Adding artwork to your home is a natural way to add your own personal touch to your décor, truly individualizing your space. Over time, most of us assemble a collection of prints, original artworks, and photographs that express what’s important to us and what we find beautiful. When it comes time to decide how best to display these treasures, though, we may be unsure of how to go about it. While there will always be personal taste involved in deciding what makes the most appealing arrangement, here are some general tips for how to display your art:

Protect your art

Direct sunlight can fade artworks, particularly works on paper, such as watercolors or prints. You can avoid damage to your favorite art by hanging it out of the sunlight, rotating your artwork so that none of your pieces are exposed to sunlight for extended periods of time, or having your art professionally framed with UV protective glass to combat the sun’s fading effects.

Hang artwork at the right height

One of the most common mistakes people make when hanging artwork is placing them too high or too low for comfortable viewing. Think in terms of eye level when you are deciding where to hang a piece—ideally, the center of a painting or print hung on a bare wall should be at about that height (about 57 to 60 inches off the floor for someone of average height).

If you’re hanging a piece of art above a piece of furniture, however, consider its relationship to what it is hanging near, as well as its overall height. When there is too big a gap between a framed artwork and the item it is hanging above, the excessive space can make it seem like the artwork is disconnected rather than part of a pleasing whole. This ideal distance can vary depending on the size of the artwork and the piece of furniture, so try having a friend hold the artwork in place while you stand back to gauge the effect before hanging it.

Display artwork in proportion

Correct proportions are a large part of getting that “just right” feel to an art display. If you have a large space above your couch, for example, putting a single small lithograph there will look out of balance. Instead, choose one large piece of art or a grouping of related pieces that will better fill the space. At the opposite end of the spectrum, a powder room or small hallway is likely to be overwhelmed by an outsized piece of art. A smaller artwork with delicate details is perfect for this type of space, where it can be viewed and appreciated at close range.

Don’t rush

Take your time and do some preplanning before you start pounding nails into the wall. Start by setting the artwork in the room you’re considering hanging it in. If it doesn’t feel right in the first spot, try setting it against a different wall to see if you like the light or overall effect better there. To get the exact right positioning for a gallery wall of mixed art pieces, cut out paper in the size of each artwork to be included and tape them up on the wall. That way you can move them around and get the exact right positioning before you begin.

When you’re looking for fine art to add to your home, JunkofTreasure.com collection of authenticated lithographs, giclées, prints, and originals is your source for stunning works at below-market values. Register for a free online account and start buying today.

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