Arranging Artwork

Artwork should relate to the surrounding furniture in weight, scale, and line. Is it the right size and shape? Do the colors create harmony with the furnishings? Is it too prominent or does it look lost? Does it fit the style and use of the room? Once these critical evaluations are made, you are ready to position the artwork.

Place the center of the artwork or grouping at eye level. Remember that eye level changes depending on the activity in the room, whether people will be primarily seated as in a dining room or standing as in a hallway. Artwork should relate to the surrounding furniture in weight, scale, and line. Is it the right size and shape? Do the colors create harmony with the furnishings? Is it too prominent or does it look lost?

If you are hanging a group of objects together, lay the actual objects out on the floor in the proposed arrangement. Step back and look at the arrangement from a distance. Is there a common theme tying these pieces together? Is there vertical and horizontal order to the arrangement? Does your eye travel smoothly from one object to the next? Or does one area jump out at you or look lopsided? Rearrange the objects in the grouping until it is visually pleasing.

Once you get it right, make paper templates of each picture, plate, or whatever object before hanging. Use masking tape to place the templates to the wall where you want the arrangement to go. Stare at it. See if it works. It’s much easier to move paper than repair nail holes. Use the templates to mark where the hanging hardware needs to go, instead of marking up your walls. Anchor the hardware to the wall through the paper templates, then just tear them away.
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