Well-arranged pictures, artwork and mirrors can take your home decor to the next level, but if you don’t actually know how to arrange them, or where to mount them you might feel a bit confused.
The best way to hang pictures doesn’t follow a steadfast rule, but there are a few basic guidelines.
Gallery standard is to hang pictures with the centre of the piece at 57 inches from the floor. This is average eye level and is a good starting point for most rooms.
Now, I say the centre of the piece, because if you are creating a display or collage of artwork or pictures, you should lay out the design on the floor first, and then treat the entire display as though it is one piece of art. (That is, 57″ to the centre of the entire collage)
If you have a tightened wire on your picture, you’ll need to measure the top of your picture to the tightened wire. Take that measurement and subtract from half of your picture height, and this will tell you how high above the 57 inches you should go.
The one caveat to this guideline is if you are hanging your picture above furniture, such as a sofa, a headboard or a mantle. Then, the bottom of the piece should be 4-8″ inches above the top of your furniture.
Also, keep in mind the proportion. The size of the picture should be proportional to the wall space. A small picture on a large wall may look out of place, while a large picture on a small wall may overpower the room. This is where collages of pictures can help: a grouping of smaller pictures will create the illusion of a larger piece of art.
Another easy trick, is to use painter’s tape to map out your wall design before making any holes. Measure the picture frame or frames, then cut and hang painter’s tape to size to get an idea of what the wall will look like with the arrangement of your choosing. There are even apps you can download to see what your wall will look like when you’ve finished.
Just like artwork itself is subjective, so is the hanging of it, so, once you’re done, if you like it, well done!!
Happy decorating!
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