Want to have some stylish artwork displays but not sure how? Maybe you have some extra space on a wall that needs filling?
Your home is a reflection of your personality and style, and one of the most impactful ways to showcase this is through artwork displays. Art can transform any space and infuse it with character and charm.
Whether you’re an art enthusiast or simply wanting to enhance your homes aesthetics, this blog will help to create some clever and stylish solutions for artful displays on the wall.
Selecting The Perfect Art Pieces
Before you begin hanging artwork in your home, you need to select the right pieces. Consider the style of your home, the mood you want to convey and of course, your personal taste.
You may love abstract art, contemporary pieces or something more traditional. Choose art that resonates with you on a personal level. Art should evoke emotions and tell a story.
The colour of your artwork pieces should complement the colour palette of the space. It can be subtle and blend into the room with the same tones or hues, or it can provide a fun contrast using a bright or complementary colour palette.
Ensure the size of your selected pieces are proportionate to the wall they will occupy and the surrounding furniture items. Large walls look great with oversized pieces, while smaller spaces may require smaller artwork or a gallery wall.
Framing
Once your artwork is selected, consider framing options (if it’s not framed already). Proper framing can elevate the appearance of your piece as well as create a cohesive look throughout your home.
Select a frame that will enhance your artwork as well as complement your décor. There are options such as timber, metal or acrylic frames to choose from.
Adding some matt board around the artwork can give a beautiful, professional look to your piece. The matt board helps to ‘high-light’ your art and make it pop. There are a variety of colours and sizes available, but white or off-white mats are versatile and work well with most art pieces.
Where To Hang Your Artwork
Key places to hang are above a couch, bedhead, foyer, fireplace, or in a staircase.
If you’re hanging pictures that will be viewed from a standing position such as in hallways, the best rule of thumb is to hang your artwork so it’s at eye level.
Artwork Above Bedhead
When putting artwork above your bedhead in your room remember to not centre your picture between the top of the headboard and the ceiling. It’ll end up hanging too high and look as if it’s floating.
It’s best to visually connect your artwork to the furniture below. To create balance, your artwork (or grouping) should be at least 2/3 the length of the headboard.
The shape doesn’t matter, it could be square, vertical, horizontal, round or oval as long as it’s the right size to counterbalance the headboard.
Maintain consistent spacing between pieces in a gallery wall or between frames in a symmetrical arrangement.
For group hangs, cut out pieces of paper in the same size and attach to the wall to check the spacing. Other option is placing frames on a table or chair and looking at the arrangement from above.
Both these ways will determine which frame should go where, make sure the colours are well distributed throughout the arrangement, and helps to figure out the spacing between each row and frame —it will help save time and possible future mistake holes in walls.
Hanging A Group Of Identical Frames
When hanging a grouping of identical frames, number the back of the frames from 1 to however many you’re putting up. Start with the one on the right, top row, second row right to left, and bottom row right to left. This will avoid any confusion if you decide to switch out the art but want to rehang all the frames in the same spot.
To save on costs for group hangs buy from places like Ikea, Freedom or two dollar shops. It’s sometimes best to stick with the same frame style to outline the different artworks.
This helps to provide a way to visually unite different colours, designs and art styles.
Statement Piece
Create a focal point in your room by hanging a single, large piece of art on an empty wall. Make sure it’s eye-catching and complements the room’s style and colour scheme.
Lighting
Having proper lighting for your art can add a touch of sophistication and transform the way your art if perceived.
Wall-mounted picture lights are a popular and elegant choice for illuminating artwork. They can be adjusted to highlight specific areas of the art, and create a dramatic effect. Contemporary or more traditional options are available, depending on your style and décor.
Track lighting is another popular lighting system, especially for large gallery walls. The track lighting can be installed onto the ceiling or walls to provide adjustable illumination.
Recessed lighting can be discreetly placed in the ceiling to provide a soft, ambient glow. This style of lighting is great for accentuating an entire display of wall art.
Of course, maximising natural light be placing art near windows can be beneficial. However, be cautious of direct sunlight as it can cause fading and damage to artwork.
Some Simple Rules
To create the best look for hanging try follow these simple rules:
- Never display art in direct sunlight or on west-facing walls
- Try and juxtapose between design elements and style – shape, scale size pattern and colour
- Rules of thirds – hang in odd numbers
- Hang with a variety of methods like string, tape, cord and wire. This will produce interesting effects
- Some art looks best not hung but resting on the ground or furniture item against a wall
We hope this has given you some inspiration to put some artwork displays up around your home.
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