Sizing / Spacing / Arrangement

Don’t let your room overwhelm the art, nor your art overwhelm the room – neither is a good look.
Also, take note of the other objects in the room and nearby.

If there’s already a lot going on in a room, opt for larger pieces. Too many small things in one place can make it look cluttered.
Statement artwork will give the room a focal point and a place for the eyes to rest on.

Tip: Make sure there’s enough room for people to step back and admire larger artwork.

For smaller pieces, make sure they don’t get lost on the wall.
Consider displaying them as a cluster, or on smaller wall spaces like between a door and a window or a smaller accent wall.

Tip: Make sure there’s enough room for people to get close enough to admire smaller artwork.

Contrast is key, it enables artwork to standout.
If your walls are a lighter color, aim for darker colored artwork. If your walls are darker in color, aim for lighter colored artwork.

After considering your wall space and the size of art you have or are planning topurchase,
decide whether you will hang the piece as part of a gallery wall, multi-paneldisplay, or on its own.

Salon Style

Think about how the pieces relate in terms of size, subject, color and theme.

Ideas to experiment with arrangement/placement:
• Try out a few layouts on the floor/table.
• Cut paper in the size and shape of your frames and tape to wall

Tips:
• Anchor the artwork around a central larger piece and work  outward from there.
• Establish one standard distance between all pieces.
• 1.5”-2.5” for gallery walls made up of small pieces.
• 2”-4” for gallery walls made up of small pieces.
• Be sure to take a picture of each option so you can easily compare.

Grid Style

Create a palette when selecting images and frames

Experiment with different mediums, frames, textures, patterns, etc. to add variety

If symmetry or balance becomes difficult, consider including other objects or furniture in the room when arranging the artwork

Center the grouping of images around eye-level

If creating a multi-panel, one row display,
make sure the middle of the artwork lines up, not the tops or bottoms.

Treat the gallery wall as one large piece when determining how large the gallery arrangement should be in regards to the wall it is on and the furniture it is nearby.

Step 1: Measure the furniture’s width.
Step 2: Multiply by .57 (4/7) then .75 (3/4) to get the size range for the art.

Art (or gallery wall) in this case should be between 47” and 63” wide.

If hanging a gallery wall, be sure to take the spaces in between pieces into account when calculating the total width.

The center of the art should be about eye level of the average person – so about 66” or so.

Consider hanging art a bit higher when you have a very tall wall.

Art should be 6”-12“ above the furniture it is hanging above.

Consider hanging art above a dining table a little lower to account for your eye level when seated

REMEMBER, ultimately it’s up to you, the nature of the room, and the style you want to achieve.

When it comes to decorating and hanging art, there’s no right way. Know the basic principles but use your own eyes and judgment. The best look for your home comes from following your gut, not rules.