How to Arrange Art on a Wall – The Perfect Wall Art Placement
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A home is not complete if it does not have some form of wall art, which helps to enhance those empty spaces in your home. You can create your own wall art, where you can display your beautiful art pieces or photographs, and at the same time, work with your interior design schemes. However, starting such a task can be challenging, but once it is done, you will have a gallery of wall art that you can admire every day. In this article, we will be guiding you step-by-step on how to arrange art on a wall and maximize your wall space.
Table of Contents
How to Arrange Art on a Wall
When you are faced with a blank wall, the prospect of arranging art on walls may seem to be a formidable task. However, all you need to do is allow your art piece, available space, and your personal style to guide you with all the decisions you need to make.
Decide on what you wish to accomplish, and what theme will go with your choice of art. Then, just have fun and play around with different ideas until you arrive at the right balance for all the art pieces. Remember to also take time and make careful measurements for the placement of the art pieces.
Finding the Best Place to Hang Wall Art
When learning how to arrange art on a wall, there are certain things you need to consider. For example, what wall to use, what room to show your artwork in, the spacing of the pieces, or what tools you will need. First, let us consider what wall you want to use, should you use a large open wall or a smaller section of wall, or what rooms in the house should you decorate?
When selecting a large open wall space, why not go for a large, sizeable artwork, or create a group of pieces and arrange them to suit your taste? For smaller sections of the wall, like between doors and windows, hang your smaller pieces. Remember, hanging your artwork piece is not necessarily the only option, you can stand the piece on a shelf, on an easel, or on the floor to lean against the wall.
When choosing a specific room in your house for wall art placement, the shape and the size of the room play an important part in your arrangement. There are several rooms in your home that you can use, but we have selected the most popular ones.
Bedroom
The most popular space people select in the bedroom is the space above the head of the bed, as it provides a focal point whenever entering the room. By selecting the right type of artwork, you could create a calming effect for the room, which is perfect as the bedroom is the place for relaxation.
Kitchen
The kitchen usually is cluttered with kitchen appliances, cutlery, and crockery, so you need to select a small wall space that is located between storage cupboards, stoves, or appliances. This means that before you hang your art in the kitchen, you should first arrange your kitchen so that your art piece is not concealed behind a wine rack, a knife block, or any other appliance you may have.
Bathroom
For arranging artwork pieces in the bathroom, it is always better to select smaller pieces, as these look best in smaller rooms. When arranging artwork in the bathroom, try to hang it in such a way that it can be reflected in the mirror. Remember, when arranging artwork in your bathroom, try not to hang them too close to the shower area as this is the place where steam is generated, which may damage your art piece.
Living Room
The living room is usually the largest area in your house, which makes it a perfect space to hang large art pieces or even create a picture gallery. The options for the living room are endless, but the most popular spaces are above the couch, fireplace, or mantelpiece.
Take Your Time When Arranging Wall Art
Do not be in a hurry when planning how to arrange art on a wall. It is very important to do proper planning before you start to drill holes or hammer nails into the wall. You can do this planning by two methods:
- Digital low-tech methods
- Craft paper and some tape
It is very difficult to visualize how to arrange art on a wall, and to see how your artwork will look once fixed to the wall. Making use of the first method mentioned above the digital method, use your phone, and download an application like 1stDibs, which has a specific feature where you can use your phone’s built-in camera to map out the surface you are going to use on the wall. You can also utilize a computer program that can lay out the art pieces for you. This provides a very clear idea of how your artwork will look using the correct scale.
The second method you can use is much simpler, and all that is needed is available in your home. Take some kraft paper, or ordinary newspaper, and cut out templates of all your art pieces, then use some tape to stick them on the wall just as you visualized in your mind. Then take a step back and see how the arrangement looks and make any changes until it is just right. Now you can begin by drilling holes and hammering nails into the wall according to your design.
