Picture Perfect: How to Hang Wall Art Like a Pro

Arranging artwork on a wall is a great way to add interest to any room. But, the process of hanging a new painting, large acrylic prints or a family picture can be stressful. This is because there is no correct way of putting all the pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle. You have to understand the basic principle first and improvise to achieve a pleasing arrangement.

And this is where we come in!

In this guide, we will share the tips and tricks you need to hang canvas wall art like a pro so too can beautify your walls just like an art gallery. 

So without further ado, let’s dive into the details!

Hang at an Eye-Level

Many people hang the artwork very high. However, as a general rule of thumb, the center of the image should be at an eye level. Whether you are hanging framed portraits or using your favorite memories on canvas prints, we suggest going by the 57” rule. This means that the center of your art piece (not the hook) should be 57” away from the floor. The 57” rule applies to the average height of a room and represents the average human eye height. It is also a regularly used standard in many galleries and museums. 

However, you can break the 57” rule in a few scenarios. For example, if you have really low ceilings, you can divide the vertical length of your wall into quarters and hang the art pieces in the third quadrant up from the floor. 

In the rooms where people are generally sitting down – like the dining room and the living room, the eye level will be at a seated position, so you should hang your artwork lower. Roughly 8 – 10 inches above the sofa is a good way of gauging the right height. 

Choose Art in Scale 

A common problem that occurs when hanging artwork on the wall is that it’s not in scale. If you are hanging multiple pieces of art and portraits, make sure to treat them as one piece for a balanced look. Having frames that are too small or too large than the sofa or sideboard will make the complete arrangement look strange. Instead, try to aim the size of your artwork to at least two-thirds of the size of the furniture. So when you are browsing online for wall art, you need to take into account the sizes of these prints and where you can put them on your wall, to make sure it doesn’t look too much.

If you are hanging multiple art pieces in a group, ensure that the heavier pieces are hung on the bottom left while the lighter parts should go at the upper right corner of the arrangement. If you have mid-sizes pieces as well, arrange them in between the lighter and heavier components for an established look. 

Alternatively, if you have one large piece and a bunch of smaller pieces,  hang the substantial one in the middle as a focal point and surround it with the smaller frames. However, make sure to leave a consistent space of around 2 – 5 inches between each artwork for proper spacing. 

Experiment 

Try out your arrangement before poking holes in the wall to avoid the frustration of a wrongly drilled hole. This is especially important if you plan to arrange multiple frames on the wall as you can do nothing once you hit the wall with a drill machine. 

To save yourself from the hassle (and your walls from the trauma), rehearse your wall arrangement by tracing each piece on kraft paper and sticking it where you want your pictures to hang. 

For portraits, we suggest drawing arrows on the paper to indicate which way the subject is looking. You can also use painter’s tape to try out variations in wall placements without covering your wall with holes. 

Make it Uniformed 

Interior decorating experts recommend that you go with a similar style when arranging art pieces in groupings. For example, don’t mix black-and-white portraits with color photographs. Instead, stick to one color theme for the whole wall for a unified look. 

You can also unite the art arrangement by choosing frames in the same color, style, and finish for a uniform format. 

Moreover, when choosing art pieces, experts suggest going with family and personal portraits for the bedroom. However, you can choose to go extravagant when decorating other areas of the house, such as the living room, dining room, and hallways with artworks and stock photographs. 

Be Off the Walls

While walls seem like a natural choice for displaying artwork, you can also choose to design differently and place wall art and portraits in unexpected places. This will not only save you time and effort but also prevent damage to your walls. 

To do this, try layering multiple pieces for an exciting and multi-dimensional approach. Prop large pieces against the wall instead of hanging for a more relaxed look. The fireplace serves as the best place for the new gallery wall as well. This way, you can quickly change up the arrangement any time you want without much hassle. 

You can also use various sizes of easels, tuck pictures in bookshelf,  and even set photos in a cabinet for an artistic touch. In short, don’t limit yourself to walls only when it comes to displaying artwork.

Final Words

As you can see, you don’t need a design degree to arrange artwork in your home. Simply follow these tips and add visual interest to your living space with ease and efficiency. Good luck!