.e. narrow walls or nooks, and larger prints for big wall spaces.

The next step is to determine the relation of the size of print to the furniture pieces in the room.  If you are going to be placing a print over the sofa then you want to select one that is in good proportion to the size of the sofa.  You don't want to hang a small print on the wall behind your sofa, nor do you want one that overhangs.  A general tip is to hang a print which is about 75% of the width of your furniture.

How Many Should I Hang?
This really depends on the look that you want to achieve.  A grid grouping is always a nice transition from one larger print, it provides the illusion of one grand art-piece but allows you to use different images.  One trick to keep the look consistent is to use the same frames and same colour matting.  If you want to go for a gallery look, try hanging a row of 5 framed prints on the wall or over your headboard.  My preference is to hang prints in odd numbers because the effect is more appealing to the eye; groups of 1, 3, 5, or 7 are always a nice touch (this is if you're not going for a grid grouping as these should always be in even numbers).  A good tip is to arrange the artwork on the floor or a table to see what works for you, this way you're not left banging a bunch of holes in your walls in an attempt to find an appealing look!


No One Says you Have to Hang it on the Wall
Not every piece of artwork needs to be hung on the wall, why not try leaning some up on a shelf or place them in your hallway on a credenza or like I've done in the little nook I have in my house near the front door and across from the stairs:

You could also hang some on the front of a bookcase or on an easel.  There are many variations out there so try something different and outside of the box, err I mean wall.


Some Tricks and Tips
If you're not so great at measuring and want to achieve a level line of prints on your wall try using this nifty tool, the Hang & Level.  This little tool is great for arranging artwork on the wall in one easy step, you place the artwork on one of the knobs, line it up on the wall (it has a handy level for that), remove the artwork and push the knob into the wall.  A small indentation is left and all you have to do is bang a nail, hang your artwork and Bob's your Uncle!  This is great for eyeballing the height of your art-pieces which saves you the hassle of having to measure every single one to get the proper dimensions, because as you're aware, not every frame is exactly the same.


Another great solution is to use 3M Command Hooks for hanging your artwork.  These are especially great if you're timid about banging holes in your walls or even if you're not permitted to.  They work great on concrete as well and believe me this is a time-saver as drilling a hole into concrete is messy.  Just be sure to read the manufacturer's instructions before you use them because there are weight limitations.  The best part about them is, they don't leave any marks and can be used again!


If you have a heavy art-piece and can't locate a wall-stud, the next best solution is to use a drywall anchor.  I like to use this type personally, because they come in many different weight ratios and are now available in white or almond:

You simply screw them into the drywall and they come with screws that you simply screw into the anchor, hang your art-piece and there you go.  Just make sure that your artwork hanger works with the screw before attempting to screw in the drywall anchor.


So those are some handy tips and tricks when attempting to hang artwork, now get out there, dust off those prints and start hanging them on your walls!