Buying art is a very personal process, there are so many options to choose from and many decisions involved. Do you want formal or casual? What style or period do you love? Are you considering paintings, etchings, pen and inks or some of all of these? Should it be big or small? Will it hang over a piece of furniture or stand alone? Should you buy originals or high-quality prints?
I love the line in the Classic Cary Grant movie “Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House” in which he talks about finding your dream house. He says it's like buying art … it's not about how much it cost. It's about what you love, and if you find it and you love it, you will pay a little more for it.
Similarly, my rule of thumb for buying art for your home or office is this. Buy what you love, and buy the best you can afford at the time. If a piece of art speaks to you, you will never tire of it; and if the piece feels like an investment for you, you will value it and hang it with love and care in a place of importance.
As you grow your collection, it is great to think about diversity. Just as you want diversity in your stock portfolio or your wine collection, you want diversity in your artwork. Variety in artists, mediums, styles and periods make for the most interesting collections. However, it can be interesting to have a theme for your collection or parts of it. For example, you might want to collect 18th-century French paintings. Or your passion may lie in art from the Southern region of the United States. Maybe modern works on canvas and paper are your favorites. Perhaps you buy a piece from every place you visit in your world travels. Whatever your motivation for your purchases, even with a theme, you can still have variety in your palettes or techniques to keep things exciting and pleasing to the eye when on display.
Now how and where to hang it? There are as many ways to hang and display artwork as there are types of art. Some of the choices are similar to those for buying art. Ask yourself: do I want the display to seem formal or casual? Am I hanging a collection, a series or a single piece? Will I combine art with other design elements? How high or low should I hang?
A common mistake in art display is hanging it too high. Eye level is a good rule of thumb, but whose eye level? For a more specific guideline, try hanging the center of the piece between 60 and 66 inches, which is eye level for most average Americans. I would lean toward the lower end of the range if you are going to be viewing the art both standing and sitting.
Hanging a series of artwork or a collection of like pieces makes a big impact. When hanging a series, think of the grouping as one large piece. For a collection with a variety of sizes and shapes, try laying them out of the floor first or putting the sizes in Photoshop for a preview of how it will look. Remember, the center of the grouping for either a series or a collection should still fall in the 60 to 66 inch range.
When deciding on whether to select and hang a vertical piece or grouping or a horizontal piece or grouping, think of it like stripes in wallcoverings or textiles. A vertical stripe is more formal, traditional and raises your eye level making a space feel taller. A horizontal stripe feels more casual, contemporary and expands the width of the space.
At the end of the day, the most important rules of thumb for buying and displaying artwork are: buy what you love and hang it where you can enjoy it.
Art and Art Hanging:
FAQs and Tips1. Can art be hung too low? Probably but it is not likely. The most common mistake in art hanging is going too high. Keep the center of the art between 60 to 66 inches in most cases.
2. How do I hang a group of artwork? Hanging art in a series or grouping makes a statement. When hanging the grouping, think of the collection as one large piece and place the center of it in the 60 to 66-inch eye-level range.
3. How high should my painting be over my sofa? When hanging art over furniture, keep them close together. The art should relate to the furniture as if they are a cohesive unit or vignette. If the art is too high or too far away, there is disconnect between the two, and the grouping no longer relates. A good rule of thumb: 6 inches or less between the art and the furniture. And in most cases, no more than 4 inches between art pieces in a pairing or grouping.
4. Can I mix styles and mediums of artwork in one room or even in a single grouping? The answer is yes, but try to group pieces that have a common thread whether it is a subject matter, the medium, the color palette or the period. Be certain the frames match or complement one another in style and scale.
5. How do I select a frame for my artwork? Frames should complement the artwork and allow it to be the focal point, not overpower it. Reserve large, ornate frames for pieces that will stand alone as the focal point in the space. For groupings or more contemporary works of art, keep the scale of the frame small and the design simple.
6. Should my art "match" my interiors? Not entirely. Original artwork should complement a space not "match" it. Don't get caught up in perfect color matches or styles. If you are uncomfortable with going outside the box in pairing original artwork with your interiors, high-quality decorative prints can be beautiful and are more likely to "match" your space. Look for companies, like Soicher Marin or Trowbridge Galleries, that create beautiful and sophisticated prints.
7. How do I know which areas in my home need artwork? Let the space dictate the art selection. If you pay attention to detail, you can see where your architecture can “frame” your artwork. If you have a small vertical space, select a vertical piece or stack 2 or 3 pieces vertically to emphasize the architecture. If the space lacks architectural interest, consider adding molding that frames your artwork and adds impact to the room.
8. When is it appropriate to highlight my artwork with special lighting? It is always appropriate to have great lighting on your artwork. Whether the lighting is architectural and installed in your home or is one of the many options of art lights that attach to a painting or work of art, your pieces will always make the most impact and have a feeling of drama and importance if lighted properly.
9. How do I keep my room interesting? I feel like I just have a lot of paintings that all look the same. First of all, mixing different types of medium in the same room is important. Too many paintings is boring, but paintings combined with works on paper and sculpture is all the sudden fresh and exciting.
It can also be interesting to combine artwork with other decorative elements. Flanking a mirror with a group of drawings can be handsome and architectural. Surrounding a painting with a collection of plates can be beautiful and feminine. Don't be afraid to mix elements, but the rules are the same as with mixing artwork. Make sure the frames complement each other in style. Also, find a common detail that makes the pieces congruent; for instance, an 18th century French painting would look great surrounded by a collection of Toile Transferware plates.
10. For safety and aesthetic reasons, be sure to use the proper tools and supplies to hang your art. You will need the appropriate weight of picture hanger, a sturdy hammer, a tape measure and a level. If the piece is exceptionally heavy, wall anchors or screws may be necessary. It is very important to note that if an art piece comes with two brackets — one on each side and no wire connecting them — this is for safety purposes to distribute the weight evenly and a wire should never be added.
