Picture Perfect: How to Determine the Ideal Height for Hanging Art in Your Home
Artwork and framed photographs can add so much depth and character to a space, but when executed poorly they can stick out like a sore thumb. I will walk you through how to flawlessly execute a great artwork installation that you can feel confident about!
Height. One of the biggest artwork issues I see constantly is the height of the artwork. Most commonly I see artwork installed way too high! Art is meant to be enjoyed by the viewer. The average viewer’s eyeline is about 5’-0” above the floor, therefore you want the center of your piece to hit at about that height. However, there are always exceptions to this guideline. Above furniture pieces, it is appropriate to hang artwork between 6-”10” above the piece. 8” would be the sweet spot!
Centering. The age old question I am asked by new installers: Should the artwork be centered on the wall or the furniture? My answer is almost always to center the piece on the furniture. The furniture is the anchor of the design. If your sofa is not installed on the center of the wall, how silly is your artwork going to look on the center of the wall? It will look like an afterthought, rather than shining like the beautiful gem you intended it to be.
Size. Another mistake I see is artwork that is just too small. Sometimes people will select a smaller sized piece over the larger piece to save a few bucks, but in the end your investment will not make the impact you are needing. You do not want your artwork to look like a lonely postage stamp on a long wall. Just because a piece of art coordinates with the style of your space, does not mean it is going to work anywhere you hang it. A longer wall WILL require multiple pieces and/or a larger piece.
Hardware. For the love of design, PLEASE use drywall anchors when using screws on your sheetrock walls. Typical screws are not meant to hold more than 5-10 pounds. If your piece is heavy or large in size, protect your precious walls and use the anchors. No one wants to be woken up in the middle of the night to shattering glass from a fallen picture frame. Trust me. I would know!
Quick Storytime: My husband and I thought we would protect our walls by using the Command artwork hanging strips. They lasted for about 3 weeks until we were constantly surprised by the thud of falling frames every night for longer than I would like to admit. Moral of the story: Use screws with drywall anchors to hang your pictures and art!
Now that you are equipped with the best artwork hanging tips and tricks, go turn your home into a masterpiece of its own!
Happy decorating!
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