Adding artwork to your walls is a quick way to add life and personality to your space. But hanging art correctly can be a challenge. Here are some tips that address the most common questions I get about hanging prints, posters, photos, and dimensional art on the walls: 1. Height – The most common question I am asked about hanging artwork is how high should it be? My rule of thumb is to position the center of each piece at 60 inches above the floor. This puts everything at eye level and also makes for a cohesive look when you have different sized items hung in the same room. You may need to adjust this measurement up if you have extremely high ceilings or down if the piece is hanging above a low piece of furniture, such as a buffet. 2. Proportion – It’s important to choose artwork that is in correct proportion to the space available. A small frame in the middle of a huge expanse of wall just looks weird. I aim to select artwork that takes up 2/3 of the empty space on a wall. For example, if you have an area that is 6 feet wide, your art should measure roughly 4 feet wide with 1 foot of breathing room on either side. 3. Spacing – Large-scale art can be expensive, so hanging multiple items is a good option if you have a lot of wall to cover. Allow just 2-4 inches of space between items that are hung together so they appear as a single unit. And remember, not all your walls need to be filled! Leaving some empty space is important to allow your eye to rest.
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