Tips for hanging art… with a bit of quirk
A vintage French print by Camille Bryen hangs low over a bedroom dresser in New York. Design: Time & Place Interiors
Standard design principles would have us hang wall art abiding by certain conventions: one large artwork centered above the sofa… a gallery wall of photographs in the hallway… another work over the bed. This is a good, reliable approach, grounded in solid aesthetic considerations.
But sometimes, there’s good reason to bend design conventions, sneaking in an unexpected quirk. Maybe the art is hung off-center. Or placed dramatically low. Or it shows up in a spot where art customarily “isn’t” hung.
This idiosyncratic approach to hanging art opens the door to a more fluid design, where the aesthetic is more nonchalant than contrived. It shows you can bring some spicy personality into your space, with a dose of sophistication and even a bit of humor.
Now, there are a couple general rules to hanging art that are almost always worth following:
Don’t hang art too high. It should be at eye level of the average-height person, and so you don’t have to crane your neck to see it.
Position art in relation to furniture or other objects. With few exceptions, art shouldn’t be floating in a random blank space. For more tips on this, see my post From clutter to collection: How to style your decor.
Otherwise, I encourage you to allow yourself some creative liberty in hanging your artwork. To inspire you, I’ve rounded up design examples of creative ways to hang artwork, where conventional rules are defied in favor of unexpected artistic license. And if you need a hand making it look right, reach out.
Hanging art asymmetrically aligned to furniture is perfectly acceptable, as long as the scale is correct. In this bedroom’s design, the custom channel headboard spans the entire wall. A small painting, hung off-center, balances against the small vintage bedside lamp.
Design: Brahman Perera / Photo: Lillie Thompson
You can also hang art unexpectedly low. In this apartment’s living room in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood, the architect built steps that double in function as extra seating. The tiny eclectic artwork creates a cozy moment in an otherwise sleek, contemporary sunken living room.
Architecture: Float Studio / Design: Patrick McGrath / Photo: Fran Parente/OTTO
And by low, I also mean hanging art practically at floor level. Here’s a surprising position for a bedroom’s small painting, which has an intriguing metal vine light seemingly growing out of it.
Design: Joanna Chevalier / Photo: Michael Depasquale and Martina Maffini
A piece of wall art can be used to add height when the scale of furniture needs to be tweaked. The framed photograph hanging in this New York bedroom helps balance the low leather side chair against the tall Brutalist vintage dresser so that they interact better together.
Design: Juan Carretero / Photo: Ethan Herrington
Here’s a small work of art hung unexpectedly off a peg rail. The theme is echoed in front, where just to the left of the doorway, another vintage painting serves as a visual transition into the next room.
Design: Lumière Lodge / Photo: Marnie Hawson
If you have a lot of pieces to add to a gallery wall, feel free to go all the way up to the ceiling and all the way down to the floor, covering the space in an art collection that grows with you over time.
Design: Joanna Chevalier / Photo: Michael Depasquale and Martina Maffini
Hanging a small piece of art, just above the countertop, is a great way to add character to your kitchen. Or you can lean artwork on floating shelves. This Brooklyn loft kitchen perfects the neutral look, complete with a vintage accordion wall lamp.
Design: Space Exploration / Photo: Nicole Franzen
You don’t even have to hang art at all: leaning it against a console, a bookshelf, or even on the floor looks elegantly carefree. Plus it saves you the trouble of hiding nail holes if you choose to reposition it once you collect more works that speak to you.
For more ideas on how to decorate your walls, see check out my post, Artistic license: 6 alternative wall decor ideas.
Design: Louis Denavaut / Photo: Christophe Coënon
Good design isn’t always simple, but should always look like it is.
Time & Place Interiors is a New York-based studio, specializing in crafting original spaces that reflect homeowners’ sophistication and appreciation for individualized design moments. Use the link below to schedule a free information call with founder Ksenya Malina. You’ll get to share your design goals, and Ksenya will guide you to the next step of your project.
