The hanging of an art work is just as much of an art form as the actual piece is itself! The way a work is hung in a space has the potential of making the room, by complimenting the work and wall it features – or in many cases the chance of having the total opposite effect! We always think that hanging any artwork is as easy as ensuring its straight, but there is so much more to it then commonly thought. Factors such as scale, spacing, placement and orientation all play a crucial role in ensuring the piece frames the space around it.
The first thing to consider is scale – what sized art is best for the room? To figure this out it is best to firstly think about what else is in the room or along the wall where the piece will feature? Will it be going above a sofa, or console table or even a bed head? Taking the size of the furniture pieces in the room can be a great way to begin to give you a idea about just how big the perfect piece will be! Usually this is slightly smaller then the furniture item it is above, to ensure the art work doesn’t visually envelop the item, or create an unbalance in the room. Large over sized art works can be particularly effective in bare open spaces or areas with height ceiling levels. Where as smaller artworks grouped or aligned together can achieve that wide but low format to the wall through the collective nature of the works.
The next step once you have selected your desired art work is to think about how you will place it on the wall. Generally we like to hang our pieces a few inches above any below furniture, to ensures that the piece sits at an ideal eye level and doesn’t end up too high or too low. When it comes to hanging multiple pieces the same rules do apply, and the spacing between the art works can also play a critical role in creating an effective visual look. It can vary depending on the size of the wall and the surrounding elements, but usually a few inches between each piece is the best way!
We have put together some imagery from a few of our projects that feature a variety of different scales, positioning and hanging techniques – including one of our favorites, a large scaled work off centered against an entertainment unit or console to create an artistic visual statement to the space. Hopefully our tips and photos aid you in making your next art work decision!
