How to Display Wall Art
To display a wall art is to emphasize an artwork’s features. When displaying a piece, here are some things you should keep in mind – balance, lighting, variety, and layout. It’s best to try out the layout first and if you’re still not satisfied, you can make the proper adjustments.
Displaying wall art is an art all its own. It’s not as
simple as finding a bare spot and tacking it on; you have to consider balance,
stability, and how the art will work with everything else in the room. You want
your art to be emphasized, not muted or overshadowed by a dozen other trimmings.
At the same time, you want it to fit in with the rest of your décor. It sounds
almost impossible, but it’s easier than it seems.
There are several ways to display wall art, each with its
own unique advantages. Take the time to find one that fits and gives justice to
your piece. When properly displayed, even a simple piece of art can become the
focal point of any room. Here are some things to keep in mind when putting up
wall art.
Hang at eye level
Hang your wall art at the eye level of an average viewer. Too
high and they won’t be able to view it comfortably; too low and it puts your
entire wall out of balance. For large pieces, use the center of the
painting—not the top or bottom of the frame—as your point of reference.
There is some confusion as to what eye level is in terms of viewer
position. Are the viewers assumed to be sitting or standing? Experts haven’t
agreed on the answer, so it’s best to decide based on the function of the room.
Standing eye level is usually followed in hallways and galleries. In living
rooms and basements, where people are usually seated on couches, seated eye
level might work better.
Keep it balanced
Your frames should be in proportion with the wall space
where you want to hang it. Put a smaller frame on a narrow strip of wall (such
as those beside doorways), and bigger pictures at the center of a wide, bare
wall. If there’s a piece of furniture right below the picture, make sure the frame
doesn’t extend wider than the furniture. Otherwise, the art will dwarf the
furniture and make it less inviting.
Go for variety
Instead of hanging one large painting, try arranging several
smaller pieces over the same area. This adds some character and variety to the
room, and gives your guests more than one image to take in. If the wall space
is small, you can arrange them in rows or columns, depending on the
orientation. For larger walls, non-linear arrangements usually work well
because they counter the straight line boundaries of the wall. Try using different-sized
frames for even more variety.
When working with grouped pictures, remember to think of
them as a single unit. Choose a central piece and arrange the rest around it. Use
this piece as a point of reference for hanging the picture.
Do a test layout
Before hanging a group of pictures, plan out their
arrangement on the floor or table. Use a piece of paper or scrap molding to set
the boundaries. Be sure to include obstacles such as furniture, corners, doorways,
and window sills. When you’re done doing the layouts, put up the test sheet on
the wall and mark the spots where each picture hangs. This way, you avoid
drilling at the wrong spot and causing unnecessary damage to your walls.
Balance your hanging points
Pictures larger than 12 inches across should be hung at more
than one point. This makes them more stable and keeps them from wobbling or
crashing down. Most art pieces come with mounting hooks pre-installed, but
they’re not always in proportion. Try supporting it with a finger and see if it
wobbles. The general rule is that one point should support a maximum of 16
inches, although this can vary depending on the weight of the frame.
Light up your wall
Consider illuminating your art with accent lights to give it
emphasis. This works especially well in hallways and corners, where there’s seldom
enough ambient light to see them clearly. Avoid harsh, bright lighting—they’ll overpower
your image, produce glare, and make it hard to see up close. Use warm, subdued
lighting to bring out the tones and maintain a relaxed mood throughout the
room. Light it evenly from all corners or with a diffused light from the
opposite wall.
Consider ‘leaning art’
Hanging isn’t the only way to display your art. One popular
trend is to use an art shelf, which is a small, wall-mounted surface designed to
hold art frames. With an art shelf, there’s no need to install hooks or straighten
the frame—simply prop your frame up against the wall and you’ve got an elegant,
casual display. Many art shelves have decorative carvings that add to the beauty
of the painting. The best place to install them is above a piece of furniture,
such as a bed or a couch.