You’ve got me on my soapbox. Have a cup of coffee? Better yet a glass of wine? Mmm let’s talk about one my favorite things on the planet: ART. It’s impact on a home is, in my most humble of opinions, monumental. Art should be personal, it should extract an emotion from you and your guests. Art is meant to be loved and adored and passed down generation to generation. Putting art on a wall is putting you’re soul out there for the world to witness. Dramatic much?

As much as it pains my husband to constantly shift artwork around our home (which really boils down to the additional application of holes in our walls), the rotation of art soothes my soul. Switching things up, varying our furniture lay outs and art compositions gives me new life as each new season emerges. Throughout my time as an artist, and designer-on-the-side for family & friends, I have found art composition and hanging to be a debacle for a lot of people. So let’s talk all things art: how to style, what to group, how to hang…all the things.

First, five great options for displaying your artwork:

gallery walls

These have had their moment the last few years. I’ve both failed and succeeded at creating a gallery wall. The first was shaped like a pyramid on account of not enough inventory to work with, and for the record - a triangular motif is not your most appealing layout. So what creates an enticing gallery wall, you ask? The two main variables to guarantee a successful arrangement are: product and commonality. If you don’t have enough artwork, the wall feels off. If your artwork doesn’t have a common thread weaving the pieces together in unison, it feels haphazard and busy. So think of your wall as a group exhibit. What is it’s intention?

Some of the best displays of gallery walls I’ve seen have been the use of Black & White photography, vintage or retro art, and the utilization of children’s original art. They’ve also taken advantage of the spaces they inhabit - working art around loved estate pieces, wrapping up staircases, in the crevice of a corner previously lain bare, just above the door casing, in the middle of wainscoting, down long corridors, etc. The placement is both thought out and effortlessly placed. In each of these photos a theme is present whether that be the subject matter, style, age, or colors used.

A BIG MOMENT

This is reserved for the cherished piece of art - whether it be the first art purchase you ever made or your great grandmothers portrait. Either way, these items need to be celebrated no matter the size. My rule of thumb when it comes to pieces you feel strongly about - give them the stage. Let them shine on their own and be appreciated without competing with outside elements.

LEANERS & ODDITIES

The French have perfected the art of leaners. Look at any French interior and you’ll find a random piece of art leaning against the wall. Sure there’s a perfectly good space resting on the wall above, but it’s so much cooler just lying there, able to make it’s move at a moments grasp. Like food and their general philosophy on leisure’s in life, the French are on to something and I dig it. Should you really have some joie de vivre, perhaps you’ll even stack them. A little tip, when leaning on a console offset artwork to the side and fill in the center area with other decor like vases, greenery, lamps, small objects, etc.

Or what’s more unexpected, the odd-ball placement. It takes someone quite free to embrace a quirky hanger, but when done right, they stop you in your tracks. This can be offsetting your artworks, hanging something lower than naturally inclined, or placement in a completely random spot to garner attention.

ON THE SHELF

A simple, sweet task that allows for organization as well as display. Most new builds these days come with some sort of shelving, often surrounding living room features. And if you’re dying for a wall moment and love to catalog, a floating shelf might be right for you. Again, my recommendation is to keep subject matter similar, keep photo coloring similar (all black and whites packs a punch), as well as layering photos for dimension. I have found individuals to be quite hesitant to layer one piece of art slightly on top of another, but it’s so lovely and reads: collected.

My absolute favorite trick when it comes to shelving - hang it on the vertical lines of the shelf forms. This brings the artwork into central focus.

WALLPAPER PUNCH

Wallpaper has recently made it’s comeback and my-oh-my have we got options. Despite the possibility of dating, or being completely disliked by future buyers, I find a surprise pop of wallpaper in a hall bath, coat closet, or even bedroom to be refreshing. Move on gray walls, it’s time for personality. And should you be truly fearless, packing on art to decorate your wallpaper can result in a true stunner. My go to rules - If the print is large, select an artwork rooted in detail. If the print is detailed and busy, select an artwork with a central focus (like a black and white photo or something large and bold). The juxtaposition of competing graphics and textures creates a magical effect.

Anyone on art overload and also possibly going to go broke adorning their walls? No worries, I have a support group number I’m happy to share. Moving on - Hanging Tips!

SELECTING & HANGING YOUR ARTWORK

The most important piece of information I implore you to take away is to select artwork that is meaningful to you. After that, nothing else matters. Family portraits, artwork from your kiddos or good friends, framed scarves or vintage textiles, treasures from your travels - all of it is worthy for your walls. If it’s new, save for the piece that speaks to heart, as opposed to buying all the little pieces that can’t hold a candle. Save - save for the work, save for the framing. The result will be much more impactful than a quick purchase at your local big-box store.

