Take the Angst Out of Hanging Art

Although often the last purchase you make for your home’s interior, wall art can be the most challenging part of decorating.  The key is to know what to hang and how to hang it.

Who hasn’t walked into an otherwise beautifully outfitted home and stumbled on what I call poorly hung art syndrome? Sometimes paintings are hung too high. Other times the art is too small or too large for the space. Then there’s that floating art -- the tiny picture swimming in a sea of empty wall space.

Although intimidating, there are some simple rules to follow when hanging art. If you are hanging art above a piece of furniture, never hang the art higher than 8 inches above the furniture. The art should be at least half the size of the furniture, and not larger or longer than the furniture below. 

When dealing with multiple photos or pictures, choose one element, such as color, frame material or size to create one large collage. This is perfect for hanging a collection of family photos, said interior designer Paola McDonald of Creative Elegance Interiors. McDonald suggests using brown craft paper to trace the backs of the frames to create a blueprint for your collage. Then use painter's tape to mount the shapes on the wall.

"You can design your collage on the wall before you put any nail holes in it," McDonald said. "There are no rules. Play around with it until you come up with an arrangement you like."

If you suffer from bare wall syndrome, there’s no excuse. You can find good economy art at Target, World Market, Pottery Barn or Ikea for less than a month’s supply of lattes. For fine art, check out the many local galleries and online art dealers. One of my favorite online resources is artfulhome.com. Their wall art section has high-quality pieces that fit any style. The New York Art Exchange  has a great selection of contemporary art. 

Blueberry Art Gallery in the Del Ray section of Alexandria always has work from some funky local artists. No need to be an art expert, says Shawn Meyers, owner of Blueberry Art Gallery. “If you like a picture of a smiling banana, then go ahead, hang that picture,” Meyer said. “Who are you trying to impress, yourself or somebody else? The art in your home should represent things you love to see.”