How to choose the right size artwork for your space
Art at home
Tips and tricks
1. Size
Aim to fill about two-thirds to three quarters of your available wall space
If you are looking to hang a focal point above a piece of furniture—such as your couch, headboard, or dresser—follow the same proportions and find a work two-thirds to three-quarters smaller than your furniture.
For instance, if your headboard is 150cm wide, you should find a work around 100 to 115cm wide.
If in doubt, go big. You want your artwork to stand out and complement your space—empty wall space can overwhelm a work that is too small. Imagine that your artwork connects the dots in your room, tying together the couch, lamps, and other works of art—a piece that is too small will float between the dots, rather than connect them into a cohesive space.
2. Orientation
When deciding on orientation, consider the shape of your available wall space—do you have a sliver of vertical space between two windows? Go for a work in portrait orientation to create a sense of height and openness.
Is there a yawning expanse of blank wall space behind your dining room table? Go horizontal, or landscape, to fill the visual field.
3. Placement
In gallery spaces, two-dimensional works are typically hung so that the center of the piece falls at eye level (142 to 150cm from floor). This standard is a useful rule of thumb for hanging works on blank walls.
When there’s a couch, headboard, fireplace mantel or other piece of furniture involved, you will need to make sure the work has some breathing room while keeping the objects cohesive. Generally, this means hanging the work about 10 to 30cm above the top of the piece of furniture.
For a work serving as a focal point on a blank wall behind your dining room table, follow the same 10 to 30cm rule.
We do hope you find these guidelines useful, and remember they’re not hard and fast rules, just a few handy tips to guide you as you consider where to hang an artwork.
At Protean Art, we’re always happy to give advice on how and where to hang your artwork. And of course, we provide an ongoing service where you can ‘try before you before buy’. We can bring a selection of artworks to your home so you can see what art looks best in your space. Get in touch with us if you need advice or more information.
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