Have you ever felt like something just wasn’t right about an arrangement of pictures on the wall but you couldn’t put your finger on the problem? Maybe you tried shifting them around but new problems would start? Placement of pictures can be a challenge. Before you go banging nails into your walls, here are a few tips.

The problem that usually stands out the most is a picture hanging at the wrong height. Though many factors influence the height at which a particular piece should hang, the general rule is eye level. Now suppose the pieces are in a hall where people would only be standing or walking. Your pieces should be hung at standing eye-level. If a piece is to be hung in a living room where people are generally seated, eye-level is much lower than it would be in the hall. Usually, pieces are hung too high, a problem sometimes referred to as “tall husband syndrome.” Of course, pieces that are focal points, part of a grouping, on a very tall or short wall all need special consideration.

Another common problem relates to the ratio of the wall to the piece. Often, I see very small pieces hung on a vast wall. When we hang a picture on the wall, we are attempting to give it a place where it can be enjoyed. When the piece is small, the emphasis is actually put on the enormity of the wall and the picture disappears no matter how strong the image. To compensate, people start loading up the wall with lots of little pictures. That can be fine as long as a common thread ties the pieces together. Matching frames help to accomplish a cohesive grouping. Still, the arrangement needs symmetry and balance to be visually appealing. Measurements of empty spaces need to be taken into consideration especially when pieces of different sizes and shapes are hung together. Likewise, a piece that is too large for the wall on which it hangs and crowds the room. With that large painting hanging just below the ceiling and at the couch line, you will feel it pushing down on the room and on you.

When your picture collection is eclectic, placement gets even more complicated. Certain pieces just don’t look right next to each other no matter what you do. It is important to come up with an overall plan of how you want the room to look and feel. Then, gather up the pieces that will contribute to the mood you are trying to achieve. Color, tone, texture and subject matter are a few of subject matter the factors that can influence the mood in a room.

Another important factor to considering when placing pieces is preservation. Lighting, humidity and heat can destroy art, especially works on paper. Never hang a water color, ink drawing or print next to a window with direct sunlight. You will find that it won’t take long for the colors to fade and the paper to become brittle. Even if your piece has conservation glass filtering out damaging UV rays, the heat will expedite brittleness. Hanging your paper works in an area with high humidity causes the paper to wrinkle and become vulnerable to chemical degradation and mold growth. Pieces above hot fireplaces have a markedly higher risk of chemical reactions that lead to deterioration of the paper. Hiring a conservator to reverse the damage is very expensive and if the damage is severe, they may only be able to slow the rate of future damage. Proper framing can only reduce some of the risks to your artwork. Appropriate placement should be a key component in your art preservation plan.

Placement of your artwork requires careful consideration of design principles and preservation methods. It is important that your home be a place where you feel comfortable, rather than plagued with that nagging feeling that “something just isn’t quite right.” Moreover, the pictures you love should continue to bring you pleasure for your lifetime. With proper attention to placement, you can relax and enjoy your space!

Resonance Fine Art is an art promotions, brokerage, consulting and placement business that would love to help you with your fine art needs! Visit www.resonancefineart.com and call Keesha at 241-0465!