How to Arrange Wall Art
When you visit any art gallery or museum, the art is positioned at eye level, which is around 57 to 60 inches from the floor, this allows for easy viewing enabling the viewer to appreciate the art pieces. However, this is not a set rule, but it is a very good guideline when showing off your art pieces.
You may want to change this rule if the ceiling in the room is lower, or when the art piece is portrayed in your living room where everyone is usually sitting down, then it can be lower but still at eye level. Often when hanging artwork in a child’s room, it needs to be lower. This also counts when the art piece is aligned to a cabinet or a windowpane.
Arranging Art Pieces Above Furniture
Artwork can draw attention to dining room tables, beds, or sideboards, so it is important to take the furniture into account when hanging your art pieces. From a visual or artistic standpoint, your art piece should never be wider than an item of furniture that is arranged above it, especially over a sofa. The art piece should be two-thirds of the width of the sofa and be positioned about eight to ten inches above the sofa.
It is very important to leave enough space above the item of furniture when mounting your art piece, to have an open area. This can be very evident when considering a sofa, there needs to be enough open space so that the head of the visitor does not interfere with your artwork, likewise over a dining room table, there needs to be enough open space to allow for things like flower arrangements or even food.
Take Lighting and Décor Into Account
When arranging your artwork on a wall, you need to consider the lighting. If your room is dark, it may be a good idea to install a picture light just above the art piece to show up your artwork. You also need to consider where the sun is going to shine through the window, which could make your art piece impossible to see. Always make sure you mount it away from direct sunlight.
You will also need to consider the wall color, as this factor is very important allowing it to serve as a backdrop color for the artwork. So, if you have neutral color paint on the wall, you will be able to give the artwork the correct focus it requires.
Arranging Art on Different Surfaces
How to decorate walls with pictures on different surfaces? All walls are not built the same, they consist of different types of material, some are soft, some are hard, and others are hollow. You need to know what kind of wall surface you are going to hang your wall art on before you take hold of the hammer and nails. You also need to consider the weight and size of the wall art and what space you want to occupy. Here are some of the types of surfaces you can expect to find when arranging art on walls.
Drywall
Drywall is made from a plaster-like material that is soft, so a screw or nail will not be able to hold your picture or wall art. However, the drywall has a sturdy wooden frame that forms stable pillars that are referred to as studs. These are strong enough to hold any type of item you wish to hang.
The only problem is that these studs or pillars are concealed behind the plaster and are not easy to locate, so you need to search for them before you start using the hammer. To assist you with this, there is a stud finder that will automatically detect wood studs, metal objects as well as live electrical wires.
Now that you have located the studs on your drywall, you can use a picture hanger, which is what you must use for any hollow walls. Secure to the stud where you want your artwork to hang. If you do not have a stud finder, then you need to use an anchor and screw, where the anchor will bite into the drywall and secure your artwork piece.
Concrete or Masonry Walls
For hanging your artwork on a concrete wall, you need to use a sturdier hanger like a wall plug and screw or an anchor and screw. You will need to use a masonry drill, that has a carbide tip, to drill the correct size hole in the wall first. Next, insert the plug or anchor and screw in the securing screw. Now you are ready to hang your artwork piece on your concrete wall.
Paneled Walls
As paneled walls are made from wood, they are the perfect surface to hang any of your artwork on. All you need are some wood screws or picture hangers, which you can secure into the place where you want your artwork to hang. Now you can use small hooks or adhesive strips that need to be applied to the back of your picture frame. Then take some string or wire and cut it to the correct length, which will give you the height that your picture will hang on the wall. Attach it to the hooks or tape and you are ready to hang your picture on the wall.
Alternative Hanging Artwork Ideas
You might not be happy with making holes in your walls with screws or nails, so why not use alternative methods for hanging your artwork on the wall? You may want to consider using adhesive hooks, which can be bought at your local hardware store in various sizes and materials. How about using a shelf or table to prop up your artwork or even standing it on the floor?
How to Decorate Walls With Pictures
When arranging multiple pictures of wall art, or groups of pictures or paintings, on your wall, it can bring out your creative side. You can produce some amazing results that are unique and eye-catching. Here are some hanging artwork ideas to help you on your way.
