By Stacy Sarikanon, Stunning Spaces–Decorating Den Interiors
Ever have a problem hanging pictures or arranging them on your walls? Here are some tips on arranging your artwork with an aesthetic eye.
Hang pictures at eye level.
In a living room, pictures should be hung so that people sitting in the room can view them while seated. A large picture hung above the sofa should generally be 4-8 inches from the top of the sofa and often looks best when displayed alone because it serves as the room’s focal point.
Effective picture groupings.
Smaller pictures become more effective when grouped together as opposed to being scattered all over the wall. Balance and spacing are important when arranging artwork. Pieces should be of similar visual weight as nearby furniture. A rule of thumb is that the space between two pictures should be less than the width of a single picture.
Hang artwork right – the first time!
If you’re apprehensive about hammering nails into your walls, cut pieces of paper into the size of your pictures to use as templates. You can even mark the placement of the hooks using this technique. Then arrange them by using painters’ tape to tape them on the wall until you are happy with the results. Once you are satisfied, mark where the hooks will go with a pencil, going right through the paper, and proceed to hang your artwork.
The type of artwork you use will depend on your personal preferences and your budget. It can be simple prints, needlework, limited edition prints or original art. Of course, the more valuable the piece, the more important its place should be.
