Artful living made simple

___

Published Date 5/7/2025

Watching all those reality real estate shows can often leave you feeling pretty inadequate when it comes to figuring out how and where to hang or place art. But as a designer might say, art is one of the best ways to breathe life and color into a room.

Whether you’re a seasoned art collector or just starting out with a few pieces to tie a space together, however, there are a number of creative ways to style artwork. Washington-based Aimee and Danny Schreiber, who own a combination tattoo studio and art gallery, offer styling ideas that will make your walls look beautiful as well as professional.

Some general rules before diving in:

• Be sure to hang the center of artwork at average eye-level, usually 57 inches from the floor, and treat groups of paintings as a single unit with the center of the group at eye level.

• Over furniture, hang your art 6 inches above it. “If you're hanging artwork above a piece of furniture like a bed, sofa, table, or mantle, hang the art 6-8 inches above the piece,” says Schreiber.

• Always check the weight of your artwork to determine if your wall and hardware can support it.

• Place accent lamps and overhead lights to make artwork shine.

• Another trick is paint. “A thoughtfully chosen wall color can heighten the impact of any artwork. Many art galleries and museums have dark wall colors to make the art stand out,” says Schreiber. “Dark walls recede into the shadows and make the artwork seem to glow, but a light wall can be an equally impactful canvas for art.”

Want to create a focal point with a large art piece? You can design an entire room around it to give your home a unique style. Did you know that studies show that art has a positive impact on mental as well as physical health? A large piece of art can instantly draw your eye in, establish a mood, and create a stylish and eye-catching focal point in your home. Large pieces of art can be hung over a sofa, mantle, bed, in a large hallway, or in a dining room.

You can make a big impact with two equally-sized pieces of art hung in matching frames. “Many artists create a collection of similar works, so buying two favorites from the same series is a great way to create a look that is cohesive. You could also try pairing work by different artists that have different styles but similar colors. You can hang art vertically for tall, narrow wall spaces or horizontally to fill a wider wall space,” says Schreiber. And there is no hard, fast rule about hanging two pieces of differently-sized art you love together. “An asymmetrical duo can look just as lovely as a matching pair. Think of it like an echo where either style, subject, or color is echoed in the smaller piece.”

The “rule of three” is well known in interior design. Our eyes naturally love groups of three because we see and think in patterns, and three is the lowest pattern-making number. Hang a trio of three equally-sized pieces over a sofa, down a long hallway, or over a dining room buffet.

Hanging isn’t the end-all, either. Leaning art works on a fireplace mantle provides an even more stunning focal point. Then try adding statement objects you love to the scene. Think about using candles, seasonal plants, or other sculptural objects to create an inviting atmosphere that reflects your unique personality.

Got a book case you want to make interesting? Adding art pieces is a great way to transform it from functional furniture to a display statement. A pop of color. A subtle texture. An interesting visual story. You can easily customize your bookcase with art pieces that reflect your style. Perhaps mix metal, wood, and glass pieces and then think sculpture, bowls, and candles. Schreiber goes further however, grouping books in both horizontal stacks, arranging books by color, and even turning the spines in for a uniform look. “Don’t forget that book covers can have some of the loveliest art around, so leave one or two facing out (like in a book store display) with the cover visible,” he says.

Creating a grid of artwork is a great way to showcase a collection of pieces without overwhelming yourself or the space. Grab a tape measure, level, and pencil for marking the wall and start by deciding on the size of artwork you want to display as well as how much wall space you have available. Keep it simple and symmetrical by using matching frames and mats for a set of art prints or photos.

Got your selections down? Now arrange the artwork in the grid pattern you desire, leaving enough space between each piece to allow them to stand out. Make your plan by laying it all out on the floor to decide how much space you want between them.

Being deliberate and planning your artwork will soon have you walking into any room in your house (even a bathroom!), realizing that it all paid off. It’s all you.

TheCopperWolf, TBWS

• < Prev
• Next >

All information furnished has been forwarded to you and is provided by thetbwsgroup only for informational purposes. Forecasting shall be considered as events which may be expected but not guaranteed. Neither the forwarding party and/or company nor thetbwsgroup assume any responsibility to any person who relies on information or forecasting contained in this report and disclaims all liability in respect to decisions or actions, or lack thereof based on any or all of the contents of this report.

American Home Lending USA, LLC - NMLS ID: 71983. To verify licensing, visit NMLS Consumer Access (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). Equal Housing Lender.

Jeff Beck

President

NMLS: 19488

American Home Lending USA, LLC

240 S Buchanan St, Edwardsville IL 62025

Company NMLS: 71983

Office: 618-310-0091

Cell: 618-806-2281

Email: jbeck@ahlusa1.com

Web: https://www.americanhomelendingusa.com/