Places to Hang Art for Maximum Impact

Feb 2

Written By

I get a lot of questions about how to hang artwork. It is one of those things that raises a lot of doubt for people. Usually art is pretty personal, so you want to display it in a way that has the most impact. Here are some of my tips to inspire you.

1. On a Bookshelf

Photo of a love seat in front a built in bookshelf. The shelf has two large flowers hanging as art.

Want to bring your shelf arranging game to a whole new dimension, literally? Try hanging a framed piece of art on the face of the shelves. It’s a great way to create depth and drama to your display, as well as to highlight a favorite piece. I am a huge fan of book collections but sometimes they can look a little flat, but this trick is a great way to add interest to even the most staid collection.

2. Over a Sofa or fireplace

An eclectic living room with a chaise as a focal point. A painting of a sunset hangs above the fireplace.

While this is not a new idea, the placement of a piece of art over the sofa or a fireplace, gives it special importance, so you may want to consider a few different things. The first is scale. Try using something that is overscaled to create drama and a real wow moment. Conversely you can try underscaling a piece to create an intimate moment that draws people in, both are powerful tools that can change the way people interact with your art and perhaps to see it in a new way.

3. Stacked on a shelf

Several paintings are layered and stacked on a marble fireplace mantle.

If you are anything like me, you might have more art than walls, and honestly of varying quality too. One of my favorite ways to deal with this is to stack and layer the pieces on a shelf of a fireplace mantle. Often the collection will be stronger than the individual pieces. Find things of various sizes and play with scale and proportion. I like to mix up subject matter too, but it’s really up to you.

4. In a Bookshelf

A modern open bookshelf displays small stacks of books and artwork.

What to do with some of your smaller pieces can always be a challenge. While placing them on the wall in groupings or even alone to create a scale moment are always good ideas, sometimes it's as simple as using them on your shelves amongst your books and collectables. I enjoy doing this for things that are particularly personal as it makes for a great moment of discovery as I am scanning the shelves for a book.

5. By the Bed

A night stand with a pot of fresh cut flowers, a modern lamp atop books, and a piece of artwork.

I live in Southern California so I may be biased, but I am not a huge fan of hanging artwork over a bed. For me, the intimacy of placing something over the bedside table seems appropriate to the space. There is a lot to consider when doing this. Firstly the lamp has to be considered. The sweet spot is that well lit area under the shade but above the table top. This will usually mean a very small scale piece, but of course may inspire you to use an overscaled lamp.

Whatever suggestion you choose, remember to always start with the art, and let it help you decide where to place it. Often times a place less obvious allows you to have that fresh connection to the piece and to see it in a whole new way.