So how do you compose a group of art that stands alone but compliments others? As I’ve been mentioning - commonality. Perhaps some are simple black line drawings, while its partners are vintage black and white photographs. Perhaps its a group of vintage sea murals or retro vinyl albums. Perhaps it’s a hodge-podge of mixed items that all share the same shade of blue. Perhaps it’s a floral collection or portrait collection. Either way, there’s a string tying them together. That doesn’t mean you have to rid yourself of any artwork that doesn’t belong. No, it likely just needs to be placed elsewhere. Source out images that you find compelling and try to mimic the aesthetic. I have found Pinterest to be an excellent design guru.

Some hanging tips:

If you’re planning on building a gallery wall create a layout on the floor first. Walk around it and test out your arrangement. I like to set the largest piece somewhat off-center and then work in a circular motion. When purchasing a set of gallery frames from a box store (love West Elms) they include a paper cut-out arrangement. This can be very helpful to gallery-newbies. And when all else fails, pull out the painters tape to create a wall mock-up.
Hands-width. I love this rule of thumb for hanging above sofas or consoles. A large gap draws negative attention, so keep it cozy. My generally rule of thumb is 6”-12” above sofas and consoles.
If you’re naturally of the straight and narrow mind, and that overlaps into your art interests, use a level. To the contrary, if a level is out of grasp and the slightest difference will cause hives, consider an asymmetrical layout.
Hang art at eye-level. This can be up to interpretation, but the average height for females is 5’4” and 5’9” for males. Individuals are naturally inclined to hang art far too high in my opinion, so when it starts to feel comfortable drop it a little. Other rules of thumb are to divide your wall into four horizontal sections, and then place artwork in the third section from the floor. Be careful with this one - I’d recommend keeping the top of your artwork within the third section to avoid hanging too high. Most galleries hang the center of an artwork 57” from the floor. Keep everything within your sight line.
Consider your background. The majority of people have white or gray walls that easily compliment most artworks. Should you have wood paneling, wallpaper, or a colorful wall, consider how your artwork fits into the space. Do the tones and colors work well together or create a complete combustion?
When it comes to placing multiple pieces on a shelf, layer them. Let the edges of one fall on top the other. This adds multi-dimension to the space.
Don’t forget about your most-used spaces. Yes, I’m referring to the bathroom and kitchen. You visit these spaces more that any other room in your home, so adorn them.
There is no rule when it comes to framing. Go with what you’re naturally inclined to -the crisp and clean of white, the warmth in woods, the sharpness popping factor black brings, or even a vintage piece.
Tools we recommend: tape measure, level, plastic anchors, nails/screws, pencil, painters tape and stud finder for the larger, heavier pieces that need an anchor. If you’re renting, consider command strips for hanging.
Consider online framers like Framebridge & Simply Framed. Both sites give new customer discounts. But what’s really great about these sites - it allows you to upload photos of your artwork and try on different frames. Customization from home. They also ship pretty quickly! If online isn’t your forte, consider Hobby Lobby when framing is half priced (a certain week every month).

A few years back Emily Henderson, a very well known designer, blogged a portrait beneath a window (to the right) and nearly broke the internet. It hadn’t been done before, it made little sense and yet it made all the sense in the world. Basically, when it comes to the piece of art itself or the placement, go with your gut. A home is your creative space and within that space you are free. If it feels good to you, then what the heck else matters?

All photos used, their original posters/those deserving all the credit for creating such beauty can be found on our Pinterest board: Art Compositions & Hanging.

ART COMPOSITIONS & CREATIVE HANGING

First, five great options for displaying your artwork:

My absolute favorite trick when it comes to shelving - hang it on the vertical lines of the shelf forms. This brings the artwork into central focus.

Anyone on art overload and also possibly going to go broke adorning their walls? No worries, I have a support group number I’m happy to share. Moving on - Hanging Tips!

Some hanging tips:

Hands-width. I love this rule of thumb for hanging above sofas or consoles. A large gap draws negative attention, so keep it cozy. My generally rule of thumb is 6”-12” above sofas and consoles.

If you’re naturally of the straight and narrow mind, and that overlaps into your art interests, use a level. To the contrary, if a level is out of grasp and the slightest difference will cause hives, consider an asymmetrical layout.

Consider your background. The majority of people have white or gray walls that easily compliment most artworks. Should you have wood paneling, wallpaper, or a colorful wall, consider how your artwork fits into the space. Do the tones and colors work well together or create a complete combustion?

When it comes to placing multiple pieces on a shelf, layer them. Let the edges of one fall on top the other. This adds multi-dimension to the space.

Don’t forget about your most-used spaces. Yes, I’m referring to the bathroom and kitchen. You visit these spaces more that any other room in your home, so adorn them.

There is no rule when it comes to framing. Go with what you’re naturally inclined to -the crisp and clean of white, the warmth in woods, the sharpness popping factor black brings, or even a vintage piece.

Tools we recommend: tape measure, level, plastic anchors, nails/screws, pencil, painters tape and stud finder for the larger, heavier pieces that need an anchor. If you’re renting, consider command strips for hanging.

All photos used, their original posters/those deserving all the credit for creating such beauty can be found on our Pinterest board: Art Compositions & Hanging.