Introducing art into your home is one of the best ways to add personality and truly make a place ‘yours’, yet for some reason it seems to really freak some people out!

Art comes in many different forms and stretches far beyond simply prints and canvas; Sculptures, vases, textiles, ceramics, certain furnishings and ornaments can also fall under the umbrella of ‘Art’!

In this post I’m going to focus on answering some of the most frequently asked questions around sourcing and hanging the right size, shape and style of your more ‘traditional’ wall art options.

That said, rules are sometimes meant to be broken! Get in touch if you’d like to team up to do some mischief.

1. Size: Go big or go home

You know how it goes, folk- as a rule of thumb, bigger is always better!

Ideally if hanging only one piece of art on a wall then it would be substantial enough in size to either be the main focus, or accentuate whatever is acting as the star of the show below it i.e. your bed / couch etc.
If your art is too small, it will find itself ‘floating’ on a big sea of blank wall. This only serves to highlight the vast empty space rather than your artwork! Ideally, if hanging art solo above a big / wide piece of furniture, you want it to be somewhere between two thirds to ¾ of the width of said piece.

Now that’s not to say your smaller art now doesn’t have a home!

Hang smaller pieces either solo on a narrower wall, or grouped with other art friends on a wider one. By forming a gallery wall in combination with other pieces, you create the visual illusion of one united focal feature.
Alternatively, you can anchor a small piece of art by placing an object underneath it- such as a shelf, chair, or a tall plant. These additions help to ‘ground’ your art, leading the eye from the ground up and towards it, rather than letting it float around all alone!

2. Placement: where should I hang art?

My honest opinion? Everywhere.

Art is especially lovely to hang on blank walls opposite a mirror, so that even when not in use, the mirror has something beautiful to reflect! Bonus if you really love the piece as you get the symmetrical illusion of two for one!
If wanting to make a statement, hanging a large / oversized piece of art at the end of a long hallway is always a winner.
If your bed is framed, or lacks a headboard, then above the head is perfect for adding colour and interest. Teamed with the tips from my bed blog >> here << you’ll want to invite everyone for a sleepover!
Hang in a place you’ll look and see it often, like an entrance or above your desk. Do this especially for pieces that hold fond memories or give you all the good feels, so you can always start your day with a smile!
…Or in places you rarely look! There’s nothing quite like a sneaky surprise and delight tucked around a random corner!

3. Orientation: Square / vertical / horizontal?

I love squares and rounds for symmetrical spaces as they continue to play on and enhance the ‘theme’. For example: a single square above the centre of the bed, or a pair of smaller squares; one hung above each bedside.
Vertical / ‘Portrait’ pieces look great on narrower walls or where art is to be the main attraction. If like me you don’t own a TV, they are also perfect stand-ins hung above a low unit, in place of the big black box.
Horizontal / ‘Landscape’ art works well above beds, mid-height cabinets (buffets etc.) and any wider piece of furniture, like your couch for example. The wide, low line of the furniture helps to anchor the art and stop it looking all ‘floaty in space’.

4. Height: How low can you go?

When it comes to the height of art, the best practice ‘rules’ are very similar to those when wall-mounting a TV ( More on that >> here!<< ) As a general rule, you want your art to hang so the mid-point sits roughly half-to-top third at eye level when standing (depending on the size and orientation of the piece).

If pulling together a gallery wall, this half-to-top third measurement then applies to the overall level of the cluster / grouping.
If hanging art directly above the head of a bed, you want to ensure it sits high enough to not be disturbed if the occupants are sat up in bed, but not so high that it appears disconnected from the furniture.

Sidenote: you might also want to add padded bumpers to the back of the frame to dampen the sound of any potential knocks when doing something in the bedroom that might cause potential knocks... you know what I mean.

5. Gallery walls: The ultimate pick’n’mix

Gallery walls are perfect if you’re a collector of smaller pieces and don’t have the ideal spot to hang them individually. Getting a gallery wall ‘right’ can be tricky, as you need to take into account the size, colour and material of the pieces and how they relate to each other, in order to bring balance to the cluster as a whole.

Top tip: If you get stuck, check in with your local art supplier who often have a team available to help with hanging and can offer the best advice on placement.

Gallery walls can look sprawling and organic when mixing and matching different sizes, colours and media. In contrast, they can look more uniform and structured by using the same size and style of art. Generally in this case, you would equally space and level them for a more formal look. Assess the rest of your space and how you want to feel in it before picking a style!

6. Style: What colour / type should I use?

Art is so subjective. Hang whatever brings YOU joy! It truly is the ultimate way to personalise a space. You’ll likely find that the colours in the art you are drawn to buying are generally pretty consistent with your personal style on the whole, so will easily ‘fit in’ anywhere you hang it.

Alternatively, if you find yourself drawn to something so completely out-of-the-box in colours that you don’t normally gravitate towards, embrace the contrast! Make a statement by hanging it pride of place in a more individual / less ‘needing to be unified’ space- entrance hallways are ideal for this.

Ultimately, if it reflects you and you love it, it will work. Simple as.

All Your Questions About 'How to Art', Answered.