If you have ever hung a piece of artwork too high or selected a piece of artwork that turned out to be a bit too small for the space, you are not alone. While mistakes like this are common, they are easy to avoid with these simple pro tips.
Size Matters
Finding the right size of artwork for a particular space is a critical part of the process and there are several factors to consider to get it just right. Select a piece that is too small, and it will be dwarfed by other items around it while wall décor that is too big will overpower the space. As a rule of thumb, wall décor should span approximately two-thirds the width of whatever it is hanging above. For example, artwork above a six-foot sofa should measure approximately four feet wide to achieve a sense of balance and harmony. Swap out one large piece for several small complementary pieces grouped together for a similar effect.
Your Eye Level or Mine?
Once you have the correct size, it’s important that you get the placement just right. You have probably heard of the “eye-level” rule when it comes to the height of the artwork, however, with varying eye levels, this can be deceiving advice. To simplify it, place the centre of the wall décor approximately 60 inches from the ground. This works great, especially when the wall décor is hung as a standalone item, without any furniture beneath it. However, when hanging artwork above a piece of furniture such as a dresser or sofa, place it approximately 6-9 inches above the furniture. When hanging a grouping of artwork pieces, be sure to space them evenly, with 1-3 inches between each piece (the larger the pieces, the bigger the gap between them).
Hooks, Nails, and Tools of the Trade
Hooks and nails may seem small, but they can be mighty. Standard single-nail picture-hanging hooks will hold up to 30 lbs, and 2 and 3 nail hooks boast even more power. For light-weight canvases, a simple finishing nail or two will do the trick. There is often little need to break out the power tools, but you can complete your picture-hanging tool kit with a hammer, a level, a measuring tape, and our secret weapon for getting artwork just right, the Hang & Level™, a nifty tool that helps you to easily mark the perfect place to hammer. To hang artwork on plaster walls, place a piece of painters or masking tape where the nail will go BEFORE hammering –this will keep the wall from splitting.
Stick to these simple rules to get a picture perfect result every time. That’s not to say that you can’t break the rules now and then, but we recommend leaving that up to the pros.
Voted Top 75 Most Influential People In Real Estate Staging by the Real Estate Staging Association, Beyond The Stage Homes CEO Shauna Lynn Simon is an award-winning entrepreneur, home staging industry influencer, residential designer, business coach and author.
