There is a method behind hanging art.
Do you ever look at your blank walls and wonder, where do I start? Hanging art doesn’t have to be a guessing game.
Emi Dalton, from Emi & Co. Art, shared seven hard and fast rules that will make your space feel beautiful and balanced.
“Hanging art doesn’t have to be a guessing game,” Emi said. There are some tried-and-true rules that can guide you to create beautiful, balanced displays in your home. Emi shared seven rules and showed us how they can transform our spaces.
“These guidelines will help you create displays that look professional and intentional,” she emphasized.
1. The 57-60 Inch Rule
First up is the 57-60 inch rule. “On a blank wall, you want to hang art at eye level, with the center of the artwork at 57 to 60 inches from the ground,” Emi explained. This height represents the eye level of an average person. It ensures that your art is at a comfortable viewing height for most people.
Remember, this measurement is for the CENTER of the art, not the top or bottom of the frame. “Find the center of your picture first, and then place that at 57-60 inches off the ground,” Emi said.
2. The Furniture Connection Rule
“When hanging art above furniture like a couch or console, you want the art to feel connected to the piece below it,” Emi said. Generally, 8 inches is the sweet spot, but it can be anywhere from 6 to 10 inches from the furniture to the bottom of the frame.
“There’s a range because sometimes with low furniture, you want your art just a bit higher to create more overall height,” Emi explained. Conversely, with taller furniture, you might hang your picture closer to 6 inches to keep your art from being too high on the wall.
3. The Mantel Rule
Fireplace mantels are a bit different. Here, you want to aim to place the BOTTOM of your art around 6 inches above the top of the mantel, anywhere from 4 to 8 inches.
“Mantels are generally on the tall side. By placing the art closer, we ensure it feels connected to the mantel without being too high up on the wall,” Emi explained. The goal is to have the painting and mantel feel like a cohesive unit.
4. The Headboard Rule
For hanging art above a bed, it depends on whether you have a headboard and how tall it is. “Generally, aim for the bottom of your picture to be 4 to 10 inches above the headboard,” Emi advised.
5. The Gallery Wall Rule
“When creating a gallery wall, think of the group of art as one piece,” Emi said. Hang it based on the center point of the entire grouping, using the 57-60 inch rule. Keep the horizontal and vertical spacing between pieces consistent, typically 1 to 3 inches between frames for a cohesive look.
6. The Scale Rule
Choose art that’s scaled appropriately for your wall. “A good rule of thumb is to aim for your art to take up about 2/3 to 3/4 of the wall space,” Emi advised.
For large walls, consider using a grouping of pieces to fill the space effectively. “You can treat a group of art as one large piece when applying these rules,” Emi said.
7. The Orientation Rule
This last rule is important, yet often overlooked! Match the orientation of your art to the shape of your wall space. Use vertical pieces for narrow spaces and horizontal pieces for wide areas.
While these rules are great guidelines, art is ultimately about personal expression. Once you understand these principles, feel free to bend or break them if it feels right for your space.
“The most important rule is to surround yourself with art that you love and that makes your home feel like you,” Emi emphasized.
