When it comes to displaying art creatively throughout your home, there really are no right answers. However, there are some tried and true tips that can make all the difference in whether you get a unique, creative look or one that’s just blah and looks like any other gallery wall. In one of our recent posts, we shared some tips for choosing living room art. This article will offer some additional tips for displaying art creatively throughout your entire home. Read on if you’re ready to up your interior design game!
14 Secrets for Displaying Art Creatively
1. Display What You Love
Many people make the mistake of buying a particular piece of art just because it’s expensive or it was created by a famous artist. The thing is, art doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to be beautiful or bring you pleasure every day. The key to displaying art like a pro is to choose pieces you love and then display them creatively throughout your home.
2. What Story Do You Want to Tell?
Before you begin purchasing art for your home, think about the story you want to tell. Think about how the pieces will interact with each other across your home. Think about what you want each grouping to do and what you want it to say.
3. Hang it at the Correct Height
Paintings and other art should always be hung at the approximate eye level of a person of average height. You shouldn’t have to look up to see it. You want to be able to appreciate the work at a natural level.
4. Lighting is Critical
Use lighting to highlight your art and call attention to it. The lighting itself should be unassuming and subtle but vibrant at the same time. There shouldn’t be any dark spots, hot spots, reflections, or halos that will distract the eye from the artwork.
5. Groupings Create a Cohesive Display
If you want to create a cohesive display on a large wall, hang the art close together in a grouping instead of scattering it across the space. Even when you’re hanging pictures over a buffet or couch, you don’t need to space them out over the entire piece of furniture. Instead, hang the pieces equal distances from each other, but center them over the middle of the piece of furniture to create a dramatic focal point.
6. Get Advice from the Artist
Many artists will have some thoughts on how their work can be displayed to its best advantage. They’ve spent more time looking at their work than anyone else. Collaborating with the artist might reveal a creative way to display the art in the intended space while staying true to the vision the artist has for his work.
7. Add a Mat
Matting a print or photo adds a touch of professionalism and elegance to the piece. Choose your mat in a color that highlights the subject matter and colors in the artwork.
8. Add to Your Gallery Over Time
You don’t have to purchase every piece for your gallery at once. You can purchase the pieces that will be at the center of your display first and then gradually add the pieces that will go around it. That way you won’t have to move anything or patch any holes.
9. Create Paper Templates of Each Piece
If you have several pieces of art that you want to display, create a paper template of each piece. Tape them to the wall and shuffle them around until you get just the look you’re going for.
10. High-Ceiling Solutions
There are exceptions to every rule, and sometimes hanging art above eye level can serve a creative purpose. If you have a room with an uncomfortably high ceiling, you could try hanging some artwork over the doors. Utilizing a step effect with the framed pictures can draw the eye down into the room.
11. Go for Something Unexpected
Yes, you should do something unexpected! For example, why not hang that big statement piece in your bathroom? A beautiful landscape can bring some color and whimsy to a sparse, white, otherwise boring bathroom.
12. Small Pieces Can Have Big Impact
Oversized pieces are usually favored for the most dramatic effect because small pieces can appear too stingy or get lost in the shuffle. However, small artwork hung in groupings with matching frames can have a significant impact as well, beckoning you to come in closer to get a better look.
13. Hang Your Artwork in a Grid
If you’re hanging a collage of themed black and white photos, framing them in matte black picture frames creates an elegant, classic look that doesn’t compete with the photography. When you hang them in a uniform grid pattern, the repetition of black and white in the display creates the excitement. You can always add a surprise pop of color is a great way to create more drama.
14. Mix Up the Frame Styles
Whether your frames are antique brass, painted ceramic, wood, iron, or mosaic glass, they can all coexist beautifully in one display if the artwork itself has a similar theme. You can create a totally unique mix by displaying an assortment of different picture frames and finishes for an informal, creative look. To unify the work, choose similar color palettes and themes throughout each piece.
The Takeaway
Remember that the beauty of art lies in the eye of the beholder. If your grandmother’s china brings you joy, feel free to display it by hanging it on the wall in your dining room. In your child’s bedroom, picture books on a shelf can become art if you display them creatively on picture ledges instead of bookshelves. We would love to see how you’ve displayed art in your home, so be sure to share some pictures below or post them to our Facebook page!
