Picture it before you hang it

Hang artworks at eye level and above a piece of furniture which anchors the creations visually. Photo / Supplied

Why are there so many tall people in the world? I am convinced there is a predominance of them. After all, most art is hung to accommodate them. Looking at it can be a pain in the neck, because so many people hang their art too high.

Hanging art shouldn't be controversial, or confusing. If you are mystified by how high to hang it, there is a simple rule. Hang it so the centre of the painting is at eye level for a person of average height. This height is approximately 160cm from the floor.

There are, however, different heights for different locations. In a dining room, lower your art a bit, keeping it at eye level from a seated position. On a stairway, place it below eye level as our perspective changes as we go up and down the stairs.

Not only should a picture be hung at the right level, it should also relate to other objects in the room. A picture hung on an otherwise empty wall often seems lost, as if it arrived there by accident. Instead, place a picture above a table, desk, sideboard, bed, sofa or fireplace - in fact, any piece of furniture or architectural detail that will visually anchor it.

When you have a large space to fill, hang a large-scale piece of art. Alternatively, a collection of pieces - arranged to act as one whole visual block - can create the same impact. Similar prints in identical frames, hung in ordered rows will also be seen as one large piece.

In a recent project, a client had spread a series of seven original drawings around all four walls of a guest bedroom. The arrangement was boring, and the drawings appeared to be floating in mid-air because they weren't all positioned close to furniture. Bringing the framed drawings together into a collage, gave immediate impact, not only to the art, but also to the room.

Of course, one has to have art to hang. So, how do you start a collection? Given the range in art styles and genres, even the most pernickety buyers can find something to their liking and budget. You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars, consult an art adviser or restrict yourself to highbrow art.

Decide if you want originals or reproductions. Original artworks are more expensive, but have serious resale value. Buy the best original art you can afford. Alternatively, lease it, or join an art co-op. Art doesn't have to be expensive to be valuable; it just has to mean something to you.

Art must be displayed properly. Skill of display comes not only with the way you arrange your art on the wall, but also with your choice of matt and frame around it.

The artwork is the star - the matt and the frame are supporting players. The frame you select should set off the art. The matt highlights, contrasts, or complements colours in the art. Its practical purpose is to protect the art by raising the glass, so it does not touch or abrade it.

Rely on the salesperson at a reputable framing shop. They usually have a well-trained eye and will know the options in terms of materials.

Frame your art to suit the art, not the sofa (or the room). Achieve this and it will enhance any wall in any room. The colour of the wall will not be important. Well-framed art will speak for itself against any background. If you move, redecorate, or decide to hang the art piece in another location, it will always look appropriate.

Taste in art is so personal that I, as an interior designer, never tell a client what to buy. I urge them to buy art they can live with. Collecting it can take a lifetime. The art we choose to display on our walls is the ultimate in self-expression. My best tip is to hang only art that you love.

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