- Group different colors together
- Group pictures from a collection together
- Arrange pictures randomly
- Arrange them side by side
- Arrange them horizontally
- Display vertically, or at an angle
- Stagger the pictures
- Arrange them asymmetrically or symmetrically
Hanging Artwork Ideas for Two Pictures
When it comes to arranging two pictures or paintings, it might sound easy. However, it can be a little tricky, but it can also bring out your creative side. Most of the time you just go with the flow and hang your pictures or paintings in the way you see them in your mind, but there are a few basic methods to use that may be easier for you to apply.
- Animal posters can be arranged vertically
- Abstract shapes can be staggered
- Two landscape pictures are best-arranged side by side
Hanging Artwork Ideas for Three Pictures
With three pictures or paintings, there are plenty of options for you to choose from. You can arrange them side by side, symmetrical, asymmetrically, or just in any pattern you want to. With three paintings or pictures arranged above a sofa, the side-by-side option is preferred as it creates a balance in the room.
However, when arranging three paintings or pictures over a desk in your study, it is better to stagger them. When staggering your paintings or pictures you usually hang them next to other artwork pieces, which may be contrasting colors or similar themes.
When you want to hang pictures or paintings with a travel theme, the best option would be to hang them vertically, you may also find that furniture and other wall art can complement this arrangement.
You can also arrange three pictures or paintings in a symmetrical format but at a slight angle, with three pictures or paintings that are different sizes. The bigger one is usually the centerpiece, with two smaller pictures on each side.
Hanging Artwork Ideas for Four Pictures
To arrange four pictures or paintings on a wall is the easiest of them all. You can create your own arrangement by mixing and matching, or by filling the open spaces on the wall with other elements. The effect can be quite stunning.
You can arrange the four pictures or paintings symmetrically all in one line, or a square or they can be arranged asymmetrically or staggered. However, you need to ensure they are at eye level, and that the distance between each one is the same.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways for arranging art on walls, and we are confident that after reading all the above information, you will feel more confident about wall art placement. However, remember there are no hard and fast rules, all you need to do is let your imagination guide you, and you should easily produce amazing results.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Far Do You Need to Space Pictures or Paintings?
Normally, you can space multiple paintings or pictures between two to six inches apart, but it all depends on what you have in mind. However, there is one rule you should follow, which is not to hang pictures over a furniture item that is wider than the furniture.
How to Arrange Art on a Wall?
When arranging art on walls, it all revolves around preparation. So, you need to start with creating an arrangement, then when you have done that, you need to consider the weight of the art pieces and what type of surface you are going to mount them on. You also need to ensure you have the right hanging hardware that can secure your artwork without any damage to the wall or your art pieces.
What Should You Avoid When Hanging Art Pieces?
Try to avoid hanging your artwork in direct sunlight, as direct sunlight can cause irreparable damage to your art piece. The ultraviolet rays from the sun can cause cracking, warping, and fading of an art piece.
What Is Wall Art Placement?
Wall art placement is merely creating art on your wall that enhances the wall space, ties in with your interior design, and showcases beautiful art pieces. It also allows you to show off your design taste and can encourage certain emotions in the viewer.
In 2005, Charlene completed her wellness degrees in therapeutic aromatherapy and reflexology at the International School of Reflexology and Meridian Therapy. She worked for a company offering corporate wellness programs for several years before opening her own therapy practice. In 2015, she was asked by a digital marketer friend to join her company as a content creator, and it was here that she discovered her enthusiasm for writing. Since entering the world of content creation, she has gained a lot of experience over the years writing about various topics such as beauty, health, wellness, travel, crafting, and much more. Due to various circumstances, she had to give up her therapy practice and now works as a freelance writer. Since she is a very creative person and as a balance to writing likes to be active in various areas of art and crafts, the activity at acrylgiessen.com is perfect for her to contribute their knowledge and experience in various creative topics.
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