Do you have a penchant for collecting stunning canvas wall art pieces for your home?
Are all your art pieces collecting dust in your home because you cannot find the ideal placement for them?
Well, I empathize with your dilemma!
As an avid art enthusiast, I understand the urge to buy distinctive art pieces and decorate your home with them. However, I also know how daunting it can be to hang those pieces on your blank walls as you want to find the ideal position for all your pieces. After all, you want to achieve aesthetic cohesion while staying true to your sense of style and creative expression.
I have written this article to solve your art installation woes and answer the elusive question, “How to position wall art?” So, read on to discover tried and tested art hanging tips to decorate your walls perfectly!
How to Position Canvas Wall Art
Here are some expert tips that you can use to position your canvas art and paintings on your walls:
1. Envision Your Desired Arrangement
One of the essential steps in positioning framed wall art is to envision your ideal arrangement. If you’re having trouble visualizing it, you can sketch out your plan on a computer program or use graph paper to lay out your art. You can also rearrange the art pieces on your floor until you are satisfied with how they look.
Then, cut out craft paper the size of each piece of art and use low adhesive tape to hang to tape the paper on the wall in places where you will position your wall art. It will help you visualize the final look and provide you with a convenient way to measure everything and figure out the nail placement. This technique works best when you have to position multiple art pieces on the same wall in a salon-style look.
2. Space Out the Art Pieces
When figuring out the placement for your canvas wall art, make sure to space everything out properly. There should be at least four inches of space between two frames to prevent the art pieces from looking overcrowded. Moreover, when art pieces are huddled together, it makes the imperfections stick out and ruin the aesthetic of the pieces. So, it’s essential to let each piece breathe on its own while establishing cohesion between multiple pieces.
3. Hang Your Art Pieces at Eye Level
One of the most common decorating mistakes that most novice art collectors make is hanging the art too high on their walls. The general rule of thumb to position wall art is 57” on center, which essentially means that the center of your art piece should be about 57 inches from the floor of the room. It ensures that every art piece you hang on your walls is positioned at eye level.
This standard is routinely used in museums and galleries to ensure visitors have a pleasant time admiring the art. When used to position art at home, it creates a fine balance since all the art pieces will have a common midline. With that said, there are a few exceptions to this standard.
For instance, people will usually be sitting in living rooms, so the artwork you hang on your living room walls should be lower than the standard. So, if you’re hanging wall art canvas above a sofa, position it one hand width or 8 to 10 inches above its back, even if it ends up breaking the 57” rule.
You will also have to be mindful of leaving plenty of space between the top of your art piece and the part where your wall meets the room’s ceiling. Additionally, if you have really low ceilings, it’s best to divide the length of your walls into quarters and hang the artwork in the third quarter up from the floor to achieve an attractive look.
4. Balance the Scales of Your Canvas Art Pieces
If you’re planning on positioning a collection of art pieces on the same wall, you should treat that collection as one piece to achieve a cohesive, balanced look. The first step is to ensure that the art pieces as a unit are not too large or small compared to your sofa or sideboard.
Ideally, you want to work with a collection that is in scale. Otherwise, the arrangement will look strange and out of place. You want to achieve the Goldilocks effect, i.e., the artwork should be two-thirds the size of the sideboard or sofa. For instance, a 12-foot-long sofa should have an 8-foot-wide collection of art or a similarly large wall canvas above it.
Furthermore, if you are working with multiple pieces in a unit, make sure to place the heavier artworks at the bottom left and the lighter art pieces at the upper right. Meanwhile, the mid-sized pieces should be in between the two. This arrangement will balance the weight as the eye always starts from the bottom left.
Alternatively, if you have one large wall art and a few smaller wall art canvases, hang the larger piece in the middle as the collection’s focal point and arrange the smaller pieces around it. Don’t forget to leave 2 to 5 inches between each frame for proper spacing. You can use low adhesive tape to ensure consistent spacing between the wall art pieces.
5. Try Salon-Style Framed Wall Art Decor
A salon-style look for wall art is inarguably one of the most sought-after looks for art curators. However, many art lovers don’t try to recreate it as it can be a bit intimidating. After all, it requires you to drill multiple holes in your walls, and you don’t want to misalign the canvas wall art pieces.
With that said, a salon-style wall art look can help you add some much-needed oomph to your living room. It can also help you unleash your creativity and showcase your most-loved artworks in one place. Moreover, attractive art pieces balanced perfectly will not only be soothing to the eye but will also act as excellent conversation starters.
However, when opting for a salon-style look, make sure to balance the scales for a seamless look. Moreover, try experimenting with different types of framed wall art, from paintings to photos to prints, to create a unique wall décor in your home.
6. Think Outside the Box
If you don’t want to take the traditional route and hang art pieces on your walls, you can think differently and put your wall art in unexpected places. After all, no rule says art can also be placed on walls! You can create a floating gallery with hanging wall shelves and layer multiple pieces for a multidimensional look. If you have a significantly large wall art piece, you can prop it against a wall instead of hanging it for a modern and chic look. But make sure that you don’t crow that wall with the furniture as it will disrupt the relaxed ambiance of the wall.
7. Match the Shape of the Wall
When you hang multiple art pieces as a collection, striving for visual balance is important. However, you must also make sure that your collection aligns with the orientating of your wall. Even though this technique is more important for positioning large wall art, you must also attempt it when installing a collection poof multiple pieces for a balanced look. With larger pieces, try not to hang them in cramped spaces. If you want to install art in a smaller room, choose small wall art canvases for the walls.
8. Use Frames Wisely
When hanging artwork in your home, always make sure to choose the ideal frames for your art pieces. Framed wall art can add a distinctive, aesthetically appealing touch to your walls. Whether you opt for vintage-style frames or monochromatic, modern frames, your framing will define your style and the personality you want to add to the space.
9. Think About Your Wall Color & Room Décor
Whether you’re planning on hanging black and white canvas art pieces or a statement large abstract wall artwork, make sure to choose pieces with hues that will complement the colors of your wall, furniture, and general room décor.
For instance, if your room walls are dark-hued, try to choose paintings with neutral or lighter hues for a balanced look. Similarly, if your furniture is bulky and dark-hued, opt for lighter-hued art pieces. Alternatively, if you have white or light-colored walls, you can go for beautiful, colorful abstract pieces and bold-hued artwork.
10. Consider Lighting
If you plan to hang your wall art in a dimly lit room, think of ways to light the art pieces. You can use scones or picture lights to highlight the wall art. Moreover, you will also have to ensure that large ceiling fixtures don’t obstruct the line of sight to the artwork on your walls or cast shadows on them.
The Bottom Line
I hope this article has helped you figure out how to position wall art. The truth is that finding the ideal placement will always depend on a few set practices and your personal aesthetic choices. After all, when decorating your home with beautiful canvas wall art, you have to stay true to your sense of style and aesthetic preferences. With that said, you can use the tips mentioned above to ensure a seamless display of your chosen art pieces.
