How you decide to decorate your home is entirely up to you. However, there are several important guidelines and design suggestions you should follow in order to create a harmonious living space.
Just like there are rules for arranging furniture and combining different colors for your decor, there are rules for the proper way of hanging wall art decorations.
Generally speaking, artwork is an excellent way to add visual interest to a room. And when it is hung properly, your home will undoubtedly look more cohesive.
Unfortunately, sometimes this can be overwhelming because there are many types of wall art that homeowners wish to hang. From family photos and canvas prints to clocks and sconces, creating your own gallery wall requires following certain guidelines.
Therefore, in this article, we have compiled a list of rules you should follow in order to hang your decorative wall art like a pro.
Hang art at eye level
Sometimes homeowners have the tendency to hang art too high. However, this isn’t right because people shouldn’t strain themselves in order to see the artwork. Therefore, one of the best ways to hang art is at eye level.
According to interior designers, the wall art should be about 60 inches off the ground to match the average eye level. This measurement is in fact the standard used in galleries and museums. That’s why the artwork pieces in such places look cohesive and well balanced.
This rule is an exception if your ceilings are very low or you are hanging your artwork above a piece of furniture. In the latter case, the artwork piece should be placed a few inches above the furniture even though it breaks the 57 inches rule.
Opt for a visual balance
Gallery walls are a favorite among art lovers for hanging artwork. They are a visual wow factor which is an immediate conversation starter when you have visitors over. But there are certain guidelines you should follow when you are creating your gallery wall.
Firstly, you should treat all artwork pieces as one large wall art in order to achieve a visual balance. For example, the heavier wall art usually goes at the bottom, while the lighter pieces are hung a bit higher.
Secondly, if you have a larger artwork and a few smaller ones, place the large piece in the middle of the wall and surround it with the smaller pieces. Also, make sure they are all at an equal distance from the larger piece.
Follow the rule of three
In interior design, there is the rule of three which is considered a powerful tool when you are decorating your home. This rule states that things, including wall art decorations, should be arranged in odd numbers so they will be more visually appealing to people.
When you are hanging artwork, it is recommended that you group three similar pieces of art or decorative items. For example, you can look for wall art that tells a story and hang each piece following the flow of the story.
Also, when you are incorporating the rule of three, you must pay attention to the distance between the artwork pieces. In this case, you can use your hand and place it between the artworks to determine the right spacing.
Find the focal point in the room
In interior design, the focal point refers to the area of interest which captures the viewer’s attention. In other words, it is the first thing people notice as soon as they enter the room. This is why every room should have a focal point and wall art is the perfect option for it.
The most common places where you can hang your artwork are above a sofa, a cabinet, an office desk or a fireplace.
For example, if you decide to hang your wall art above the living room sofa, the piece should be centered over the furniture. This is because the sofa and the artwork work together as a unit especially when the colors of the artwork match the color of the sofa.
Pick the right wall side
When homeowners decorate their home with artwork, they sometimes forget to consider the wall space available as well as the arrangement of the room. So, they end up hanging smaller pieces on larger spaces making the wall art decorations look lost.
In order to avoid that, it is recommended that you hang smaller pieces on a narrower wall space and larger pieces on bigger walls.
For example, smaller spaces such as above the staircase or corners of the room usually call for a minimalistic design. This means that if you incorporate a larger artwork piece, it can easily overwhelm the space. You should hang a smaller wall art decoration that will include bold and vibrant colors to make this area of the room stand out.
Lay out the art before hanging
If it is your first time hanging wall art decorations, it is advised that you save yourself the frustration and lay out the artworks on a table or on the floor before you hang them. This way you will be able to move the pieces around until you are satisfied with their arrangement.
Or, if you still want to see how they will actually look on the wall, then you can lay the wall art on a piece of paper and trace around each artwork.
Once you do this, place some tape on the back of each cut-out template of the artwork pieces and hang them on the wall. If you like how the wall art is placed, then you can break out your nail and hammer.
Final thoughts
One of the best ways to bring life to any space is by hanging wall art decorations. Whether these include family photos, canvas prints, plates or other decorative items, it is important to hang them properly in order to achieve visual interest and balance in the interior.
If you follow the basic rules for hanging wall art, you will certainly make your home feel like a gallery in no time. With that being said, make sure you refer back to this guide and learn the tricks on how you can hang your wall art.
