People are often intimidated by the prospect of hanging artwork. I have been in homes where there is literally nothing on the walls. Or worse, there are stacks of art leaning against the wall and they didn't just move in. I swear, I can almost smell the owner's fear! Hanging art is one of the best ways to personalize your home so don't be afraid! I think the key is to plan ahead. Gather up all of your artwork and photographs in one spot and think about where each piece will go before you start the hanging process. Here are three basic tips for arranging artwork:
-Keep the artwork in proportion to the wall (if you have a long skinny wall, try hanging the art stacked in a vertical grouping)
-Makes sure the scale of the art relates to the scale of the furniture it is hanging above (you don't want a huge art piece hanging above a tiny little table or it will just look dwarfed)
-Hang artwork in groupings that relate to each other (black and white photos in a grouping or hang different mediums of art that are framed in a similar manner like all in gold frames)
Here are some more tips and images for inspiration!
Hang artwork in a row
TIP: Note that the space between each piece of artwork (both horizontally and vertically) is the same.
Hang artwork vertically
Hang art in a grouping
TIP: If you are considering doing a large art grouping, I recommend tracing the frames out on craftpaper and arranging the paper on the wall first with painters tape so you don't end up with a million holes in your wall!
Wrap art around walls gallery style
Mix up different sized artwork within an overall group
Stack art in a vignette
Ideally you want to hang artwork at eye level for proper viewing but there are times when it can be more interesting to hang art in unexpected places.
Having a hard time filling a bookcase? Try adding art to break things up.
Draw the eye up by hanging art above a doorway
My last tip involves hardware...you have to use Ooks! It is the best product for hanging pictures straight and it doesn't damage your walls. You can also buy them locally at Michael's and Bed, Bath & Beyond.
~Images: Martha Stewart Living Decorating Details