Photos courtesy of Art Girls
Illustration by Traci Zellmann
Place artwork 5-8 inches above furniture
When hanging artwork above a sofa, chair, or table, shoot for 5-8 inches higher. “I always like the pieces to form vignettes and be relational to their surroundings or objects,” Blanchard says. “A good rule of thumb for artwork above a sofa is 1/2 or 2/3 the length of the sofa—it is best to err on the side of caution and go large rather than small.”
Place artwork 57 inches (ish) from the floor
While there isn’t necessarily a fixed measurement when it comes to placement in relation to the floor, your view should be effortless and centered when standing in front of the artwork. Blanchard explains, “The 57-inch rule does always allow for uniformity throughout the home, but if 60 inches works better for you, use that throughout for consistency.”
Place artworks equidistant from each other in a gallery wall
Gallery walls are meant to be cohesive, displayed as one unit rather than smaller, individual pieces of art. Blanchard says, “Using a mix of different mediums helps to add interest. Don’t be afraid to use different moldings but keep an element that will have the same pattern of usage throughout,” such as frame color. She recommends first laying out the pieces on the floor to ensure the art is displayed evenly.
