How many times have you bought an amazing piece of art and hung it on the wall, only to realize it's too high? How many nail-scars are covered up by that perfectly hung print? Hanging artwork can be frustrating, but by using these pointers, you can avoid getting hung up on the task.
As a general rule, artwork should be placed so that the centre of the picture or grouping is at eye level for the average person. Art is there to be appreciated, and a picture hung too high or too low runs the risk of being missed.
When hanging art above furniture, try to leave twice as much space above the art than below it. A good rule of thumb is to leave four to eight inches between the surface of the furniture and the bottom of the frame.
A blank wall is the perfect canvas for your art. A large piece displayed on its own creates an instant focal point in a room; it demands attention, fills the space and can sometimes make up for a lack of architectural detail. In this case, lighting is important. A properly lit picture will attract immediate notice and will make the details of the piece more easily visible.
Groupings can also fill space as well as any one picture. A grouping can be a collection of any type of artwork -- it doesn't have to be a matching set. It can be hung according to common colours or subject matter. For emphasis and visual impact, group similar artwork together or use the same style of mat and frame. Pictures hung in a row horizontally will help to visually widen a space, while art hung in a row vertically will add height and draw the eye upward.
However you choose to hang your artwork, make sure to take your time, plan and measure, much as you would with any other decorating project. Do it right the first time and your perfect picture can be picture perfect.
-- Canwest News Service
