Hanging art and collections
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On a recent shopping trip I marveled at all the
choices available of things we can hang on our walls.
From wire art, candles, baskets, drawings and kimonos
to huge reproductions of paintings mounted on canvas.
But it is perhaps not always obvious that we can hang
other items (other than framed pictures or paintings)
on the wall, such as interesting collections.
On a recent shopping trip I marveled at all the
choices available of things we can hang on our walls.
From wire art, candles, baskets, drawings and kimonos
to huge reproductions of paintings mounted on canvas.
But it is perhaps not always obvious that we can hang
other items (other than framed pictures or paintings)
on the wall, such as interesting collections.
Collections
Just as in accessorizing (grouping collections of at least three together) you would also hang a collection of items on walls. For example, I used to own several antique duck decoys. At one point they were placed on the floor or on shelves (where they were lost). Then I got the idea to hang them up in a group on the wall in our entryway. The ducks were now more visible and a became a great conversation piece as people were coming or leaving the house.
I am also fond of interesting antique items hung on a wall such as these decorative spinning wheel distaffs, made by Finnish men traditionally as a gift to his fiancé.
Other interesting things I have seen on walls are collection of straw hats, a variety of wall clocks, bags, antique weapons or tools, a collection of antique keys and a wall of travel memorabilia. The key here is the word “collection”. A collection of similar items will have impact. A single lonely item on the wall is often lost, or gives the appearance that you just did not know what to do with it, so you hung it on an empty wall. Make what you hang on the walls have impact and have meaning. But don’t allow it to compete with other things in the room or nearby walls, or no one will see it. Less truly is more, especially when displaying art or collections. A collection also has more impact if the colours are unified. For example, if you have a wall of photo frames, you should choose one colour for the frame, for example black, even though you may have different types of frames.
Hanging collections and art
There are many rules around hanging art on the wall, but once you get the idea, or the knowledge about what to look for, it all makes sense. The most common mistakes, when hanging art are: hanging art too high, the art is too big for the wall, the art is too small for the wall, there is too much art on the walls. Often I see two very different pieces hanging on walls that make a corner (corner crowding) and because the art is so close together, they void each other out. You can’t enjoy either piece.
When you sit on the sofa in your living room, the art should be hung at eye level so that you don’t look up or down. When you walk in your front door and see a wall with art on it, this art should be at eye level. However, if you are hanging a piece of art above a lower table in your entryway, this piece of art needs to be hung closer to the table, rather than at eye level.
Other ideas:
Leaning art or several pieces of art on a mantel, console or on a shelf. Remember, you don’t have to hang all the art that you own. Instead, rotate your art. It’s ok to store some for retrieval during another season. There should always be one wall in a room that is bare, where you can rest your eye. If a wall is narrower than 36” the wall should be art free. If you hang different size art in a row, you need to line up either the bottom or the top edge of the art, I prefer the bottom usually. Usually the art is hung 2-4” apart.
Happy hanging and collecting.
Collections
Just as in accessorizing (grouping collections of at least three together) you would also hang a collection of items on walls. For example, I used to own several antique duck decoys. At one point they were placed on the floor or on shelves (where they were lost). Then I got the idea to hang them up in a group on the wall in our entryway. The ducks were now more visible and a became a great conversation piece as people were coming or leaving the house.
I am also fond of interesting antique items hung on a wall such as these decorative spinning wheel distaffs, made by Finnish men traditionally as a gift to his fiancé.
Other interesting things I have seen on walls are collection of straw hats, a variety of wall clocks, bags, antique weapons or tools, a collection of antique keys and a wall of travel memorabilia. The key here is the word “collection”. A collection of similar items will have impact. A single lonely item on the wall is often lost, or gives the appearance that you just did not know what to do with it, so you hung it on an empty wall. Make what you hang on the walls have impact and have meaning. But don’t allow it to compete with other things in the room or nearby walls, or no one will see it. Less truly is more, especially when displaying art or collections. A collection also has more impact if the colours are unified. For example, if you have a wall of photo frames, you should choose one colour for the frame, for example black, even though you may have different types of frames.
Hanging collections and art
There are many rules around hanging art on the wall, but once you get the idea, or the knowledge about what to look for, it all makes sense. The most common mistakes, when hanging art are: hanging art too high, the art is too big for the wall, the art is too small for the wall, there is too much art on the walls. Often I see two very different pieces hanging on walls that make a corner (corner crowding) and because the art is so close together, they void each other out. You can’t enjoy either piece.
When you sit on the sofa in your living room, the art should be hung at eye level so that you don’t look up or down. When you walk in your front door and see a wall with art on it, this art should be at eye level. However, if you are hanging a piece of art above a lower table in your entryway, this piece of art needs to be hung closer to the table, rather than at eye level.
Other ideas:
Leaning art or several pieces of art on a mantel, console or on a shelf. Remember, you don’t have to hang all the art that you own. Instead, rotate your art. It’s ok to store some for retrieval during another season. There should always be one wall in a room that is bare, where you can rest your eye. If a wall is narrower than 36” the wall should be art free. If you hang different size art in a row, you need to line up either the bottom or the top edge of the art, I prefer the bottom usually. Usually the art is hung 2-4” apart.
Happy hanging and collecting.