How big do you need? How big can you handle? What size size goes where?
We’re talking about art. And where to put it.
First Rule: Never, but NEVER, hang only one 8x10 on an otherwise empty wall. Maybe a tiny entry room wall that’s 15 inches wide but NOT a full living room or bedroom wall.
Bigger is better, even in small rooms. Art can create a focal point in rooms without a fireplace. It can enhance a fireplace in spaces that have them.
Speaking of Fireplaces, please stop hanging your TV above them. In 1945, the rate of death by choking in the US was 897 but by 2021 it had increased to 5,325. Tipping your head back while munching your way through a movie can lead to choking. No one should die for a TV Interior Design solution.
With the exception of a piece of art above the fireplace, an important rule of thumb is to hang your piece at eye level. You can even hang it lower if it’s room designed for sitting.
What size for above the fireplace? Keep it close to the size of the firebox ( where the fire is) If the box is 30 inches, the art should be 30 inches wide. To really get dramatic, use your mantel as a guide if the mantle is 34 inches wide, hang an art piece that’s 24 inches.
If you’re placing art on the wall above furniture, like a bed or couch, don’t measure from the ceiling down. Measure from the furniture up. Hang the art 6.5 inches above the furniture. Depending on the furniture, that puts the center of the art at around 57 to 60 inches from the floor
As for width, think in percentages. The art should be 75% of the width, so if the couch is 80 inches wide, the art should be around 60 inches wide.
What about a big empty wall with nothing else? Measure the width and length of your wall. Follow the three-eighths rule – leave empty space in the amount of three-eighths of the width of the painting on each side.
A helpful guideline is to take the width of the wall in inches multiply it by 0.57 to obtain the ideal width of your artwork (or collection) for that wall.
Width of wall (in inches) x 0.57 = Ideal width of artwork or grouping
Except tiny wall areas.
Great stacking areas are those narrow strips of wall beside a door or a window. Go with a stack of framed prints that are close in size. They don’t have to be exactly the same size. The eclectic mismatch of sizes looks great if the prints are all in the same color scheme. If the the prints are all very different, match the frame sizes for a less jumbled look. This is also a great way to fill in an awkward section of bare wall in the kitchen. Use frames with glass for easy clean up if you add art to the kitchen or bathroom.
The rest is up to you!
